
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-june-2013/9132162929_fa8748f92d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Jamming with the Ras Boys">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-june-2013/9132162929_c84b7c4026_t.jpg" alt="Jamming with the Ras Boys"/>
</a>

June saw many interesting events in our family. First of all, my parents came to [meet their grandson](/2013/06/17/meeting-ian/) for the first time, then we had a [visit from Belgium](/2013/06/18/simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/), and Nora finished her first year of preschool. So far her summer vacation has been going smoothly because the local town government has been organizing some "workshops" all week, where kids can go and do crafts or practice juggling or learn about music, which has been keeping her busy.  The biggest change in Nora's behavior is her mimicry of her mother. Her older potty training doll, Potty Patty, has been all but discarded in favor of a baby doll that she's had for years, which she treats just like her mother treats Ian. Sometimes she'll suddenly scurry out of a room like a house cat, remarking, "Oh no! My baby is crying!" She's named her doll, who has never before had a name, Lala. Nora likes to complain during dinner that "Lala is crying! She won't let us eat!" She's even been seen mimicking breastfeeding and diaper changing. It's pretty adorable.

The following video pre-dates the final choice of doll and name, with a baby apparently called "Marcos La".

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O5tB64TVg6E?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here she is singing a Spanish folk song to Lala as her _abuela_ does the same with Ian to put him to sleep.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zGE8CYUkg4s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ian passed his two-month doctor's checkup with flying colors, clocking in at 5050 grams and 57 cm. His weight has increased by 27% in both his first and second month. If he continues at this rate, he will outweigh me after 14 months, will weigh a metric ton shortly after his second birthday, and will have the same mass as the Earth by his 20th birthday. The boy eats a lot, what can I say?

He's a very demanding baby, who loves being pushed around the streets in his bassinet. Sometimes, when we're at home, he'll start crying when all his basic needs have clearly been met; he just wants to go outside. As soon as we're in the apartment lobby, he's happy. It's a bit like having a puppy, actually.

When he's not crying or sleeping, he's kicking ferociously, or, as I like to call it, doing the _Gangnam Style_ dance. It pairs nicely with his sister singing the lyrics… "I'm a gay mustache!"

<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" seamless="seamless" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitAllowFullScreen" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" id="okplayer" width="250" height="250" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://vine.co/v/blgU2zMDVZz/card?mute=0"></iframe>

<iframe width="250" height="250" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Tg3MWgrkDRA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here we are on a family outing to the local playground. Nora's not the most coordinated four year old around…

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aMc42VpjcZs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

…but sometimes she can be quite graceful, like here dancing _sevillanas_.

<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" seamless="seamless" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitAllowFullScreen" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" id="okplayer" width="505" height="505" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 505px; height: 505px;" src="https://vine.co/v/huMvWVvYaP6/card?mute=0"></iframe>

And the girl has some pop-dancing moves, too!

 ![Summer Disco](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-june-2013/15f3fe8adf1311e2b6e522000a1fd512_7.jpg "No video playback capabilities. Upgrade your browser.") 

Here is Nora and her friend, Claudia (also newly a big sister), walking their babies in the park:

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EMPOv8VvnTU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's been an exciting month. The state of the offspring is strong!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-june-2013/9132162929_fa8748f92d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Jamming with the Ras Boys">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-june-2013/9132162929_c84b7c4026.jpg" alt="Jamming with the Ras Boys"/>
</a>

<script async src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


State of the Offspring Address - June 2013


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-tourettes-butcher/2411829700_60f0f8c6ac_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Medium Rare">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-28-tourettes-butcher/2411829700_22821f87eb_t.jpg" alt="Medium Rare"/>
</a>

I'd never met anyone with Tourette's syndrome before…until today. Rather than go to my local grocer for my daily shopping, I went for a bigger purchase to a larger supermarket chain. I needed to get some chicken thighs, so I went to the butcher section. As I arrived, someone was waiting for their lamb chops to be chopped, and another shopper came up to ask where a particular item was in the store. The butcher was very polite and told her it was "down that aisle and on the right". As the woman was walking away, he mumbled, "_¡hijo de puta!_" under his breath. For those of you not versed in Spanish swearing, that's "son of a bitch". I was shocked, but the shopper either didn't hear or didn't respond.  As he was chopping some ribs with a hatchet, a job that requires some fearless strength, he seemed to be going at it with a gusto like he was angry or thinking about an enemy he'd like to punch. I almost made a casual "Thinking of your boss?" comment, but I chose not to. I thought he was genuinely pissed off about something.

That was when I noticed the twitching.

His head flipped hard to the side a few times, and he moved the blade safely into open space.

I ordered my thighs, and he went about preparing them. Then I heard "_¡hijo de puta!_" about six times, and some more twitching. It was both unnerving and hilarious. I immediately felt bad for stifling a smile, but the social awkwardness of random swearing, when it catches you off guard, really is the stuff of comedians.

I began reflecting on the choice of profession. Butchery doesn't really seem like the best career for someone suffering from muscle spasms, but it was good at what he did. When his tics occurred, he moved the knife away from himself, and when he was cutting, the tics didn't happen. As he worked, he joked in a friendly manner with the lady in the adjacent fish section. When he wasn't (apparently) calling me a son of a bitch under his breath, he was exceedingly polite and friendly, with genuine charisma.

What a sad affliction. How many times must people have said, angrily, "_What_ did you just say to me!!?" Probably fewer than the times people have laughed at him. I cannot begin to imagine.

