There and back again with Bob, Anna, Shirley & Paul

11/9/2022

Great buffet breakfast in the restaurant at the top of the hotel – both American and European fare. Then an 8 mile ramble from the hotel to the Ramblas, down the Ramblas to the Columbus column and along the waterfront.

Then up through the Gothic quarter to the Cathedral (amazing), up the fancy street to Casa Batllo, and back over to the Ramblas for some tapas.

We made our way back to the hotel enjoying steady walk, great weather, and people watching.

Tapas on the Ramblas

We were able to relax a bit at the hotel before we started the La Sagrada Familia tour at 2:30. Traffic in the city is really bad; there are just too many cars, scooters, bikes, and vespas. But when you build in the time to account for delays, it’s all good.

La Sagrada Familia makes one’s hair stand on end; it is beyond impressive, and no words or pictures could convey the wonder. Even the professionally done you-tube videos we watched prior to the trip paled when confronted with the real thing. Shirley and Paul saw progress in the construction since 2018; the Marian Tower is complete (and awesome). Our tour provided ample time to take it in and our guide was quite knowledgeable and helpful. We were back in the hotel to freshen up at 6:30.

The afternoon sun in LSF

Interior of LSF

On the tour (Pau hospital a UNESCO site).

They eat late here in Barcelona, so, on the advice of a nearly local (Paul’s friend Fran Soutuyo) we ate at Asador de Aranda in the Eixample. An 8 Euro cab ride and voila’ we were there as they opened at 8 PM! They said the steaks were good and we saw an aged rib eye for 50 Euros – the waiter said it was enough for 3 people so Bob and I split it. They didn’t ask how we wanted it – strange … until they brought a very hot piece of iron and a platter of thinly sliced aged rib eye … I mean a platter. Needless to say Bob and I demolished the very, very tasty piece of beef. Paul enjoyed grilling and the pieces turned out perfectly medium rare (for the most part). Shirley had a tasty cod and Anna had the chicken + a few tapas. We walked back to settle the large meal and felt very safe.