As the big day approaches

It's been a great few days with our friends Catherine (my former roommate in Seville), and her beau, Johnny. They are visiting from the UK for this long holiday weekend here in Spain. We were expecting some other friends from Seville to stay with us, but the unannounced strike by Spanish air traffic controllers put flights to a complete halt until Saturday evening. Unbelievable!

But we made the best of it. The fivesome (Cat, Johnny, Fer, Paloma, and I) took a walking tour around Barcelona and enjoyed the delightful atmosphere of the glorious holiday.

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At Plaza Catalunya ready to go.

Let's get some Christmas!
We ran into the Santa Lucia Fair, which is a nice installment of 300 stands selling gifts and Christmas goodies.

Naked wreaths just dying to be adorned and embellished.Logs, wood, beautiful natural textures.I can't help but drool over anything miniature these days. Here are accessories to dress up your Bethlehem scene. Maybe next year for us...when we'll have a slightly wiser toddler.

Mini pots make me want to make a mini stew.

Paloma sits in her stroller quietly with her little hands folded.

Handmade wooden elves. So sweet.I found the perfect kitty mittens to dress up those cute little hands.

Call it gross or strange, or maybe just a very healthy attitude towards defecation. Here Cat showcases the infamous Caga Tíos, or "poo guy". In Catalunya, it's holiday tradition to have this yule log displayed in the home. On Christmas, the children hit him with sticks while singing songs and he poos Christmas gifts. I know!

Squatters. And I'm not talking about people who take over an abandoned home. Look closely...

Caganers are small statues that sit randomly in a nativity scene away from the manger. They are pretty explicit and show a man with his pants down, bottom bare, and excrement on the floor. They are displayed for humor, I suppose. The original was just a Catalan peasant, but now they make popular figures like athletes, politicians, and entertainers. Which famous poopers can you see?

Fernando checks out a pooping Obama, which costs 17 euros. Michael Jackson, 15. You'd think the deceased would be more, no?

Cat and Johnny by the Barcelona lights.

La Rambla, a major touristic street looked fabulous. We're soaking it all in!

Now let's forget about the poop!