Bravo to the supermarket for daring to employ someone suffering from such disorder in a public facing role. Well done. I will continue to give you my business.


Tourette's Butcher


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136328690_36fc9be043_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Ian is Two Months Old">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136328690_908ae9b96b_t.jpg" alt="Ian is Two Months Old"/>
</a>

Ian has turned two months old today. He's quite a bit bigger, and seems slightly more aware of his surroundings. He's quite a demanding lad, always preferring to be held, and not just "sitting on the sofa with a baby in your arms" held, either; his holder must be pacing around the room to satisfy him. He also enjoys being pushed in the pram, but no matter how peacefully he appears to be sleeping, if you stop for a moment, he'll wake up and complain. When I'm out for a walk with him, I'm often reminded of that bus in [_Speed_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/).  As is a family tradition now in Casa Rasmussen, I made hamburgers for lunch. For drink we had some ice cold cava (Spanish champagne) that was given to us by a Facebook friend of mine. He's a local man that sent me a friend request fairly out of the blue a couple years ago, but now we regularly exchange salutations on the street. He likes to sit outside the bars closest to my house, so we see each other often. That's pretty much the extent of our friendship, but then yesterday, he told me that he had a bottle of cava to give me, to celebrate the birth of my son. He told me he'd leave it with a bartender. Sure enough the next day, I stopped by that bar and there was a bottle waiting for me. Today he informed me that someone had given it to him, and that he's on the wagon, so he chose me to regift it. Pretty awesome, nonetheless.

<iframe width="500" height="515" src="http://pictures.lytro.com/erik/pictures/673968/embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

Party food and beverage.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9134085341_de041c6816_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cheeseburger, Rasmussen Style">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9134085341_04815be445.jpg" alt="Cheeseburger, Rasmussen Style"/>
</a>

I make a damn fine cheeseburger, if I do say so myself. Sautéed onions, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup and mayo.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136331744_0a96706403_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian is Two Months Old">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136331744_e6e2d9a74b.jpg" alt="Ian is Two Months Old"/>
</a>

The birthday boy!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136322884_faaafb0c66_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Two Month Birthday Party">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-25-ian-is-two-months-old/9136322884_2172c6c6d3_z.jpg" alt="Ian's Two Month Birthday Party"/>
</a>

Two months!!

Happy birthday, son.


Ian is Two Months Old


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-noras-english-report-card-year-1/9100911732_54edab4c49_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="English Report Card">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-noras-english-report-card-year-1/9100911732_65786fa8ff_t.jpg" alt="English Report Card"/>
</a>

Today was Nora's last day of school for the year; her first scholastic year is in the books. This school year has _flown_ by. Nora has received three report cards (different columns in the same booklet) throughout the year, and it has been interesting to chart her progress. I'm convinced that the teachers intentionally give low marks early on so that they can show improvement throughout the year, but that's understandable. In each "subject", the children receive a grade of either one, two or three X's, with XXX being the best grade. From the very first time we saw the report card, we were curious as to why she only received XX in English, since she's very clearly bilingual.  I spoke once to her English teacher (in Spanish) about Nora's performance in English class, and she said that Nora is pretty shy and participates pretty minimally in class. Also, bilingual children learn early on that certain environments require certain languages, and she knows the school is a place to speak Spanish. **_But_**, her teacher said, very rarely, Nora will forget that she's in school and will spill out a fully formed English sentence to the English teacher.

Again, after the second trimester, I was disappointed to see only XX for Nora's English grade, but, as I have no concern about her actual knowledge in that area, I didn't bother to speak to the teacher.

So imagine my surprise to see her final report card today.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-noras-english-report-card-year-1/9100911732_54edab4c49_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="English Report Card">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-noras-english-report-card-year-1/9100911732_65786fa8ff.jpg" alt="English Report Card"/>
</a>

The bottom two read:

> I use English as a form of expression in accordance with my possibilities.

and

> I participate and enjoy the games and songs in English

**Out of a score of 1 to 3, she scored a _ZERO_.**

I'm hoping/assuming that the real explanation is that, either the English teacher wasn't available to give the final scores to anyone, or she specially excused Nora from grading because of her bilingualism. In this case, she really might not "participate and enjoy" the English class, and there's no doubt that she doesn't use English "in accordance with her possibilities", so I can't really fault the teacher for marking her down.

Of course bilingual parenting blogs and groups are full of such stories, of students getting poor grades in their "foreign" language classes, either because they are overconfident and don't bother, or because they speak with less accent than the teacher and get marked down for it. It's a funny phenomenon, and I thought I'd add this post to the pile.

**UPDATE** (June 25, 2013) - We just received an email from her teacher saying that she was awarded XXX in both missing boxes for English. Apparently being a big sister really gave her a lot to talk about in English class. Yay!


Nora's English Report Card - Year 1


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101749673_a0253aaa22_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Coconut and pineapple ravioli with passionfruit">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101749673_c40867d753_t.jpg" alt="Coconut and pineapple ravioli with passionfruit"/>
</a>

When our friends Simon and Paola were visiting [last week](/2013/06/18/simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/) from Brussels, we wanted to show off our local cuisine. As you can see from [Simon's blog](http://simonlitton.wordpress.com/tag/gastronaut/), they are fine dining hobbyists, taking advantage of their location in Brussels to try as many Michelin Star restaurants as they can. After I visited them and they took me out to [one of Brussels' finest establishments](/2012/10/18/birthday-dinner-at-comme-chez-soi/), the fine dining bug bit me as well. It really is a fun experience.

