Abc, Nadya, Brooklyn, CocoC, Shevia, Beth Ann, Lyn, Suz --
Pardon my delayed response -- body clock gone wild. Thanks for the kind words, hope it's ok I respond more in themes than individually this time.
Re the legs
I must bow to the power of tonal hosiery plus the pointed toe (whether in shoe design or posing)!
Speaking along similar lines -- I saw LOTS of legs on display in mini to micro-mini skirts even in the allegedly more conservative Barcelona. Tights or leggings underneath, obvious youth not a factor. So you butt-skirt YLFers are being very Euro.
Re the (ARA Tilly) stretch knee-high boots
German comfort brand. They're actually a dark brown microsuede (with black patent heel) and I think this is my 3rd winter with them. Bought half-price at the time (quickly repeated in black leather) so prob tough to find now but you could explore the brand. Gore-Tex-coated.
Comfortable in general but more so with a hard plastic Superfeet insert -- in fact they were my winners for the trip over my Clarks and Eccos (used same insert).
Link to a version here: http://www.amazon.com/ara-Till.....B005ADRFNW
Re the outfits
Thanks to all with a shout out to my fellow blues-lovers. Maybe because I walk a fair bit for my commutes these are the easiest trips for me to plan for -- it's the more casual hiking/swimming ones that get me!
The trip was def a walking-centric one -- and we actually used the metro less than we thought in Barcelona. But man -- those full days walking and/or standing on hard museum floors always take a while for me to adjust to (and Mr V in his uber-practical shoes felt the same way).
Nadya, Brooklyn -- I've seen some of the items you have in your closet so I have no doubt you guys could just bring your usual style with you!
CoCo -- I'll post separately re what I took though it's not that exciting. I'm generally a horrible overpacker even though I only do carry-on, ha. And YES to loving Park Guell and the other Gaudi sites we decided to tour. Congrats on 30+ years of non-smoking. Just noticed there are a few cigarette butts in at least one my photos...they were everywhere!
Re the hair
Again, group thanks for the reassurances! Lyn, I will try not to give in to all-over coloring until I'm finally grown out and can evaluate the whole package!
Shevia -- your bias is deserved and because you and I have very similar hair you have been a big inspiration! I love your avatar and current cuts and the ombre has me teetering on going shorter again (not great with my face shape, I've had pixie to mid-back over the years). So I may rejoin Club Shorter soon....
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Suz -- I'm good at doing nothing but bad at relaxing. So thanks for that comment! Travel tends to make us feel like lovebirds (15 years and counting) and we did get a free pastry one day with our lunch so maybe our happiness was contagious. A good reminder that I need to work on more day-to-day happiness for those in my life!