Soon, we will have our very own, little slice of Malvarrosa.  Later this week, we hope to settle on a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment about 5 blocks from the beach.   These are the before shots that I took a few months ago when looking at apartments.  We will need to paint and of course furnish the place - but the basics are all good.  A remodeled kitchen and bath, 2 a/c units, and a building with a lot of apartments and an elevator that is possible and approved.  (You don't know how rare that is in Malvarrosa)

Joaquin Sorolla is an early 20th century Valencia painter who captured scenes on Malvarrosa and Las Arenas beach.  I just noticed these two and how much the little boys look like Benjamin.  And since we met friends at thh beach today and Ben and his friend Willie decided to body surf sans bathing suits, I am really amazed at how realistic Sorolla's paintings are.  Perhaps we should find a few prints for our apartment. 

More "after pictures" of the apartment once we settle, paint and furnish it.  Interested renters please contact us!

Oh yes - and for those folks who have wondered if we will rent out the apartment.  We're so happy we occasionally appear to be independently wealthy.  Umm.  Not in the least.  We just hope that in 30 years when we finally get to retire, that we'll be able to live a nice life syle.  The sabbatical is coming to an end and it's back to the working world for us....

Can you imagine if your full time job were hunting for beach glass?  Don't laugh too much.  Some folks actually do make a living from this.  Beach glass, especially in the states, is becoming harder and harder to find, and the jewelry made from it is only increasing in price.   However, with some extra time on my hands and some recent trips to some of the 'off the beaten path' coastal locations in Spain, you can say I am "long" beach glass.

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Cantabrian Coast with our friends Scott, Maxine and family.  I will note that Maxine was very selective about collecting beach glass.  While I tend to pick it all up and sort through it later, she kept only the whites, blues and teals.  None of that common green or brown glass for her!  And just look at these terrible spots we had to visit to find our treasured sea glass!

And here are a few shots which include Pirate Ben helping me search.  (Ben's class put on the show Peter Pan for the end of the year - and somehow - Ben's version of Peter Pan is actually Peter Man, a pirate and Peter Pan all in one!)

14 degrees Celcius - about 55 degrees Farenheit.  The sun is desperately trying to break through the clouds but the memory of the recent rain lingers. This is Summer in Sebastian. Gosh, it is closer to winter in Valencia. San Sebastian is beautiful. Wealth oozes from the brick mortar of the mansions lining the city beaches, from the cashmere of the sweaters we sea and from the wetsuits of the children taking swimming lessons on the beach. San Sebastian is a classy place. Valencia, as much as we love it, simply is not. We have become accustomed to seeing inexpensive stretchy clothes, bad hair dye jobs and frankly, as many overweight people as we see in the States. Here, the svelte and polished look reign. We stayed in the Hotel Codina.  Four blocks from the Playa Odnareta and a decent value, relatively speaking.  A triple with a king bed and a single bed.  A lovely, modern bathroom, free wifi and breakfast.  126 euros.  Back to Valencia today, we think, unless we can't resist to stop in Rioja on the way home. 

Beach glass, glorious beach glass.  Or sea glass as it seems to be called these days.  I am obsessed with it. 

I'm sure it all started when we had guests.  One afternoon in March, mid-Fallas, Aunt Betsy, my Mom, Joseph and Melissa and I took a walk in Malvarrosa.  I don't actually recall picking up beach glass that afternoon - simply pottery shards - but my downward gaze must have begun then. 

By the time we walked Peter and Josh on the beach during a rainy afternoon in April, I was beginning to search in earnest.  And when Juliet and Max headed down to Almeria with us, I became obsessed.  I joke that all of her pictures of me will be with my head pointed downwards.  Mitch's sister and boyfriend (his sister's boyfriend that is :)) enjoyed the beach combing with me as did my friend Jean.  Let's see what this weekend's guests think!

Here are my treasures.  Some of the really large dark green pieces that look like stones are from a private beach near a house we rented.  They are almost too big for jewelry if you can imagine that! 

There is something so reassuring for me to find such beautiful creations in nature.  Many of the pieces I find are just as beautiful and precious to me as the semi-precious stones I use to make jewelry.  Of course, only the nicely shaped pieces, one in fifty perhaps, can be used for jewelry.  Even then, I need to wrap the pieces, when often, I would rather string it.  (I sense a dremel hand drill with a stand in my future. :))  I also can't wait to enlist my mother's help with the saudering and foiling techniques that she learned in stained glass.  

A year abroad.  6 bags allowed back on the plane.  One small, blind dog.  Ahem.  The sewing machine I lugged over here.  (No regrets - lots of use - even learned to quilt!) Oh yes.  And the beach glass.  It's not too much yet, but I still have a bit of time to find some more.  

And here are a few of my first pendant creations. 

When Jim and Jean came to visit, we were able to see, thanks to them, the final race of the America's Cup semi-finals.  It happened to be our 8th wedding anniversary.  I smiled when I saw the following picture because we have a few with the same pose from our wedding day.  Sure, a few more wrinkles here and there, but the look of love is just the same. 

