No chimney. No problem.

When Spain adopted the whole Santa thing, oh, about 20 years ago, it was too late to add chimneys to the buildings here and keep the Santa story exactly the same.   Kids in Barcelona already had two holiday traditions involving gifts.  A smiley faced log who poops presents after you sing a song, hit it with a stick and go upstairs to pray.  And the three kings who bring gifts after a celebratory arrival in parade at Epiphany.  But, where there is a will, and a pile of gifts, there is a way.  So, over the balcony goes Santa!

For more on the holidays in Barcelona, here is an article Mary just sent me...http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/travel/a-catalan-christmas.html?emc=eta1