Barcelona

“…..finally to reach Barcelona is like drinking a respectable red wine and finishing with a bottle of champagne”

-James A Michener

The airport ride to my hotel went smoothly I had arrived on a long weekend where the region was celebrating Catalonia day so not a lot of traffic so I made for good time to my Hotel which was by the sea with a balcony to to get fresh air The hotel had 2 pools ground level and roof top I fount the roof top cold as the wind was blowing but the ground level was protect and it made lazing by the pool excellent.

After a good nights sleep I set off first dat to Guadi basilica (Sagrada Família) it still under construction since 1882 it’s still a work in progress. I pre purchased my ticket which is the best way to get a ticket the basilica was grand and big I think the outside was more spectacular than the inside .

I strolled through the streets all had different architecture the streets were relatively empty due to the regional holiday. I stopped to people watch at the Barcelona cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) it was completed in 1449 it has five aisles with the outside aisles divided into 9 chapels dedicated to different saints. . The church is names after a virgin martyrs named Eulalia who was 13 when murdered . To honour her and to ensure to spirits are happy they maintain 13 white geese in the cloisters.

Next I headed towards the Las Ramblers (Mercat de San Josep ) which is in the Main Street of Barcelona this a local food market I think everyone in Barcelona was there to find lunch so much wonderful food not sure exactly where to start I wandered a bit and selected some cod cakes, empanadas, calamari and white bait all delicious and all very cheap.

Next on my list was a walking food tour it was a 9.00 start with coffee and Barcelona style fried egg and sausages plus some wonderful bread the coffee was very good. The off to the fresh market to discuss all the wonderful good the seafood was amazing as was the meat they had rabbits to buy as well as a stall selling just the inside of the animal. The fruit and veg look delicious we had a sample plate of cheese and deli meet I did like the cheese selection but the meats were a bit salty for me. Wandering through the street we end at a local cafe where we have a vermouth and Soda with some cod cakes and cuttlefish cakes with ink so yummy. Then on to a local barker where traditional cakes and chocolate yummy again. Moving on to the for more cod cakes and some different sausages and the final dish of slow cooked beef check so yummy all washed down with a glass of red wine. The final snack was a churro and chocolate. Then it was time to say goodbye to everyone so I wondered through the narrow alley ways. apologies some of the photos have a pink light not sure why

Barcelona is home to Picasso with a family museum dedicated to his entire family in a beautiful building the gallery has a lot of works but is missing most notable pieces from his blue period and the cubism period I’d still recommend going as it takes more through his life.

I spent to final day wandering around the harbour it was Sunday with a lot to see and many small markets to explore. Some of the yachts in the harbour were amazing as were all, the restaurants I wasn’t sure where and what to eat so I had seafood pizza sorry forgot to take a photo. I was going to Christopher Columbus status but it was closed for renovation.

Some photos of the wonderful laneways to wonder through in Barcelona