After I visited them in October, I took my wife out to our local Michelin Star establishment, _Restaurante Solana_, and we were wowed, especially my wife, who had been dubious about the whole thing. So naturally we wanted to take Simon and Paola to _Restaurante Solana_ to show off what Cantabria has to offer. After writing my [previous blog post](/2012/12/10/restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/) about _Restaurante Solana_, I found the chef, Ignacio Solana, on Facebook and sent him the link. He friended me and shared it on Facebook, which got quite a bit of attention from some of his friends – "Ooh! They're writing about you in English!" I enjoy following him on Facebook because he posts news about his restaurant as well as photos when he goes to conferences where all the good chefs get together to talk about…I don't know…cooking.

The week before we went, I sent him a message on Facebook, telling him, "Hey, remember me? The American who wrote about you in English? Well I'm coming back to your restaurant on Friday and I'm bringing my fine palated friends from The European Capital to evaluate you." I got back a noncommittal, "Okay, we'll be there!" response.

My wife said, "You've probably just changed our menu."

## The Wine

As in many aspects of life, choosing a wine from the extensive (470 options) wine menu is all about confidence and looking like you know what you're doing. I found the level of wine I drink at home, and kicked it up a notch, choosing a _Marques de Vitoria, Reserva_.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9100763507_c64e551036_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Simon and Wine Stream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9100763507_5f0585b56c.jpg" alt="Simon and Wine Stream"/>
</a>

Simon was pleased.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101753811_7ee639d398_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Simon: Food Photographer">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101753811_49df82690b.jpg" alt="Simon: Food Photographer"/>
</a>

I really want one of these wine bottle aerating nozzles. Simon and I, with our dueling Canon 40D's, took a lot of photos. [His are here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonlitton/tags/restaurantesolana/).

## The Food

We ordered the tasting menu. Unless you can afford to go every week, going to a high quality restaurant like this and ordering too much of any one thing is a big mistake, if you ask me. You want to experience as much of the chef's repertoire as possible, since that's what you're paying for.

To remember the names of all the dishes, I used my iPhone's Voice Memos app to record my wife regurgitating – bad choice of words? – every word the waiter said after he left. With every single dish, we were reminded to "Mix the flavors with every bite!" which got a bit old after a while.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9100756973_e685a46f2d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Rustic, onion, olive oil breads">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9100756973_78322359b9.jpg" alt="Rustic, onion, olive oil breads"/>
</a>

_Pan ríºstico, de cebolla y de aceite._

**Rustic, onion, olive oil breads.**

The oil bread was my favorite, but it was very salty.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101727495_6a9e34e670_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tuna tartare, previously marinated, with tomato ice cream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101727495_6e2db9b64c.jpg" alt="Tuna tartare, previously marinated, with tomato ice cream"/>
</a>

_Tartar de bonito, previamente marinado, con un helado de tomate._

**Tuna tartare, previously marinated, with tomato ice cream.**

This was a strong starter dish. It was quite tasty.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101729635_397dcfdba0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Alcachofa a la plancha">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101729635_939c05c5bb.jpg" alt="Alcachofa a la plancha"/>
</a>

_Alcachofa a la plancha. Ha estado confitando en aceite, y ese aceite lo van a encontrar en cada mordisco. Va a estar muy suavecita._

**Grilled artichoke. It has been sweetened with olive oil, and you will find that oil in every bite.**

This was an excellent execution of a strange idea. It was good, but definitely not my favorite.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9103961912_75440d0e24_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Red salmon tartare with avocado and fennel ice cream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9103961912_f380980bbc.jpg" alt="Red salmon tartare with avocado and fennel ice cream"/>
</a>

_Tartar de salmón rojo con aguacate y helado de hinojo._

**Red salmon tartare with avocado and fennel ice cream.**

This was the only dish that was repeated from last time.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9103960070_e8e3e3cdca_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Red salmon tartare with avocado and fennel ice cream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9103960070_cfdd273650.jpg" alt="Red salmon tartare with avocado and fennel ice cream"/>
</a>

What you see in the beakers is the apple juice that was poured on the dry ice under the food to produce the table-enveloping vapor.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101735433_5598baccf0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cloudy Table">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101735433_210e878d3c.jpg" alt="Cloudy Table"/>
</a>

If it were up to me, every dish at every restaurant would be served with this effect. I loved it! The fog was quite appley, too!

[![Untitled](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9097569579_80983ee6ab.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonlitton/9097569579/ "Untitled by simonlitton, on Flickr")

Excited nerdy customer and his beautiful wife.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101737633_1a787bb464_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="White garlic from Malaga, with white asparagus, a Norwegian lobster tail, and tomato tartare">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101737633_aafbf67c08.jpg" alt="White garlic from Malaga, with white asparagus, a Norwegian lobster tail, and tomato tartare"/>
</a>

_Ajo blanco malagueño, con espárrago blanco, una cola de cigala y tartar de tomate._

**White garlic from Malaga, with white asparagus, a Norwegian lobster tail, and tomato tartare.**

We had just been talking earlier in the meal about how the only food I really dislike in Spain is the white asparagus, and then out it came. It was by far the best I've ever had, but it's still a not-so-great taste with a displeasing texture. Although you can serve me anything next to a fresh lobster tail, and I'll be happy.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101744897_43a71f9732_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="White garlic from Malaga, with white asparagus, a Norwegian lobster tail, and tomato tartare">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101744897_6ca890b77a.jpg" alt="White garlic from Malaga, with white asparagus, a Norwegian lobster tail, and tomato tartare"/>
</a>

_Plato de temporada con perrechicos salteados, un huevo hecho a baja temperatura y un poco de torrezno._

**A seasonal dish of sautéd wild mushrooms, a poached egg, and a piece of bacon.**

We joked that this was pretty much a "full English breakfast". Bacon, eggs, and mushrooms. All that was missing was the black pudding and a sausage.

