Home from Spain

First, a few details of our last dinner.  The walk was only 15 minutes - not bad even though it sprinkled on us.  First course was tapas: potatoes bravas, fried calamari, fried eggplant sticks, fried shrimp wrapped in wontons, and pita with hummus, and two others. Main course: choice of pork loin, or duck confit.  Dessert: Mint chocolate chip ice cream, brownie with ice cream, or flan with citrus sauce.  Delicious!  It had stopped raining by the time we walked back.
We took a taxi to the Barcelona airport at 10 am.  It is a big airport with lots of walking.  We flew on a AirBus 380 (double-decker) with over 400 passengers.  Cool design, but they forget to tell you how long it takes to load and unload that many disorganized people.  Of course, we had ‘chicken or pasta.’ We did sleep a little.  Landed at OHare around 7:00 pm.  Apparently others did, too. By 8:45 pm, we had gone through customs and had our bags.  Caught the 9:40 bus. Nancy picked us up from the bus. Home at ll:30pm.  Our own bed felt very good.
Biggest surprise: the amount of walking. Two big takeaways: The impressive architecture of Gaudi and others and gaining confidence in using urban transportation.  Enjoyed the wonderful weather—especially when we had to scramble to find coats after we landed in Chicago.  Our group of 18 people was very compatible even though we came from many different areas of the country and walks of life. We would go back to Barcelona in a minute.  Loved it.  

Our last day in Barcelona

This morning we had our very own coach to tour the newer part of Barcelona.  The Olympics were in Barcelona in 1992 and they used that event (and money) to launch development of the seaside.  They created a sandy beach where there had been a dirty, rocky shore.  They built a huge convention center. Then large and modern hotels were built within easy walking distance of the convention center and beach.  We stopped several times to look at the new and unusual. We have visited other cities where the Olympics did not have such a positive and lasting effect.
This afternoon, we have walked around and now need to start packing.  The mind can only absorb what the body can endure.  We have seen enough sights for a while.  Tonight is our farewell banquet.  Paula said that the restaurant is a 15 minute walk (that is European speak for half hour).  We are also getting the tips ready for the maids.  Paula suggested that we give them our leftover Metra tickets (We each had 2 10 ride tickets with half left) plus some cash.
Tomorrow we fly to London around noon.  Later we fly to OHare.  Our guide is lining up taxis to the airport.
I will post again after I get home.  I would love to hear from each of you.  What did you enjoy about our trip?  Would you like to visit Barcelona?

Exploring the Gothic Quarter

At  9:30 am we met our tour director, Paula, in the lobby.  We walked two blocks to the Metra. It is a lovely sunny day. At 10:00 am we met Francesca the local guide who we have seen twice before.  He.   took us on a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter which included touring a huge old cathedral, the Jewish quarter, seeing some Roman columns and part of a Roman aqueduct, and part of the original city wall.  We stopped by a coffee shop and had some churros and hot chocolate (think very rich, thick chocolate pudding).  You dip the churros in the chocolate and eat the rest with a spoon.  We continued our walk.  Although Barcelona has quite a bit of graffiti, it is very clean.  That came to mind because we walked down the very wet street behind the street cleaner.  We had the afternoon free.  Chuck and I walked a couple blocks to the Palau (Musical Palace).  While waiting for our tour, we had a small sandwich.  The Palace was actually a 2,000 seat concert hall which was built in the early 20th century.  The centerpiece of the auditorium was an inverted dome of colored class.  It captured beautiful light.  We heard a Handel piece (recorded) played on the organ, watched the workers set up for a concert (over 300 in a year), and climbed many steps.  We found our way back to the Metra.  Eventually we found our hotel.  Every ‘square’ block is not square. The corners are cut off at a diagonal which adds to the turns you take and the confusion. There are many bikes, motor scooters, and motor bikes which think they can also use the sidewalk if they need to.  After a nap, we went for a coffee and apple kuchen.  Delicious.  Happy Hour at 6:45 pm.  

