Semana Once- Holy Week

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Hola!

As many of you know, and have celebrated, it is Holy Week! I know that it isn't celebrated very intensely, except for Easter Sunday with egg hunts, candy baskets and a nice ham back home but here it's an entire week-end of celebration! Each day has it's own sort of festival and special dinner.

Good friday, we ate catfish with hard boiled eggs artichoke and red peppers, yum-o! Usually the meals here are up to 3 seperate plates, but this was so big and had all the nutrients we needed in one. Later in the afternoon there is a Procession "The way of the cross" down on Ramblas, and through the Gothic Quarter. It is with the priests and other religious folk of St. Jaume church dressed in robes. Following them is two decorated floats one being of Jesus carrying the cross, surrounded but parishiners carrying crosses with chains on their feet and the other of Mary, decorated with flowers that locals reach in to kiss as it passes. All througout the procession are marching bands with members of all ages playing everything from bagpipes to brass and percussion instruments.

Saturday I went off to visit the Labyrinth Park, just a few metro stops down from the center of Barcelona. The park used to be the extravegant home to the Desvalls Family until the '70's. The landscaping of the gardens is beautifully mastered with twists and turns, hollow and hills. Passing over the winding paths one can easily feel lost in the exculsiveness of the greenery. At the center of the park is the true place to get lost, the Labyrinth itself! I had an easier time to get through, using other visiter's voices to guide my way but it was still a bit of a challenge, and at the end was a young bride having her picutres taken! At the top is the Palace, after cross the Romance Canal, a small stream running throughout the area that now is accompanied by ducks and turtles. All along the park are statues of gods like Eros and water nymphs that protect the waterfalls and other scenery. At some point there is a view of city and sea, almost like through a window between the trees and it's truly remarkable.

I am still full from Easter Sunday! Madre out-did herself, after working so hard all week preparing food for "Pascua". She invited her lovely friend over, and thank goodness because we needed help to eat the lamb! We started with small tapas sandwiches then some fried potatoes and finally baby lamb, for the first time! It was an amazing meal topped with the traditional of the "Mona" cake. The vanilla cake with a layer of orange marmelade and chocolate and of course with cherries on top, was decorated with sprinkles and a chocolate hen, hollow like our typical chocolate bunnies. After our toast of champagne and piece of cake, we were all relieved to take a little nap to help digest the feast!

"Segunda Pascua" or today, Easter Monday was a similar feast. Yes there is a war happening between my taste buds and my jeans as I speak! Our new friend returned again to help us eat. We started with a plate I adore completely, hard boiled eggs covered and baked with cheese and bacon. After we enjoyed baby lamb ribs and more artichoke! I could hardly wait for our second piece of the Easter cake and tried to savour each sip of the accompanying champange!

It was truly a week of food and festivities I was happy to witness and be able to share! I am going to try and get the recipes to learn to cook at home!

Thanks to all and Hope you enjoying your Easter :)
Air

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