First tinto of 2013!

Sunday was sunny. That might not seem that exciting, but after a week nearly full of rainy days and a forecast for even more rain this week, it was noteworthy, an event. Life in El Puerto revolves around being outdoors - the beach, long meals eaten outside, leisurely strolls. When it rains, people are forced indoors, life slows, monotony and boredom set in. Everyone is miserable. Or maybe that's just me, I don't deal well with a lack of sunshine...

So, when Sunday turned out to be gorgeous - in the high sixties, sun shining - I knew we had to take advantage. Sunday was also Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) which marks the beginning of Semana Santa, a holiday week for many Spanish. We took the dogs for a 2 mile walk on the beach, passing many people out for a start-of-spring-break seaside paseo.

Later we went downtown for lunch and the feeling was even more festive - families out for lunch, some people still carrying their branches from church, sidewalk musicians playing, flowers blooming, everyone enjoying the weather. We sat down outside at one of our favorite places (Antojito, if you're in the area, go now!).

And I just knew...

Primavera!

Yesterday was the first day of spring, wildflowers are blooming everywhere, the sun is shining. I've spent more than a little time the last couple of days sitting on the patio, soaking up the sun, doing some reading. I even painted my toenails, I'm ready for sandal season. 

We picked some of these flowers in our neighborhood, while walking Chloe and Cora. Others are from our casa. In Spanish, the word for backyard is jardin, literally garden. 

Pretty red poppies, yellow mimosa branches, and little white jasmine flowers. They're all lovely, but jasmine to me is what a Spanish summer smells like.

It might seem crazy to be talking about summer already since this is technically only the second day of spring, but it won't be long until it's time for tintos and trips to the beach. And I can't wait!

Anyone else glad that it's spring but really ready for summer?

First Day of Primavera

Happy first dia of Spring! Even though the season is just getting started, the weather in our area of España has been warm and sunny since we returned at the end of February. Last week, we took a walk down to the playa, but the tide was high, so we walked along the sea wall instead. Meghann took some iPhone snaps of the springtime flores.