[![Untitled](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9097569071_eb8aa6e1d2.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonlitton/9097569071/ "Untitled by simonlitton, on Flickr")

_Rape con puré de boniato, patata cristalizada y salsa de garbanzos._

**Monkfish with sweet potato puree, crystalized potato and chickpea sauce.**

This dish was so good that I forgot to take a photo of it. The photo is Simon's.

Fish is a food that is _very_ difficult to get right, and, in my experience, it's the best place to identify a really good chef. Anyone can cook a pork chop or a beef steak reasonably well, but fish is really easy to get terribly wrong, and very hard to get just right. I'm pretty sure this was the best monkfish I've ever had.

[![Untitled](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9099805548_68282f222b.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonlitton/9099805548/ "Untitled by simonlitton, on Flickr")

_Cochinillo confitado con melocotón._

**Candied suckling pig with a peach.**

I also missed this one (photo by Simon), but I got it with my light field camera (click around in the image below to refocus!). The suckling pig was the only dish that actually made me moan in pleasure. The meat was as perfect as little piglet can get.

<iframe width="505" height="525" src="http://pictures.lytro.com/erik/pictures/668624/embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

Click to focus on the succulent suckling piglet.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101749673_a0253aaa22_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Coconut and pineapple ravioli with passionfruit">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101749673_c40867d753.jpg" alt="Coconut and pineapple ravioli with passionfruit"/>
</a>

_Ravioli de coco y piña con fruta de pasión._

**Coconut and pineapple ravioli with passionfruit.**

This dish was exciting because it was both very sweet, the ravioli, and very sour, the passionfruit sauce. My wife seemed to feel the sourness more than the rest of us.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101747223_31843f3f44_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sour!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101747223_0e62cfd39e.jpg" alt="Sour!"/>
</a>

Not a face you really want on your restaurant's review, but, on the other hand, I think a chef might like that his customers have very strong visceral reactions to his dishes, in the same way that painters or authors want to evoke emotions in their audience.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101758423_ccbfd7f107_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Caramelized brioche toast with lime ice cream and crunchy orange">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101758423_66bde9edac.jpg" alt="Caramelized brioche toast with lime ice cream and crunchy orange"/>
</a>

_Tostada de pan brioche caramelizada con helado de lima y crujiente de naranja._

**Caramelized brioche toast with lime ice cream and crunchy orange.**

The warm sweetness of the bread was contrasted sharply by the cold sourness of the lime ice cream. The orange was absolutely gorgeous, more so to the eye than to the tongue.

<iframe width="500" height="515" src="http://pictures.lytro.com/erik/pictures/668762/embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

This shot is fun to play with.

That was the end of the tasting menu, but then they brought us a complementary shot of something creamy on a bed of cookie crumbs.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101760247_72f7204bc1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="After dessert sorbet">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/9101760247_ca01155c7c.jpg" alt="After dessert sorbet"/>
</a>

By the time we finished, it was after midnight, and we were the only ones still in the restaurant. As I tried to catch the waitress's eye to ask for the check, I was starting to debate whether or not to ask to see the chef, or just forget about the whole thing.

But just then, out he came!

He walked over to our table, directly to me and shook my hand. He explained that, after I'd mentioned we were coming back, he had looked up the exact menu we had had in December and had made sure to not repeat anything, besides the salmon showpiece. When I reminded him our friends were from Brussels, he said, "Oh yes, I'm familiar with _Comme chez Soi_," the _exact_ restaurant [I'd been to with Simon and Paola](/2012/10/18/birthday-dinner-at-comme-chez-soi/)!

He asked how we enjoyed it and how it compared to the previous time. I was honest and confessed that we had liked the selections better the first time, and that this time, there had been just a little too much stimulation of the sour taste buds. The meal was still very, very good, but less _mindblowingly amazing_ than the first time. We thanked him and he went back into the kitchen.

Already I can't wait to go back!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/8260958048_a998f4592f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Restaurante Solana">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-21-return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/8260958048_da5e0e94fe.jpg" alt="Restaurante Solana"/>
</a>

The evening was very enjoyable, especially because it was our first night out without children since our child inventory doubled, and for the enchanting company and conversation.


Return to Restaurante Solana - Michelin Star Dining in Cantabria


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9078299850_71a449a6af_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Four Climbers - Crop">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9078299850_a8780b2098_t.jpg" alt="Four Climbers - Crop"/>
</a>

Last weekend we received a visit from my internet friends, [Simon](http://simonlitton.wordpress.com/) and Paola, whom I visited in Brussels [last October](/2012/10/16/drinking-beer-in-brussels/). They've been long time readers of this blog and I was excited to get to show them all that I love about my little corner of the world, from the sea to the wine, to the mountains, to the wine, to the food, to the wine. Oh and introduce my family to them. It wasn't easy, but I took a day off work and showed them what we have to offer.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9077811246_5ff36846bf_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora's Princess Dress">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9077811246_d4372c93a1_n.jpg" alt="Nora's Princess Dress"/>
</a>

On the day they arrived, it was drizzling for most of the afternoon, so we stayed at home and chatted for a couple hours. They immediately ingratiated themselves with Nora by giving her a perfectly-fitting princess dress that she absolutely loved, and also by being willing to get down on the floor and play with her. Paola had clearly been looking forward to holding our infant son, and he very much enjoyed her practiced technique, falling quickly into peaceful slumber on her shoulder.

