Wednesday 26 December 2012

a different sort of christmas

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I stayed in Barcelona for Christmas this year, which I wasn't terribly excited about (I love holidays with my family). On the other hand, I only got back from summer break two months ago and flights to Vancouver are €1,000+ at this time of year, so it seemed sensible.

I visited the compounds Shitting Log. Went for a coffee with Baileys (tis the season to overindulge) and then to Albert's grandparents for lunch.

On Christmas Eve we saw The Hobbit, which was entertaining enough but as usual filled me with rage against Peter Jackson. I just think the guy's a bit of an idiot. He thinks he's infallible and can do whatever he wants to Tolkien's stories, and he's just faithful enough that you have to take the movies seriously. But then everything is done so heavy-handedly, every reaction to everything has to be seen about four times, and he's way too action-happy (did not need a twenty-minute chase through the Blue Mountains). Also, he manages to get a bad performance out of someone as talented as Cate Blanchett. Martin Freeman as Bilbo was pretty excellent though.

Right, rant aside, I finished Christmas by going for drinks with some friends. I'm very family-oriented and this was the first time I'd ever been out on Christmas night, but it was good fun. There were even some spontaneous yoga-poses on bar stools in the wee hours--not quite dancing on the table, but getting there!

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19 comments:

Despina T. said...

lovely outfit!love the red colour.beautiful pics.

Nina said...

A belated Merry Christmas! It sounds like you've had a lovely couple of days. Love the red dress and the Dr. Martens!
xxx
Nina from little nomad

Kallie, Happy Honey and Lark said...

I was really annoyed during the Hobbit. Rich and I admitted to each other the other night that we both almost fell asleep. I cannot believe its a trilogy, so annoyed about so many things. The Hobbit also has a COMPLETELY different tone than LOTR, its so much lighter and Gandalf or someone always saves the day and it just is, I dunno, jolly. LOTR is like dark and mythical etc.
/rant but not really...because I could go on for days.

ANYWAY

Merry Christmas to you and Albert!!!!!!! I am still completely obsessed with the shitting log and how funny that is. Hope you are having a good post holiday with lots of boozy coffees.
xo

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

Oh I know! The Hobbit is a children's book and reads like one.
For me the absolute worst scene was near the end, when that stupid white orc has them trapped up trees. I mean, there is something similar in the books, but it's actually quite funny and then the eagles come and as a kid I felt excited and a bit scared and like cheering, but it wasn't a horrible traumatic twenty minutes of shrieking and blood and so on. HATE Peter Jackson.

Merry Christmas to you and Rich too!!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

Also, yes! That's ridiculous that it's a trilogy. I think they've already gotten more than halfway through the book, so wtf.?

Anonymous said...

I am so glad to have spent with you Christmas night...
I hate Peter Jackson as well...
xx
annie

Anonymous said...

love it! merry christmas! :)Irene Wibowo

Emily Peebles said...

That must be difficult to spend Christmas without your family, but it seems you made the most of it! I can't believe an airline ticket would cost that much -- you're smart to stay in Barcelona. And haha, yoga on barstools seems like quite the way to wrap up the Christmas season :-)

Tomz said...

The last picture...Are you both dancing in the Indian style?

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Annie: thank you so much for inviting me!

@Tomz: Nah, we´re doing yoga sun salutations or something. It seemed like a good idea at the time. :)

Hello Kitty shoes said...

I came this blog first time and see beautiful pics. thanks for add wonderful post and belated marry Christmas

Kezzie said...

I am glad you had fun even if it wasn't the family Christmas you are used to! You look like you had a laugh with Annie!
A very happy Christmas to you Emily!

Deppa said...

Que graciosa! esas poses de yoga podrían destronar al Gangnam style :)
Estás muy guapa, me encanta el vestido.

Nos vemos!

daria said...

that doesn't sound half bad! even if you were far from family, it was an experience to live :) happy holidays!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Deppa: siiiii yoga-girl style!

Marzipan said...

Lovely look dear <3

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

I love when Shitting Logs make an appearance here! I have been so amused by them ever since you first shared their story. I'm happy to hear you had a fun-filled Christmas despite being away from your family. I hope you Skyped with them, at least! :)

Um, yeah. Similar feelings towards The Hobbit. If he had to stretch it, I feel like two films would have been enough. Although I was annoyed while watching it, I was entertained (which maybe matters more to Jackson. I don't know). Also, Martin Freeman was excellent as Bilbo. I was pretty excited about that at least!

Happy New Year, Em. I hope 2013 has wonderful things in store for you!

Tomz said...

Ah so I guessed it right..Yoga is also of Indic origin

Dus of Cuddly Cacti said...

the cultural traditions of holidays always interest me though, we find it quite odd to go out on xmas night but Jonny was appalled that we would go out on new year's eve & not ring in the new year w/ the family (& finds it normal to go out xmas or xmas eve). anyway, good thing you could enjoy a bit of traditional xmas w/ albert's family! do you see his grandparents a lot? i always love holidays w/ older people to see their traditions.
http://dusanabotswana.com