12:06 AM

I am writing this after just returning from an exciting evening of watching the Spanish football (ne soccer) team make hash out of Italy’s team in the Eurocup finals. Eitan returned this afternoon from an action-packed weekend playing “American” football with the local intramural team that he has now joined – the Pioner Cadetes, and it seems as though he is already making both Spanish and other international friends. Andrew and I have been exploring our neighborhood, have joined a municipal gym, had dinner with two other expats who have kids that have been in the international schools here, had amazing tapas and paella, taken the requisite siestas late afternoons to recoup from jet lag, and the topper of this first few days was the game tonight and the local excitement it created.

There are tons of small bars and restaurants within a stone’s throw of our apartment, sprinkled all around the grand Santa Maria del Mar Church that we look out on from our windows. Built in the 1300’s it attracts lots of tourists and local colorful celebrations like weddings on the front steps and community dance exhibitions – both of which we have seen in progress already. We are also a five minute walk from the Barceloneta (the beachfront and main marina) and the Parc de la Ciutadella so it seems we will not be at any loss for things to do and see just around the corner. We are expecting that Ruthie – who arrives tomorrow for the balance of July (with two Mercer Island BFFs in tow for the next week or so) – will be over the moon when she sees where we are and how easy it will be to sightsee and be entertained…and oh, those Spanish muchachos…we may be in trouble.

With tomorrow our first real workweek day, both Andrew and I will begin our royal expedition into being “global remote”. Andrew will be hunting for a green screen for doing video production and setting up his in-apartment studio; noon I will have my first client calls with folks in the US so will be testing out the 9 hour time difference with the West coast. Judging by the fact that the earliest dinner we have had so far was at about 9.30pm, working the late afternoon – early evening shift shouldn’t be too bad. News at 11…