I haven´t seen claire ( USA and barcelona) for some time now. Is she off to a remote destination or doesn´t she post anymoe?!

The last I heard lincasanova she was very busy with more than one job. She sounded happy and was enjoying Barcelona.

thanks. she certainly added spice to the threads! miss her adventures!

I plan to take her out for tapas when we're in Barcelona in April, so she better be around!

I'm right here! I have a death flu right now (fever, chills, aches, the works) and have been cleaning out my inbox and doing a lot of work from bed. I am indeed swamped in work right now, most of which requires a lot of time in front of the computer screen, which means that by the time I finish, the last thing I want to do is go on-line, as tempting as Fodors is. Also, I got a new bike. It is amazing. The greatest machine ever made in my opinion. Check the Brompton website. I got the M3. Anyways, once I am done with work, I tend to hit the streets with that baby for a while, then I head back home to do some more work and then go out a bit.

That said, I occasionally come by, but things seem really under control here.

I feel special to be missed, though. Thanks, Linda!

Oh, and artlover, we need to discuss details. What are your dates in the beatiful city of BCN? I missed Maribel's visit and I hope I don't miss yours!

Yes, and the very brilliant and informative claireobscure has also been missing in action for quite some time now.

Where claire? There!

That is clairobscur. I don't even know if that is a woman, as it's the French term for chiaroscuro art form and just means light-dark. I thought it was an interesting screenname, though.

Also, if you want to watch an instructional video prepared by myself, check out:
http://landofguirisvideos.ning.com

Click on the calçotada video and enjoy it. Yes, that is me.

Sometimes an onion is merely an onion (to paraphrase the late Dr. Freud).

That's what I told Joachim, but he wouldn't listen.

I just realized that there are two calçotada videos on the site. Mine is the most recent, entitled "how to eat a calcot"

Claire,
This is a riot! Very funny, but I still don't know what a calcota is?! You'll have to educate me when we meet!

Hope you're feeling better now. Will get back to you when the time is closer (8 weeks...but who's counting )

Best wishes,
Paula

They're large green onions, similar to spring onions.

Claire..good work! Two questions:

What is guiris?

Do they eat the calcots with Romesco?

Mil gracias!

"guiris" is a spanish slang word for tourists or people from abroad Not offensive !!!

Art and ekscrunchy: calçots are a variety of sweet onion that once roasted becomes soft, juicy and, indeed, sweet. You take the outside off and then dip the inside in calçot sauce, which is similar to, but not exactly, Romesco sauce. Here there is a brand of prepared foods called "Ferrer" and they have both Romesco and calçot sauce.

I am a guiri. You are a guiri. It is not a gringo, which refers specifically to Americans (in Spain, they say "yanqui&quot, but any tourist, as Kenderina says.

eks- are you coming here soon?

Artlover- just keep me updated.

artlover- I don't know if you guys are going to visit any villages, but I just uploaded more footage at landofguirisvideos.ning.com/ that you could check out. Vic and Folgueroles are in Girona and really great day trips.

Ekscrunchy, I believe you are a Vic fan? Remember the plaza?