Bright and Sunny

Last night we attended a Catalonian Folk Dance Review.  It was actually a dress rehearsal for a performance they are doing so we were the only audience.  It was lasted an hour and a half and was very energetic. Today was suppose to be cloudy and rainy (like yesterday) so we dressed accordingly.  Of course, it was bright and sunny and we had to drag around coats —all day.  Our day started at 9:30 am with Sylvia lecturing about Art Modernism.  She started talking about Dali, Joan Miro, Calder, Picasso, and Sert.  At 12:15 we met in the lobby and trooped to the Metra.  We walked to a Tapas restaurant and all ate together.  We started with red wine and bread.  Then came the plates of tapas to share: tuna, tomatoes, and onions, cheese, fried green pepper, shrimp wrapped in pastry and fried, and ham fritters.  We finished with chocolate gelato and coffee.  Then we walked to the Picasso Museum and met our guide.  This was a chronological study of Picasso starting with paintings that he had done when he was 13.  Unbelievable portraits of his father —very unlike anything you think of Picasso.  Then We learned about Picasso through the ages.  We were exhausted by 5:00 pm.  Came back by the crowded Metro —think sardines. I even had to stand.  Usually the minute I get on the Metro someone jumps up like an old lady just got on.  Then I realize that I am the old lady, I smile, and sit down.   Back to the hotel.  Had a short nap.  Joined the group for Happy Hour.  Then out for a pizza.  It has been a tiring day.  

On Our Own

Today is cloudy, damp, and cool.  Chuck and I agreed that a little more wrap would have been comfortable, but we were not miserable.  As a group, we walked to a large indoor market.  Our guide purchased cherries, strawberries, and a green fruit with dimples which shall remain nameless.  They were all delicious.  Stopped by an olive vendor and purchased a variety of olives.  Tasty.  The market does not appreciate large groups parading through and not buying (cruise ship tours) so our guide always buys.  Did more walking and then our guide pointed out different things that we could do and dismissed us.  We had lunch.  Chuck had a small steak and a grilled onion.  I had a marinated salmon poke bowl (bowl had greens in middle and sections of marinated uncooked salmon (surprise!), quinoa, avocado, tomato chunks and edamame with a soy dressing over it).  Then we decided to visit LaPedrera.  Took the Metra.  When we reached the end of the line, Chuck figured out that we had gone entirely the wrong direction.  Got back on and headed the other way and found it.  LaPedrera was Gaudi’s last civilian project and it was six stories high with underground parking , a multi-level roof, apartments, interior courtyard, and was built in the early 20th century.  Fascinating building.  We looked at the map and walked back to the hotel.  Usually Chuck’s inner GPS is much better than mine so he can usually figure out where to go.  It helps that most of Barcelona is on a hill side with the mountain at the top and the sea at the bottom.  So if you feel yourself walking downhill, you have a general idea of where you are headed.  Tonight we have entertainment and will not return until 11:30 pm which will be too late to blog.  I will be focused on sleep!

Walk, walk, walk

The weather is very similar to SanDiego—highs 63 with a light breeze.  You see a great variety of dress from people wearing puffy coats to shorts.  Cool in the shade and warm in the sun.  Very comfortable.  Yesterday we started our day with a two block walk to tour Gaudi’s Casa llo Batllo which is a very iconic four story house undergoing restoration of the facade. We were sandwiched between an older tour group and agressive, picture-taking students. We climbed to the top.  Gaudi’s style looks like frosting on the cake, but he was also very innovative and ahead of his time.  In the afternoon we took the metro to a stop near the Basilica De La Sangrada Familia and then climbed uphill for several blocks to the Old Hospital de la Santa Creu which we toured.  It was quite a building in its day but the tour left a lot to be desired.  Chuck and I shared grilled mushrooms and cod fritters for lunch.  Walked down the hill and met our group.  There were hundreds of people waiting to tour the Basilica so we were fortunate to be in a group with a good guide.  It is a spectacular building with sculptures of different biblical scenes on the outside—Nativity on one side of the building and crucifixion on the other side.  Stained glass changes the lighting on the interior all the time.  By the time we left, people were getting out of work.  Along came an almost empty bus (unheard of) and we jumped on.  It took us within four blocks of our hotel just like the metro would have.  We ate at the hotel last night.  Our waiter did not speak English very well.  Chuck ordered puff pastry with sardines and got a salad. We both had cod with vegetables (very good). For dessert I ordered chocolate cake and got vanilla and chocolate gelato.  Delicious.  

