Kibuka Sushi, Barcelona!

Our final night in Barcelona we did some research and found the best Sushi place in the city! We love Sushi!

The Restaurant is located down some random alleyway! We would of never found it just walking around! 

Kibuka Sushi!

The 4 of us at dinner! The Sushi was so amazing! Good quality fish and rice which we always look for in good sushi!

On our way home from sushi we walked back to our hotel and saw really cool window displays! This was a high end fabric store!

There was an event going on at this Stella McCartney Boutique! Absolutely loved the bar setup in this VW Van! Very cute idea!

Catalan Doors!

I believed this was vignettes from students at an Art School!

The Louis Vuitton window displays!

Stopped by the Mac Store to check out the new IPad Mini!

Very cute seafood restaurant! The prices looked reasonable as well!

The Fountains at Plaça de Catalunya!

Make a wish!

Spanish Word of the Day:
Fuente meaning Fountain

PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda

W Hotel Barcelona!

The W is not only a beautiful piece of Modern Sail-like Architecture along the beach in Barcelona, I'm sure it would make for a great stay! Maybe next time ;) One thing I really enjoy is exploring hotels and their design! Designed by world-renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, Catalan (Spanish) postmodernist architect.  In 1963, he founded a group formed by architects, engineers, sociologists and philosophers, creating the basis for what today is the ‘Taller de Arquitectura’, an international team with over 40 years experience in urban design, architecture, parks and gardens designs, and interior design.

The W features a spa, infinity pool, rooftop bar and luxurious rooms.

Loved how the glass was tinted blue and the way it also reflected the blue from the Sea and Sky! It was beautiful!

View from the W!

Prices at the W range from €250 - €500 ($325- $650) per night depending on which room you choose! WiFi is only free in the lobby and other public areas (It costs €21/Day in your room)

Inside the lobby of the W! Designed in complementary colors Aqua and Red-Orange!

The Sparkly wall was awesome!

Low seating arrangements and pods!

The W has two stylish gourmet restaurants, as well as a poolside bar and a lobby bar. At ECLIPSE bar, located on the 26th floor, you can enjoy a cocktail with panoramic views over the city and sea.

The Pool!

The Lobby bar!

Linen draped backdrops!

We tried getting up to a room but you need a key card in the elevator for it to work! woops! They just looked at us like we didn't belong there!

The W Hotel’s impressive rooms feature avant-garde design and views of the Mediterranean or the city. They all come with a chaise lounge, flat-screen TV, iPod docking station and rainfall shower.

View from the W towards the city!

The W has its own pier!

bliss. Facilities at the Bliss Spa include a hot tub, sauna and steam room, and a wide range of relaxation and beauty treatments is available.

Beautiful shades of blue!

Penthouse suite! Would love to see the view from up there!

Relaxing!

Spanish Word of the Day:
Dicha meaning Bliss

PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda

Green Grilled Cheese!

Foodie Fridays!

In honor of the Pantone Color of the Year announcement for 2013 being the beautiful vibrant jewel tone Emerald! Pantone 2013 Color of the Year: Emerald

Delicious and I like to think healthier grilled cheese! If you loved Avocados and Goat Cheese this is a must for you to try!

Green Grilled Cheese!

Ingredients:
-2 Slices whole wheat bread
-2 Tablespoons Pesto
-2 Slices White Cheddar Cheese
-Handful fresh Spinach
-2 Tablespoons Goat Cheese
-1/4 Avocado Sliced
-1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Spread pesto on each slice of bread.
2. Add the Cheddar Cheese, Spinach, Goat Cheese, and Avocado to one side, then put sandwich together.
3. Heat Olive Oil in frying pan, fry sandwich till both sides are golden and the cheese melts in the center.
4. I will sometimes place a pot lid over the sandwich so the cheese in the middle melts faster.
5. Enjoy!

Slovenian Word of the Day:
Sir meaning Cheese

PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda

Krampus!

The March of the Krampus takes place on the eve of December 5!

The Krampus is a beast like goat creature in the Alpine regions that accamponies St. Nick and scares all the bad little boys and girls with whips and bells. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair. The creature has roots in Germanic folklore. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December, and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. There are many names for Krampus, as well as many regional variations in portrayal and celebration.

Video below of the March of the Krampus in Graz, Austia so you all back home can get an idea of what one of these festivals look like! :)

Krampus attack South Tryol!

Last winter while we were living in Italy I learned about this Christmas tradition! I was unable to blog about this, last year because we didn't have a computer all December :( So all of these pictures are from last year while in Italy. The night of December 5th Kevin's teams had a game in Pontebba and that is the night they celebrate the Krampus! So the Krampus was at the rink ringing there bells and on the ice while the boys skated out! 

They are so scary I was terrified of them when I walked to the rink from our apartment all by myself before the game while they were all over the streets!

Waiting to go on the ice!

Scaring the Boys! 

We went to a Krampus festival in Tolmezzo, Italy last winter! They did their whole scary thing with fire!

The history of the Krampus figure stretches back to pre-Christian Germanic traditions. He also shares characteristics with the satyrs of Greek mythology. The early Catholic Church discouraged celebrations based around the wild goat-like creatures, and during the Inquisition efforts were made to stamp them out. 

In the 20th century, Austrian governments discouraged the practice. In the aftermath of the 1934 Austrian Civil War, the Krampus tradition was prohibited by the Dollfuss regime under the Fatherland Front (Vaterländische Front) and the Christian Social Party.

In the 1950s, the government distributed pamphlets titled "Krampus is an Evil Man".

Towards the end of the century, a popular resurgence of Krampus celebrations occurred and continues today. There has been public debate in Austria in modern times about whether Krampus is appropriate for children.

Krampus physical characteristics. He is hairy, usually brown or black, and has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat. His long pointed tongue lolls out.

Krampus carries chains, thought to symbolize the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church. He thrashes the chains for dramatic effect. They are often accompanied with bells. 

Of more pagan origins are the ruten, bundles of birch branches or sometimes whips that Krampus carries and occasionally swats children with. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a washtub strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell.

The word Krampus is a derivation of the old German word for claw.

They ended the show with fireworks!

Italian Word of the Day:
Scintillare meaning Sparkle 
Fuoco meaning Fire

PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda