Back in Barcelona

Things have slowed down now that we are back in Barcelona. We still do a lot of walking and exploring of the city and beaches. Other than exploring, shopping and relaxing, the main thing that we have been doing is eating! I think I gained 10 pounds. We went to incredible Italian and Indian restaurants yesterday and had a typical local lunch of bocadillas today. We saved the best for last, as we are going to "the best" Catalan restaurant tonight for dinner (dinner starts around 9 or 10pm). Hopefully, we'll cheer Spain on into the finals of the European Cup tonight as they face Russia. Tomorrow will be spent on trains and plains as I make my way back to CT.

San Sebastian and El Camino de Santiago

Just back from San Sebastian, or Donostia. We flew to Donostia on Monday, checked into our hotel and began exploring. We stopped in the main plaza for pintxos, infamous bite-sized versions of tapas, but of a style and artistic flare unique to the Basque region (a semi-autonomous region called Pais Vasco in Spanish or Euskadi in Euskara). Before we new it the locals were setting up for a celebration of San Juan (see San Sebastian slide show). After the dance, music and more food, we explored the town and turned in early. Tuesday, we hiked part of the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage route. The 16 km trek took us through a spectacular mountainous range with incredible views of the ocean and small farms. After our train ride back to Donostia we shopped, walked the town and ATE!
Slideshow of San Sebastian

Hiking the Serra de Collserola

Today was quite a different day, not much of a city day. We woke up early and took a train up to the base of the local mountain range and park. We had hoped to hop on a cog railway train to the summit then hike over the range and into the next town on the other side. When we arrived at the cog railway it was closed, so we just hiked up to the summit of the Serra de Collserola, avoiding the heat by bushwaking in the woods. After a brief stop to enjoy the summit views of Barcelona and its surroundings, we began the long decent on the other side of the mountain range. We made it to Sant Cugat by lunch time (2:00 pm), rested in a shady park and then ate at a street cafe. After the train ride back to Barcelona we watched Spain play Italy in the European Cup cheering on Spain with the locals. Tomorrow we are off to San Sebastian on the Atlantic coast so I may not be able to post for a day or two.
Slideshow of Barcelona

A Gaudi Morning

Fred and I woke up early to beat the crowds at la Sagrada Familia, a most incredible temple predominately designed by Gaudi. Construction began in 1882 and is still under way. No one knows when it will be finished. I have to say it is one of the most impressive sights built by humans that I have ever seen. We shopped for dinner at the local market, then napped in preparation for an evening cooking with one of Fred's friends, Mirea. We cooked an Italian style dinner with fresh clams, giant local shrimp (langostino), tomatos, chard, pasta, etc., then talked the night away.

First Day in Barcelona

After a long flight, I arrived at Fred's apartment mid-morning on Friday. I went straight to sleep. After a short nap, Fred and I walked the beach for several hours and had a fantastic paella lunch on the boardwalk. We explored several neighborhoods by foot and stopped for tea. I had yerba mate, a tea drank with a straw that I haven't had since my days in Argentina 12 years ago. It was fabulous. At night we did some more exploring and ate tapas before retiring to bed early. We slept to the sound of a street concert just below our windows. I slept really well!