I like . . .

Since I have lived in Barcelona, I have come to like . . .

• . . . paying the price that is marked on the item. No taxes, hidden charges, or "expected" tips.
• . . . public mass transportation. If there is a traffic jam, it takes me 10 minutes longer to get home. I can read, listen to a podcast, look out the window - no stress, no anger, no worries.
• . . . having lots of things to do. Just walking around the corner, one can find a unique building or a park or a sculpture. There are sports teams, cultural festivals, and concerts - something for everyone.
• . . . the International Church of Barcelona. Full of sincere people who want to make a difference in Spain.
• . . . letting the children watch cartoons. Free Spanish lessons!
• . . . writing dates as day/month/year. It just makes more sense, to me, than month/day/year.
• . . . Skype. Cheap calls anywhere.
• . . . FC Barcelona. Best football team in the world. Some obvious pro-Barca fans are even speculating whether it might be the best club team *ever*.
• . . . the Spring weather. Have not used the heater for the past 6 weeks, and we do not have an A/C. Temperature stays between the mid 50's and low 70's, day and night.
• . . . only shaving twice per week. And still being one of the cleaner-shaven people in Spain. It seems like most men have Pau-Gasol like facial hair.
• . . . the relaxed schedule. Lunch time? Somewhere between 1:00 and 3:30pm. Dinner - whenever. It is hard to be late in Spain.
• . . . simplified living. No closets full of clothes that only get worn once a year. No piles of toys/games that get used once a month. No car maintenance to fret over. If only we could carry that simplicity back to the US . . .