Off and Running

The alarm woke us up from a sound sleep.  Hurry, Hurry.  The hotel breakfast was good - loved the fresh oranges from Valencia, fresh croissants, good coffee - just like home.  We all got our Metra passes and started the two block walk to the Metra (subway).  There are 18 in our group.  We walked DOWN the many steps and had 4 minutes until the next train.  We boarded the train which was fairly crowded for a Sunday morning and rode until the fourth stop.  We popped UP at the Museu D’Historia De Catalonia (History of Catalonia.  Barcelona is the capitol).  Heard a one hour lecture about the history Catalonia and another hour about Gaudi —the famous architect who made Barcelona famous! The most unusual site at the museum was when the elevator door open and 8 bridesmaids who had on black tee shirts that said something about the bride, followed by the bride who had on a white tee shirt, tiara, and was clutching a life size inflated bridegroom.  Do you think that that was a bachelorette party?   Looked at the museum for a while and then had lunch.  Chuck had octopus Galician style and I had melon and hamon (Spanish ham).  We shared.  At 2:30 we met the bus for a panoramic tour of the area including the high hill where some of the 1992 Olympic events were held. We could see the harbor with cruise ships.  The world’s largest cruise shipped was docked there.  Also saw the iconic statue of Christopher Columbus.  Tonight the Olympic stadium will host a Metallica concert. After leaving the hill, we crossed town to Park Guell. We walked around the park with a guide —lots of UP and DOWN on a very hilly site.  The park was designed by Gaudi and full of surprises.  Returned to the hotel for happy hour and a delightful hour with a Catalonia couple (He worked for Hewlett-Packard before starting his own business and she is a Cordon Bleu trained check who has a cooking school for Ex-Pats). The group asked them all kinds of questions—personal life style, political, national health care, etc.  It was a very interesting time.  

Arrived in Barcelona

Just wanted to let you know that we arrived.  Our trip got off to a bumpy start.  We were to leave Chicago at 10:00 pm. A little after 9, Chuck noticed that departure time had been changed to 11:30pm.  An announcement was made that one of the crew could not fly so they had found a replacement and as soon as they arrived at O’Hare, we could start board.  A couple similar announcements were made.  A little after 11:00 pm, the whole crew paraded through to thunderous applause.  It was after 11:48 pm when we finally took off.  Despite the serving of drinks and foods, I only wanted to sleep.  As I dosed off, I remember the flight attendant saying, “Chicken or pasta? Chicken or pasta? Chicken or pasta?”  I slept for four hours until the flight attendant woke me up to ask if I was using the pillow on the empty seat next to me.  (Forgot to tell you that Chuck and I were in a row of 3 seats and one was empty.  That was nice.) Got back to sleep and slept 2 more hours.  Had breakfast and landed in Barcelona.  Really turned into a very nice flight with more sleep that we usually get.
When we got to the hotel, the Road Scholar group was about to leave on a walking tour.  Quick brushed  my teeth and off we went. This hotel Catalonia Eixample 1864 is very old but nicely restored.   We walked in this area for over an hour as Paula pointed out a couple Gaudi houses, architectural styles, restaurants, banks, etc. We are nicely located next to many eating spots and in the center of the city.  When we returned, our guide, Paula, let an introductory orientation for over an hour.  We left the hotel for a walk to the restaurant where we had dinner.  Outstanding feature:  dessert was three little filled cream puffs with chocolate sauce.  Now you know how it is 10:30 and our suitcases are not unpacked.