catalonia

Pavlova Catalana

Have you been invited to a friend’s Saturday BBQ in Catalonia, and want to bring that most iconic of Australian desserts, the pavlova? Never actually cooked pavlova before, not even with the help of your mum? Never fear! Simply follow these easy steps…

Calçots, calçots, calçots!

(To the tune of the Barça FC anthem) As I’ve mentioned before, calçots are one of the true seasonal delights of living in this part of the world. If the winter sun is shining, then I can’t think of a better to spend your Saturday afternoon than gorging yourself on these sweet oniony treats atContinue reading “Calçots, calçots, calçots!”

The week that was a year

This post is a week late because of a long weekend and a cold. Delivering something a bit later than planned is also an extremely Catalan experience (particularly when it comes to trains), so I think it’s sort of appropriate. We have officially been here for a year now. Isn’t that crazy? It certainly doesn’tContinue reading “The week that was a year”

The week of yoga

There are many components of Catalan lifestyle that we are yet to understand. The different religious celebrations, the eating times, the language, the supermarket brands: there is still a lot that needs translating for us. But the language of exercise, I think, is universal.

The week of contrasts

This week has been somewhat of a come down after three jam-packed weeks of visitors and weekends away. We have been so lucky to have many friends and family visit from Australia, and our little apartment and day-to-day lives seem a bit quiet and dull now that they have gone. Quiet is not always bad.Continue reading “The week of contrasts”

The week for a weekend in Barcelona

There’s something magical about Barca. The narrow streets of the old town, the wide avenues of the Eixample district, the sunshine, the palm trees, the curved buildings, the people. Perhaps we are simply Melbourne folk, starved for urbanisation here in Tortosa, but every time I visit Catalonia’s capital I fall in love with it aContinue reading “The week for a weekend in Barcelona”

The week to check in on journal club

It’s been five months since I started a young career researcher journal club at C3, to promote communication among each other, get some English practise and gain more experience in reading papers outside our normal fields of research. Time for an update!

The week of Festes de la Cinta

“What?!”, I can hear you spluttering at your screen. “Another festival? Is she serious? Surely after Sant Jordi, Sant Joan, Benicàssim, the Three Kings and the Renaixement Festival that is enough, at least for a little while. Do some work for goodness sake!” That’s what I thought too. And believe me, I am trying toContinue reading “The week of Festes de la Cinta”

The week of summer time

Summer time (in Tortosa) And the living is easy. Fish are jumping, (honestly, I saw one this morning) And the cotton is ‘Cause the mercury’s high. Your daddy’s The food’s still rich, And your mama’s the beach is good looking So hush, little baby long to-do list, don’t you cry.

The week of Renaixement

The first sign was the flags. Blue and yellow, red and white, on street corners all around the old quarter. Next, they were on the bridge, and the main street. After that, deep red velvet banners were drawn along the balconies of our little Carrer. The following morning we awoke to sails draped across plazas.Continue reading “The week of Renaixement”