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Published: December 15th 2011
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At Last!!
A kitchen! BARCELONA
THURSDAY - 24 NOVEMBER
Drove from Les Brunels through the Pyrenees and into Spain. The Pyrenees are already capped in snow on the highest peaks. Very pretty, especially since we could enjoy them from a distance. Architecture has changed again. Also, the vegetation changed as we left the “Midi” in the Pyrenees and turned toward the East. The highway follows the Med from Narbonne in France to the Spanish border. We turned inland a bit, and stopped for some lunch and a break. Directions were right on, this time! Yay! Found our hotel and checked in. Well, this is probably the largest and nicest place we have stayed in so far. There are 4 rooms—kitchen(YIPPEE!), 2 bedrooms and a sitting/dining room. Plus nice terrace off the sitting room and a small one off the kitchen. Since the apartment building charges 22e/day for guest parking, we decided to take the car to the airport early and return via the Metro. By the time we returned to the city it was dinner time but too late to cook, since we had not yet shopped. So we found a Turkish place in the neighborhood and had Turkish food on
La Sagrada Familia
Part of the exterior Thanksgiving. Not quite turkey, etc. But we can have that for Christmas. Had a great sleep.
FRIDAY – 25 NOVEMBER
Slept in today, but went out and down the street to the little grocer to stock up. Came back, had breakfast and looked for a place with wi-fi. Our building was being re-wired, and a connection was not available. Found a McD's, bought a couple of coffees, and checked email. Walked down 2 blocks to the cathedral of the Sacred Family for a tour. (Sagrada Familia) It was designed mostly by Gaudi, who also spent the last 20 years of his life overseeing the building, but it is still not finished. Cornerstone was set in the 1880s and completion is expected between 2026 and 2030. It is roughly 60% completed at this time. A very different style of building, but still beautiful. All the stained glass has been completed and will be installed in the next 4 months. (Sorry we will miss this---a reason to return!) The exterior is different on all sides, as is the interior. Gaudi believed in integrating art with nature and his architecture is seen all over Barcelona. Stopped at a florist
La Sagrada II
The austere passion side afterward to pick up a bunch of flowers, and ended up with 3 mini pointsettias to have on our table. Tonight, coq-au-vin for dinner in our apartment.
26 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY
Hopped onto the Metro and headed to the Plaza Espana. Looked around a bit, then asked a local for directions to the Poble Espanyol This little village was created for a World Expo around the 1890s and was destined to be dismantled afterward. Luckily, the value of keeping it as a tourist attraction was realized. Every region or province of Spain is represented from artisans to food to architecture.
Cooking class later today. Can't wait! Mike and I went over to the location ahead of time so I would not be late for class. Found it easily, and a nearby bar where Mike could wait, have a burger & beer while I was in class. There were 14 of us, including the instructor, Lluis (you EES). We made a fresh tomato shot, Spanish tortilla, paella and Catalan crème for dessert. We started at 5:30 and finished at 10. Great fun! Back onto the Metro and back to the apartment.
27 NOVEMBER – SUNDAY
After seeing so many things in so many weeks, this was to be a slower day. We took the city tour bus and just listened to the recorded guide. We did get off at the Pedralbes monastery and toured the museum. Learned a lot about how and why this was built. Queen Elisenda wanted a place to withdraw to after her husband died, as most royalty and wealthy women did. Hopped back on the bus and went to a transfer point to see another part of the city. Met some nice folks from Florida who were headed to Rome the next morning to catch a cruise departing there for Ft. Lauderdale. Wind was sharp and we were getting really cold, so we decided to get off and take the Metro back to the apartment. Stopped at the little grocery store to pick up food for dinner. Had braised pork chops in a mushroom and wine sauce. YUM! Had pretty much finished off the groceries other than breakfast.
28 NOVEMBER – MONDAY
Finished off the juice and bread for breakfast, then packed
up and got ready to leave for the cruise. Had a couple of hours left and just spent them walking around the neighborhood. Stopped for a glass of wine at a cafe and watched the people go by. A great way to finish our stay in Barcelona. When it was time, the hotel clerk called for our taxi to the ship.
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