Marga only knew a little bit about Simon and Paola from bits and pieces I've shared with them over the years and from visiting Simon's blog occasionally, so they had a lot to catch up on. Our stories of romance, finding a country in which to live together, and learning each others' languages share many commonalities. There were many questions about our respective school systems and multilingual parenting. It's easy to talk to interesting people.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075565845_a4b3cd61e6_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paola and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075565845_f299c5a85f_m.jpg" alt="Paola and Ian"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9077820482_9ef84f037d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Simon and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9077820482_2f068f2129_m.jpg" alt="Simon and Ian"/>
</a>

Their youngest child is six months younger than Nora. Holding someone else's baby can be a lot of fun, since you can hand it off when a problem arises.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075574681_57d575a9ee_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Building Towers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075574681_ddf28fc349.jpg" alt="Building Towers"/>
</a>

Building towers.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075602881_750b40c1eb_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Skyping With Brussels">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075602881_d5c90358e1.jpg" alt="Skyping With Brussels"/>
</a>

Nora was curious about the Skype call to their kids back home. That she would be this close to strangers after only a few hours shows how much she liked them.

After a walk around town to show off our landscape, we came home for a homemade _tortilla de patatas_, a specialty of mine, and then it was time for bed. Because we planned to go out, the four adults, on Friday night, my in-laws were going to come to babysit, which meant that we didn't have space to sleep everyone, so Simon and Paola stayed in a nearby hotel.

On Friday morning, we went to Laredo. Since our car only seats four people, it was a bit of a [missionaries and cannibals problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missionaries_and_cannibals_problem) to get us all there. I ended up dropping Simon and Paola off in Laredo before returning to get my wife and baby. We had a pleasant walk around Laredo, but soon it was time for me to go back to Colindres to get Nora from school and bring her to Laredo as well. Then we set off for tapas and wine, a mission that lasted several delicious hours.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9062964982_3814d0f353_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Lunch in Laredo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9062964982_9250360848.jpg" alt="Lunch in Laredo"/>
</a>

We know how to relax in Spain.

After lunch, we returned to Colindres in two trips, and rested for a few hours. My in-laws showed up, and just before we were ready to leave for the restaurant, my father-in-law suggested we go down and fix the burned out tail light on our car. He motioned for Simon to come, as he, with his Y-chromosome, must clearly be knowledgable about fixing cars. Simon and I shrugged and followed him down to the car. Strangely enough, the task actually required all three of us, my father-in-law to figure out how to get to the light from inside the trunk, my brawn to unscrew the plastic nut holding the compartment closed, and Simon's observation on how to screw the lightbulb in properly so it made good contact with the electricity.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9062970544_86803ce338_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Spaniard and Brit fixing my car">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9062970544_17bd6fe577.jpg" alt="Spaniard and Brit fixing my car"/>
</a>

The joke just writes itself!

Soon we left for dinner at [Restaurante Solana](/2012/12/10/restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/), but that's a story for [another post](/2013/06/22/return-to-restaurante-solana-michelin-star-dining-in-cantabria/).

On Saturday morning, we decided to take Simon and Paola up to the [Pico de las Nieves](/2008/04/15/el-pico-de-las-nieves/), a nearby mountain that has pretty easy access to the peak. It turned out to be just the right amount of exercise, fresh air, and photographic opportunities.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075623267_dfd418a785_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Simon and Paola and Heart Shaped Forest">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075623267_28ceef24f3.jpg" alt="Simon and Paola and Heart Shaped Forest"/>
</a>

[My photo](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/2415027448/) of this "heart shaped forest" is one of my most popular photos on Flickr. It was perfect for this photo to celebrate [their tenth wedding anniversary](http://simonlitton.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/decade/).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075651639_f56312b0fb_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Simon and Paola and Colindres">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075651639_1818c4b8f2.jpg" alt="Simon and Paola and Colindres"/>
</a>

Simon and Paola and Colindres far below.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075663605_c6311464d8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Four Climbers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075663605_63cea877c8.jpg" alt="Four Climbers"/>
</a>

The four of us on the mountain. Visibility was not perfect, but good enough.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075692755_935b3f4c12_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paella by Marce">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-18-simon-and-paola-visit-from-brussels/9075692755_100676585e.jpg" alt="Paella by Marce"/>
</a>

Upon returning home, we found that my mother-in-law had been busy making one of her delicious paellas for lunch. Since we were a little early, we had time to dart out for a wine or two before lunch. After lunch, I drove Simon and Paola to Bilbao, where they checked into their hotel and then I drove them to the _casco viejo_, the old part of the city and left them to do some shopping.

It was a positively delightful visit with lovely people, all made possible by meeting people on the internet via blogging and social networking. Pretty amazing. I very much look forward to our next encounter, be it in Brussels or Spain.


