First four days

This has been a whirlwind four days, especially as jet lag lingers. I cannot believe it has only been four days. Will met us at the airport, as promised, and we had our first meal in a sidewalk cafe, tapas and beers. The sidewalk cafes are everywhere on the broad streets, as well as the narrow streets of the old quarter. There is a laidback feeling to the city, because of the cafes, and there are many beautiful people on the streets. It is a beautiful city, with restaurants everywhere (like NYC), but slower and friendlier (like Richmond). I could easily live here.

It is difficult to give you all the details of these days, but I will hit the highlights:

Still sleepy, but getting a Sim card for our phones. Just data. You can contact me on Whats App or Face time.

First evening, We met Marta for Tapas on Carrer de Blai, with an amazing array on the counter. Pick what you want. They count the toothpicks to charge you at the end.

Second Day, we walked ten miles with Will, up a small hill to "the Bunkers" to see a 360 degree view of the city. This day included several stops at sidewalk cafes, and a picnic lunch on top of the hill. And did I say the weather is amazing? Not too hot, blue skies. Rain that evening lasted about 30 minutes so we ate inside for a change.

Very civilized people here. A public bathroom at the top of the mountain in a container, toilet paper and towels included!

Third day, a "free" walking tour. (You tip the guide of course.) This was a fantastic tour with history lessons in the old quarter. Then we went to Marta's to stay, because she is gone for two weeks. We walked to a wonderful light show at the Magic Fountains, just below Mont Juic. No pics of that, you just have to be there. They do it four nights a week for free! I have a bundle of pics from the tour, can't decide which ones.

 Cathedral of Barcelona, took two centuries to build

 Memorial to Catalonians 

Our guide Theo

 Apartments above Roman columns monument

 Flag with star is for Catalonia

 Palace courtyard, site of Inquisition executions

 Historic Archives, David rubbing the turtle for luck on the Modernist mailbox added for the Bar Association: leaves symbolizing the complexity of the law, birds representing the freedom of the law, and the turtle symbolizing the slow movement of the law.

 Marketplace Santa Caterina

 Roman columns, with apartments built around them!

Working Man's church, Santa Maria del Mar

 Site of Bomb 1939 that killed 42 children

 Memorial to Catalonians over ruins of their houses

 Apartments over Roman columns

 Two flags flying

 Sant Geordi

 Inside Santa Maria del Mar, stairs to organ loft

 Ancient synagogue ruins, not much Jewish community here. Many killed in 1391, then any more left at beginning of Inquisition in 1492.

Fourth day, we finally laid around for a morning. In the afternoon, we walked over to the Modern Art Museum which is in the Palace on Mont Juic. Will had found out that Saturday afternoons were free. Really amazing to see Miro, Gaudi, Jujol, etc. And another fantastic view of the city.

In front of Miro mural