Summer: Iowa

Summer for us means home, which this summer, actually meant more traveling. Thankfully, this travel included time with people we love, so we were happy to do it! Because our summer included multiple destinations, we will write about it in three parts. The first part is Iowa!

We hit the ground in Iowa running, with Rachel’s sister Sarah’s wedding in Chicago and a lineup of friends to reconnect with as soon as possible.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  It was held at a small restaurant just outside of downtown with a quaint little garden/patio in back. The ceremony was kept small, intimate, and extremely meaningful. We spent the weekend in Chicago with everyone involved/attending the wedding, and enjoyed experiencing more of the city, as well as getting to know Sarah and Peter's closest circle of friends better.

The Grove siblings with the new additions!

The tradition of the morning of the wedding sibling coffee.

The epic wedding selfie.

 The next week was Rachel’s birthday, which included a flat tire that the five men gracefully changed in the sun while the girls cheered them on from the sidelines, a trip to a cider house that ended up being closed, and most importantly, a bonfire and ice cream bar with our favorite Iowa City crew.

Such hard workers! Thanks, guys!!!

So glad these two were in town!

Post-flat tire refreshments in Solon.

We spent many evenings downtown, enjoyed a lot of live music, shopped sidewalk sales, caught up with dear friends (though not enough!), ran through the woods, went to a state park, biked around the reservoire, barbequed everything we could think of, built many bonfires, played many rounds of yard games, and sewed a quilt (okay only one of us did that)! It was as perfect as we could imagine a month in Iowa, we only wish it had been longer.

Jazz Festival Sunset

The land we love :)

                                                                      

Sisterfriends

                                                                                                                                      (Author: Rachel)

Among the many joys of being an expat, there are the inevitable challenges as well. One of the largest  is that many of the people you meet here are in the same boat as you... with no guarantee for how long they will be living here or when they will leave. This is something I learned quickly to accept, and to not allow to stop me from still investing in friendships. It is just ¨part of the game¨, and is something that  begins to feel somewhat normal.

However, just because something is expected, does not mean that it is easy.  I have experienced this on various levels throughout the last two years, but recently experienced it very significantly. Two of my closest friends here in Barcelona have moved back to the U.S. These girls have been my anchor since the moment I arrived in the city. We have been roommates, travel companions, and what felt like sisters. We navigated the moving process together, ventured into new countries, tried new foods, attempted to speak new languages, had weekly pizza night, brunches, picnics, beach days, and built countless memories in the process. They have been my rock amidst a challenging couple of years. There is no way in the world that I would have survived without them, and the laughter and perspective they brought to my life. They truly changed my life for the better.

I have no doubt in my mind that the bond we have will remain strong as we continue our life adventures in three different places, but I will miss them every day.

Here are some pictures to highlight our two years in Barcelona together.

Our first week in Barcelona, we cooled down in the cafe right around the corner from our new apartment.

Jumping quickly became a tradition.

We didn't let the fact that it wasn't swimsuit weather stop us from jumping!

The first time we left Spain together on a road trip to Southern France.

Looking out over Carcassonne, France.

Apple Orchard Jumping

Castle Jumping

Paris in November 2012

Brugge, Belgium in December 2012

The first of many hikes together up to Tibidabo

They were the HUGEST support in my teaching. This was after my first concert at BFIS.

I love this one, because it shows us just hanging out in our kitchen, which is what we did the most. :)

In Stockholm, Sweden Fall 2013

We took a trip to the island of Mallorca Spring 2014.

Picnicking in Parc Ciutadella

Celebrating after our last day of school (pure joy!)

On a Cava tour just outside of Barcelona.

Our final night together in Barcelona.

My life is better for having been able to live two years with these girls! I wish them both the best on their new endeavors, and I will miss their presence, support, and smiles in Barcelona every day! 