Simon and Paola Visit From Brussels


The following is a document written by my father, Paul Rasmussen, about his trip to visit us in Spain in June 2013.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062653750_2405e710c6_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Grandpa and Grandson">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062653750_4bd1eabfea_t.jpg" alt="Grandpa and Grandson"/>
</a>

We left Morganton at 1:15pm on Sunday, and landed in Bilbao a little before noon on Monday. It had been just a little more than two months since our last visit, but during that span our second (and probably last) grandchild had entered the world, so we needed to go visit.

I can't sleep when flying overseas, and I find the long flights much easier to tolerate since I stopped trying. The US Airways flight from Charlotte to Madrid did not provide us with seat-back screens, so the selection of movies was out of my control, which explains why I watched _Jack the Giant Killer_, _Die Hard 12_, and _Parental Guidance_. After a three hour layover in Madrid we took a one hour flight to Bilbao. Erik met us at the airport and drove us the rest of the way to Colindres, where we arrived just in time to pick Up Nora as she left school at 1:00pm. After a quick stop at Susinos to buy bread, we walked home and met Ian Rasmussen Matamoros. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062773376_3b0a3d9be9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paul and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062773376_8dd69d98c8_n.jpg" alt="Paul and Ian"/>
</a>

It felt great to hold him. He was beautiful, of course. _Muy guapo_. Physically, he seemed perfect, with gentle blue eyes, and skin so soft I wasn't sure when my calloused fingers made contact. Behaviorally he was almost perfect. He was content and silent when his needs were met, and when he was wet or hungry he communicated with gradually increasing volume. His single flaw was his fondness for being active between 2 and 5 o'clock every morning (although I never witnessed this first-hand). His parents were patient and attentive, and with the exception of his mother's mammary glands, seemed totally interchangeable. His big sister gave him soft kisses every day.

It was wonderful spending time with Nora. At age 4 she was, of course, constantly testing her boundaries, and often seemed selfish and demanding. She latched onto her Grandma immediately and never let her go. The following scene played out many times.

Marga or Erik: "Nora, you are doing the pee-pee dance. Do you have to go pee-pee? Nora: "No." Parent: "Nora, you need to go. Go to the bathroom now." Nora: "No!" Grandma: "Well, I need to go. Do you want to come Nora, and go too?" Nora: "OK."

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062747234_f93640bac0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062747234_b04b9eac9d_n.jpg" alt="Nora"/>
</a>

As on our last visit, I was enormously impressed with Nora's multilingual fluency. When spoken to in Spanish, she responds in Spanish; when spoken to in English, she responds in English. While I would guess that her fluency in Spanish exceeds her fluency in English, I have no way of knowing. All I know is that when I speak to her as I would to an adult, she seems to understand every word, and she surprised me every day with expressions like "easy-peasy", and "So there!"

I slipped easily into my Colindres routine. I was dressed by 7:30am, and left home around 7:50am. I stopped at the _Bar La Mar_ for a _café con leche grande_, and occasionally a _zumo de naranja natural_. Shortly after 8:00am I stopped in at the _cruasanterí­a_, where I was usually the first customer of the day. Although a closer bakery sold croissants for three for a euro, I didn't mind paying treble here. For Nora (and me) I usually chose the fresh, hot _napolitano de chocolate_. Back home by 8:15am I almost always found the table set, and the coffee almost ready.

My Spanish family tends to enjoy breakfast in their pajamas, and to dress afterwards. Nora, attached as always to Betsy, would go upstairs a little before 9:00am, and descend, looking as cute as a button around 9:20am, perhaps with enough time to sweep up the pastry crumbs under Grandpa's chair and elsewhere. At 9:27am, Erik, Betsy and I walked Nora to school. At 9:30am the school's siren sounded, and the older students ran in. At 9:31am Nora's teacher, Viky, appeared at the door, and Nora gave Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa a kiss, and along with her 23 classmates, raced to form a line in front of Viky, each one grabbing the jacket or shirt of the student in front of them, as they had all year. Like a train, they followed Viky into the school.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060512349_9062f5765e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Betsy and Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060512349_811cb30775_n.jpg" alt="Betsy and Nora"/>
</a>

When the students were gone, the parents and grandparents socialized for another few minutes, and then we made the 30 second walk to Susinos grocery store to pick up whatever was needed for lunch that day, except for bread. Back at home, Erik would try to get some work done before preparing lunch. Betsy and I read or attended to Ian. Around noon we put Ian in his stroller and went for a walk, stopping at one or two bars for a wine and tapas. One o'clock found us at the school, ready to meet Nora when she ran out. Back across the street at Susinos, we bought the daily two loaves of bread, and then headed home for lunch.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062737444_2e2929f26e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Betsy and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9062737444_62d8a8b3a8_n.jpg" alt="Betsy and Ian"/>
</a>

After lunch, Erik goes to his office to work, Marga takes care of Ian, and Nora sets the agenda for Betsy and me. My favorite game was "Doctor", where I got to be the Doc. She would choose one of her five dolls, put it in the stroller, and go sit on the couch (the "waiting room"). From the chair, six feet away, I would ignore her for a bit, then call out "Nora Rasmussen Matamoros". She would then get up, come into my "office", and hand me her baby. I would use the three items in her Doctor Kit that I knew how to use, the stethoscope, the ear-nose-scope, and the knee hammer. Then I would look at her gravely while she looked at me intently, and deliver the news. One baby was perfectly healthy, and one was pretty sick and had to stay with me for a day on the telephone stand which served as my Infirmary. The others all had a problem for which I had a solution, which always depended on Momma Nora making sure that the child took something or wore something which would over time lessen the problem. I stressed to her that the baby would not want to, but that she, the mother, must insist. Neither of us ever cracked a smile, which almost cracked me up.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060437643_9f925c6678_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Silly Putty With Grandma">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060437643_09895565ed.jpg" alt="Silly Putty With Grandma"/>
</a>