Yes, we're still here in Valencia.  We have had a whirlwind of visitors - which we have loved.  Josh and Peter came to visit in early April.  Juliet and Max arrived on April 17th a few days after they left.   Mark joined his family in late April and Mitch's sister Amy and boyfriend Marty joined as well.  (Full house for those few days!)  After Amy and Marty left we were all alone for a week - and Jean and Jim arrived on Tuesday.

BOY do I have material to write about :)  Trips I mean, not Mitch's joke to our guests that I am secretly writing a book about visitor behavior. 

With Juliet, we visited the coast of Almeria and have lots of beautiful pictures to share.

Amy and Marty took us to Madrid where Marty delighted Madrilenos with his blues.  (Check out www.martychristian.com)

Jean and Jim took us to the America's cup yesterday where we boarded the spectator boats to watch the races.  Spain lost to New Zealand :( but we had a great time out on the boat.  Rough seas - not for the non-sea saavy - but lots of fun.  It was also our anniversary so we enjoyed doing something memorable to mark the event.

More updates soon on our past trips.  Off to sightsee with Jean and Jim.

It seems like guests and blogging don't go together in this apartment in Valencia so I have a bit of a back log on things to write about.

When friends Juliet and Max were here, we spent a few hours at Port America's Cup with the children.  Mitch and I were AMAZED at how quickly the entire port came together as a destination. 

We truly did not recognize the place compared with four months prior.   Fences, security and distinct entrances where before there was none.   A lot of swanky bars and restaurants, Miami south beach style, where the beautiful people can go out to have a 10 euro drink.  (We almost splurged because it was clear that Max and Ben liked to dance to that techno music, but because they were using the matress lounges as crash pads instead of the seats intended for the "in" crowd - we decided to pass)

There are free boat shuttles linking the different ports which is great free entertainment for those with small children. 

There are also remote controlled sailboats for the children, a fantastic playground and jumping park and even a balloon ride.   We can't wait to go again.  Our friends Jean and Jim will be here soon - our only visitors from the world of sailing to take advantage of our ideally located apartment in Valencia :)  Perhaps we'll learn a thing or two!

Our Love is Four

Benjamin, Today you are Four!

 You have grown so much this year.

You no longer wear a diaper, or use a pacifier, or sleep in a crib.  You go to sleep almost all by yourself and you stay in bed all night – well – usually.  You know so many of your numbers and letters and you can trace and hold your pencil like "los mayores."  What a very big boy you are!  

We can't believe that it has been four years since you came into this world. 

You were born a bit past 3am.  Sometimes you still wake up at that time to come into our bed.

The doctor noticed you had a strong grip. You are still so very very strong.

Your eyes were closed and you tried not to open them, for a few weeks actually. Today, you still wake up slowly.

But there is so very much about you that we could never imagine that early morning you were born.

Who would have known that you would have such a great sense of humor? You make us laugh, and the children at school too.

You are so athletic.  We can't believe how high you can climb, how perfectly you somersault and how you can already do flips on bars at the playground.

You love to entertain and are very good at making sure that everyone has a little something to eat or drink.  You are also very good at sharing your food and your toys….well, except for vanilla ice cream and I understand that my love.

We never knew how much you would like to dance and what incredible rhythm you would possess.

Ben, you are so wonderful and there are so many people who love you.  I bet your birth-mom is thinking about you today - we know that she loves you very much.  How can we measure how happy we are that we were able to adopt you and be your mommy and daddy?  We can't.  It's simply immeasurable.  Grandpa, both of your Grandmas, your greant Grandmother and all of your cousins, aunts, uncles and friends love you MUCHO MUCHO MUCHO.  

Happy, happy, happy Birthday our love.  You have made all of our dreams come true.   Now it's our turn to help you make yours come true.

Blogging again after several weeks.  Josh and Peter came to visit; a day after they left - Juliet and Max (Ben's friend) arrived, Mark arrived on Saturday, Amy and Marty arrive in a few hours and Juliet, Max and Mark leave tomorrow.  If you haven't already made your reservation here at Life in Valencia, I think you may be out of luck until our next sabattical, whenever that will be :)

Peter and Josh were here for just a weekend and unfortunately it rained almost the entire time.  Nevertheless we enjoyed the company and the sights like the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de Artes y Ciencias) and all of the sand art on the beaches of Malvarosa and Las Arenas. 

This is not a typical Ben expression, none the less, it made me laugh.

The sun finally returned to Valencia today after having been gone for a while.  Valencia has had its rainiest April in 50 years.  Our friends Josh and Peter came to visit us for a weekend.  They were great sports about the weather, but we were bummed that they had to experience Valencia in the rain.  Juliet and Max arrive tomorrow for a few weeks.  Hopefully they will enjoy the great weather that we have been absolutely spoiled with. 

Although Ben and I have enjoyed the beach for at least an hour or so every day for the past four days - today was the first time we enjoyed it without rain.  It was packed.  We also ran into one of his classmates there.  Also 'expats' (albeit from Hungary), they told me that come May and June, the beach and promenade are packed in the evenings as Valencians come out with their families for picnic dinners.  What a nice thought.  I can't wait to see it.