Swiss Hut Hike

To celebrate the their upcoming marriage, Sarah and Peter (Rachel's sister and now brother-in-law) organized a weekend hike in Switzerland. A large group of us drove to the starting point, rode one of the steepest funiculars in the world (really!), and then began the hike to the hut. It took us about two hours to reach our hut, where we dropped off our belongings, and then continued to hike around the area until dinner time. The hut provided us with crocs to wear around the hut, a delicious meal, and a room with beds for all of us. It was the ideal way to camp if you ask us! All pleasure, no work! We loved every moment of being surrounded 360 degrees by the surreal mountain backdrop, spending time with our "Switzerland" friends (they aren't Swiss, but we only get to hang out with them when we go to Switzerland),  and celebrating Peter and Sarah!

The crocs we all got to (and were required to) wear around the hut.

The funicular on the way down. 

The whole group celebrating the happy couple.

Spring Visitors

This Spring we were so fortunate to have a revolving door of visitors! We always throw out the temptation to come visit us, but never know who will take us up on it!

Having visitors is always fun for us, for a variety of reasons.

1. It gives us a chance to vacation in our city. As we normally try to feel more like locals, we avoid most of the tourist places in the city. In small portions, it is fun for us to feel like a tourist again, and to feel the tourist energy in the city, overhearing conversations between travelers, and seeing people discovering the beauty and fun of the city for the first time.

2. It allows us the opportunity to show Barcelona as our home. We love planning itineraries for visitors, making maps and trying to create the best experience possible for people. In all of our travels, we have often wished we knew a local to show us the ropes, so we are excited whenever we get to do that for others. The more we ¨show off¨ our city, the more it feels like ours, which is an important point to get to as an expat.

3. We love having our worlds collide. We have had family, high school friends, college friends, and post-college friends visit us here. It is such a fun feeling to bring people from different stages of our life into our current being, to experience each other in new ways, and build stronger friendships because of it.

So a big thank you to the visitors that have come, and a reminder to those who have not, that the door is still open! :)

The fourth Grove family member to come visit... only one left!

Our friends Nate and Alisha came for about 10 days in May.

Our friends Emmy and Ehler came for a few days in June.

Italian Bachelorette Party

(Author: Rachel)

I have always loved planning surprises. I love the look on people's face when they discover something contrary to what they thought. This spring I had the opportunity to surprise my sister, so although the planning and execution was difficult, I jumped at the chance!

I was able to plan Sarah's bachelorette party (with major help from her friends), and surprise her by being there, when the whole time, she thought I couldn't make it or be involved. I revealed myself by jumping out from behind a tree while Sarah was on a walk with a friend. It was the beginning to a weekend of fun, laughter, and celebration.

We began the bachelorette weekend with a beautiful aperitivo and dinner on the patio of a friends' apartment. The sunset was unbelievable over the mountains, and we all enjoyed a relaxing evening full of some of Sarah's favorite food and dessert.

Surprise moment caught in action.

The aperitivo crew 

The sunset view during aperitivo.

The next morning, we packed our cars with picnic food, yoga mats, and swimsuits, and set off for the secret destination, which Sarah still did not know! About three hours later, we arrived at a beautiful villa in the region of Piemonte, Italy.

In perfect weather, we were able to have a delicious picnic on the lawn of the villa, and then spend the sunny afternoon lounging in the pool that we had to ourselves, surrounded by expansive wineries. After a few hours of soaking up the sun and poolside conversation, we moved into the cellar of the villa for a wine tasting session. The villa made their own wine, which we not only got to taste, but also learned all about the making process. In the evening, we proceeded to a local restaurant for a four-course meal featuring the delicacies of the region. After a couple of fun games, we called in a night in our beautiful rooms (with unbelievably comfortable beds, and intricately painted ceilings).

An ideal picnic

Our dinner

Sunday morning began with a gourmet breakfast buffet, followed with a yoga class in the sunshine, taught by Sarah's friend Nura. This was a perfect way to start the day. We, of course, all headed back to the pool for the rest of the afternoon, until we had to pull ourselves away and head back to "reality".

Didn't even mean to coordinate our yoga outfits!

An incredible group of women celebrating Sarah!

It was a dream-like weekend, and one that we hope to be able to repeat next Spring!