The game I enjoyed the least was "Bad Guy and Two Policemens (sic)". I probably would have enjoyed this game if I had ever gotten to be a cop. I was constantly expected to stuff things into my pockets and my shirt. I never enjoyed more than 20 seconds of freedom before I was detained, searched and incarcerated on the couch. I was expected to escape by stealing the jail key hanging out the back pocket of the jailer as she swept the floor, but I was never able escape for more than 20 seconds before my disappearance was noted and the search of the lower floor (minus Daddy's office) began.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060414981_c8dcc73702_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandpa and Grandson">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9060414981_f51445a6b1.jpg" alt="Grandpa and Grandson"/>
</a>

I was amazed at how great Marga looked five weeks after giving birth to my huge grandson. I try not to think about the whole birth thing. It seems too amazing for words, and I can't think without words. I do suspect that if it was a 50/50 thing that determined at conception whether the man or the woman bloated 'til birth, the world overpopulation problem would be solved.

On Saturday afternoon, Marga's parents arrived. They seemed pretty enthralled with Ian, and always bring presents for Nora. Juan and I experimented with an iPad translation app, with mixed results. At 8:30pm we crossed the street to the Catholic Church. There we were instructed by the Priest's assistant what to expect at the baptism portion of the next day's 12:30pm service. Marce, who would play Godmother to my Godfather, asked a few questions, but it all went well over my head. Back home Erik explained that, when asked a question, I, along with Marce should respond "_Sí­. Estamos dispuestos_".

We shared dinner, then retired, and in the morning we all enjoyed some delicious pastry that Marga's parents had brought from Mondragón. Sister Belén arrived, and soon all the women were applying makeup on each other. I went upstairs, put on my suit, tied my tie the right length the first time, put on my Dad's dark socks and my Spanish shoes, and went downstairs to wait.

Shortly after noon a passel of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews arrived, and at 12:20pm we all sauntered to church. We arrived with perfect timing, and at 12:30pm the service began with some fine guitar playing and singing. Before long it was our turn, and Marga, Erik, Ian, Marce and I stepped to the front and faced the priest and the 150 or so parishioners. I must fear God, because inside my pants, my legs shook, and the last time that happened was my 1973 wedding. I mean, I've worked bigger crowds, and had bigger parts.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006649020_53912bcdb1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006649020_bbe1274d04.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
</a>

The priest sprinkled water on Ian, and mopped it up with the white cloth Erik had been instructed to provide, and Ian played his part perfectly with a few snorts and no crying. I think when the time came I probably mumbled my line distinctly, and before long we were back in the first pew enjoying the rest of the service, including the collection and the communion. When the service was over, we took a few pictures and then the priest's assistant turned out the lights.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006690068_583ee475d2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006690068_9154458e31.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
</a>

We all retired to the _Comarca_ bar about two blocks away. Some had coffee, and some beer, but the drink of choice was a glass of Rioja. Soon we walked back to the area around Erik's place and organized a caravan to Laredo. There we walked to the restaurant selected by Marga and Erik, and our party of 20 enjoyed a marvelous four hours in a private room between 2:30pm and 6:30pm. The food was delicious. The Rioja was _reserva_. From one appetizer to another to another; from the entrée to the dessert to the coffee to the liqueur to the liqueur - I enjoyed it all. My Spanish family really knows how to party.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006716014_734c43592f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Grandfathers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9006716014_e93b2d0d57.jpg" alt="Ian's Grandfathers"/>
</a>

On Monday, Marce and Juan headed home, and Nora went back to school. For me, things went back to Colindres normal, and Tuesday was more of the same, except that shortly after lunch, Erik drove Betsy and me to the Bilbao airport. We had explained for days to Nora that we would be returning to America, but when it came time to leave, Nora became disconsolate. I'm sure she would have happily kissed me goodbye if I had been leaving Grandma there with her, but as it was, she couldn't stop crying. I think Betsy took this for what it was - the highest of compliments.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9005585201_579e115424_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9005585201_3530b3e9a1.jpg" alt="Nora and Ian"/>
</a>

It had been wonderful seeing, holding and cooing over Ian. Erik and Marga are great parents; so patient and responsive. I am very happy being both Ian's godfather and grandfather. I plan to play my roles well.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9005502073_94a7719227_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-16-meeting-ian/9005502073_d9bcffd3b5.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
</a>


Meeting Ian


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9008318130_0d5f8a1ca2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Mother and Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9008318130_e027e26b1f_t.jpg" alt="Mother and Child"/>
</a>

We baptized Ian this past Sunday, June 9, 2013. Personally, I don't believe that splashing some water on a baby means anything at all, but some people I care about do, so I was happy to participate, especially since it meant having a big party to celebrate the birth of my son, something I _do_ feel very happy and celebratory about. It was the very first mass I've attended in the town church that has been ringing its bells next to my house for the past eight years.  First we went to a meeting the night before where an assistant of the priest (the priest was busy) ran us through the script of what would be said and what we were supposed to respond. My father, who would be anointed as Ian's Godfather, even learned to say "_Estamos dispuestos_" (We are willing) to respond to the question of whether or not he and my mother-in-law accepted their role as godparents. We were informed that it was important to speak up and respond to each question, but when the time came, the priest accepted some mumbling from the Americans involved.

