Barcelona Day One Continue & Day Two
From the wine stop we headed straight to Barcelona, with just one stop to eat and swap me in for Mike. Mike had a very good pig knuckle meal and Marucia found more Santiago cake (no gluten!). GL and her both love it. We got to the airport around 6 – lots of time to return car (one week early), what a fiasco. In the end Hertz agreed to take it early for no extra fee! GL and Marucia argued for quite some time to little avail, (other then extra fee voided). GL will need to take it up when back at home. Also tried to do seat check-in and flight confirmation with Air Canada/Lufthansa but no luck; we will have to try on-line in Hotel.
We met Derek with no problems and we shared 2 taxis to the hotel. Had a welcome champagne on the 8th floor. Our rooms are on the 2nd with a view of a wall! but roomy and big bathroom and easy to walk up to. Se we unpacked then headed for dinner to place recommended by friend of Derek’s Was quite good. You got a drink and a plate, then took the tapas you wanted and paid per toothpick when done. Had chorizo/bread, herb cheese with jam, tuna tart with artichoke, pate with chutney, slice goat cheese/cherry tomatoes.
Again lots of street activity especially on a Saturday night. But the restaurants all closed by 12:30. Guess the bar scene starts then. We decided to meet and 9am to hike up to Parc Guelle. Marucia had asked to move for a better view and so at 9am we had to fully pack up and leave our luggage in Dereks room for the day.
By 10 we started off for the day stopping for coffee and croissant. After headed to the Gaudi church Familia. There were huge crowed with the line up going around half the church. We decided to check the outside and return a week day to see the inside. We then headed up to the park; a good walk up; but there was an escalator 🙂 Walked through the upper park first then to the main section. It was so crowed that you could not even see it! I got frustrated with the volume of people and we decided we had enough and so back down with eyes open for lunch en route. We found an ok spot. M&I shared shrimp and a waldorf type salad and frites. Decent meal and funny waiter. Then back for a map. We got our new rooms on the 7th floor with a nice view but smaller bathroom.
After a quick nap we reconvened for wine in our room. Marucia went to mass during our nap. Had a very good Rioja from the winery. Mike/GL/M went to in Abalos and the Granache was great.
Got Jasmine on Skype too. Gave her lots of confusing chatter. Lent Derek a cable to charge his phone – which he immediately misplaced so spent time searching everywhere for that – did eventually find it. Made him use it here!
After much trip adviser/googling found a place open on Sunday with good reviews. It was around the corner so that made GL happy too. Cerrezeria Catalanya – was a great find(had to leave our name – 1 1/4hr wait so left for a beer elsewhere and returned in 1 hour). Well worth the wait for E100 all five of us ate with bottle wine, coffees and deserts too. Favourites were the shrimp skewers, the veg with goat cheese, crispy Camembert, (also prosciutto on toast, potato, veal/gorg on bun)…probably more … then back for bed. Derek took his phone/computer. and will meet up @ 10 this morning.