The baptism was quick and painless, only about 9 minutes of the half-hour mass. It felt like it was time to sit back down just as soon as we got up to the front of the church. Ian was the only baptize-ee that day. The rest of the service was quite pleasant, a lot of it filled with some good guitar music and singing.

After church we headed out to a bar, but there were twenty of us in our group, and just getting the drink orders taken and handed out took up most of our boozing time before we had to get in our cars and head to Laredo to park and have lunch. The weather was nasty, windy and drizzly, all day, but it let up for the important times when we had to all walk from the car to the restaurant and then back again several hours later.

We chose [_El Curro_](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Restaurante-el-Curro/116925971692927) as our venue, a favorite from [the](/2008/12/22/semana-del-pincho-%E2%80%93-laredo/) [Semana](/2009/12/22/semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/) [del](/2010/12/24/semana-del-pincho-3/) [Pincho](/2011/12/24/semana-del-pincho-4-laredo/) and other outings. The name always cracks me up because it's a slang for "work", as in "Well, I've got to go to…" or the answer to, "Where have you been all this time?" Their offering was reasonably priced. Unlike Spanish weddings, where each guest supplies some money to cover the cost of the meal, Spanish baptism meals are paid for entirely by the parents. The restaurant gave us an entire dining room with a long table and sofa all to ourselves. It was perfect!

Both Nora and Ian were _very_ well behaved throughout the day, being doted upon by aunts that rarely get to see them.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9006649020_53912bcdb1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9006649020_bbe1274d04.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
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They gave me a candle for some reason. The "Light of Christ" or some such metaphor…except then we were instructed to extinguish it, so I didn't really understand.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005487715_067bc98761_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005487715_4baeba79fa.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
</a>

My wife, her parents and I are one of the instances in which a parabola appears in Nature.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9006690068_583ee475d2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian's Baptism">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9006690068_9154458e31.jpg" alt="Ian's Baptism"/>
</a>

Ian with his sister, parents and four grandparents.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005538211_afb6292de6_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Belén and Marga">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005538211_ea0e148834.jpg" alt="Belén and Marga"/>
</a>

Belén and Marga, beautiful sisters.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/3551506428_ed20f6a62c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Loving Grandfather">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/3551506428_f40666fddc.jpg" alt="Loving Grandfather"/>
</a>

Here they are four years ago at [Nora's Baptism](/2009/05/21/noras-baptism-pictures/). Their grandfather is [sorely missed](/2011/12/02/ramon-hidalgo-caballero-1920-2011/), especially at such family gatherings.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005549171_885891d1dd_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Handsome Devil">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005549171_216ffcda5e.jpg" alt="Handsome Devil"/>
</a>

The handsome devil in this portrait was so good looking I had to take a photograph of the work of art.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005563227_4b7a008cf3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora and Alba">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005563227_fb1028bc4a.jpg" alt="Nora and Alba"/>
</a>

Nora played very well with her second cousin, Alba, whom she had never met.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005585201_579e115424_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9005585201_3530b3e9a1.jpg" alt="Nora and Ian"/>
</a>

Responsible big sister.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9007077633_617aae68ed_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="French Open Final">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9007077633_e4555307b2.jpg" alt="French Open Final"/>
</a>

At some point someone turned on the all-Spaniard 2013 French Open final. Nadal beat Ferrer.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9007133893_4fbbf979fa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Drunk Clown">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9007133893_3503291997.jpg" alt="Drunk Clown"/>
</a>

Okay, no more wine for that guy!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9008318130_0d5f8a1ca2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mother and Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-10-ians-baptism/9008318130_e027e26b1f.jpg" alt="Mother and Child"/>
</a>

Mother and babe, lit from above.

It was a wonderful day with good food, good wine, and good family.


Ian's Baptism


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-05-fire-on-the-hill/8962901336_8be005f9cb_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Fuego Colindres - Junio 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-05-fire-on-the-hill/8962901336_841d7b1abe_t.jpg" alt="Fuego Colindres - Junio 2013"/>
</a>

For the first time _all year_, we've had sunny weather with blue sky. Except that we've had a big cloud of smoke over our town for those two days. There has been a controlled burning of a forest on a nearby hill. It's [a favorite forest of mine](/2009/01/30/sunrise-through-forest/), because it's where the sun [and moon](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/8678337013/) first appear on the horizon during the winter months. Luckily the smoke has stayed high above the town, but today I noticed that all the cars were covered in a light dusting of ash.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-05-fire-on-the-hill/8963070642_f09e961969_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Colindres Fire - June 5, 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-06-05-fire-on-the-hill/8963070642_9185da9a06.jpg" alt="Colindres Fire - June 5, 2013"/>
</a>

As to the reasons for the fire, I turn to two fans of the town's Facebook page.

Justo says:

> They cut down the eucalyptus trees. Then all the stubble that remains after the logging is burned. That way the land is cleaned and prepared for the new planting of more eucalyptus trees.

Carlos says:

> It's a controlled burn, a bit of forestry work that is carried out with some regularity. What this work achieves is it removes the remains from the logging and pruning, which are used as bait for the insects and pests that colonize these remains. This way they can eliminate the remains and halt pests without using chemical products. Of course these fires are created under authorization and supervision, always on a day of low forest fire risk (temperatures below 30Â°C and wind under 25 kph). What is definitely true, however, is that they can seem outrageous.

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9 posts from June, 2013