April 5 -7 2017

Arrived here on a damp, dreary, drizzly Wednesday morning.  We cabbed directly to our apartment on the Carrer de Corsega.  The apt door is literally on an angle facing the 4 corners of the intersection.  When we called our liason, we were told check in time was noon (here it was 9:30) but someone would be here soon – famous last words!  Don’t forget this is European time!!  After waiting in the rain til 11:30 we called again.  Shortly before 12 our agent showed up.  The apt is spacious with terraces in all rooms.  The reason for the delay, as we could see, was the maid service hadn’t shown up yet.  After going through formalities, we left the apt to the service, met Alyssa for a light lunch (crepes) and then walked to the market – as we remembered it from last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had an early dinner planned again with Alyssa realizing that the “normal” dinner hour begins at 8!  We managed to stay up til 10, making our adjustment to the new time zone pretty good.

 

 

Thurs morning dawned bright and sunny.  Our plan for today, was to walk to Montjuic (Mount of thee Jews) overlooking Barcelona’s hazy port.  We had intended to walk as far as the funicular – take that up the mountain, then transfer to the gondolas.  HOWEVER, somewhere along the way, “google maps” got distracted (or was it us?) and took us by FOOT up the mountain to the funicular where it comes DOWN!!!  According to the health app, we climbed 19 flights of steps!!  Good news – didn’t need an inhaler!!

 

Some background – Montjuic was the sight of the 1929 World Expo, and the 1992 Summer Olympics.  There are a number of museums, and gardens, as well as everything constructed for the Olympics.  At the very top, is the Castle.

 It’s just an empty brick and concrete shell today that offers great views of the city.  It’s more fort than castle. 

 

 

 

 During the time of Franco (20^th century dictator), it was the sight of many political executions.   It’s function today is more pleasure/leisure – jogging, family park, outdoor cinemas, etc.

We lunched at the outdoor terrace of the Hotel MiraMar before taking the cable car back

 

 to the beach area, La Barceloneta.  There we met Alyssa and friends, had a café, then walked to El Born, planning to have dinner.  By now, we were on Barcelona time and it was well after 8 pm – so finding a place to eat was easy.  We ate at Tantarantana and sampled a number of treats and delights.  While walking to find a cab, we passed the Arc de Triomf (every city has one) and realized we missed this last year – hope to revisit it before we leave. 

Today, Friday, was planned to visit La Pedrera (CasaMila) – this is one of Anton Gaudi’s trademark works, built between 1906 and 1912.  We took an audio guide through the house – it was a private home, built with apartments (for income) and is the epitome of Modernism.  What in the past I thought was weird rooftop structures, now make sense after hearing the explanations. 

The rooftop’s many structures were designed to camouflage chimneys and metal rods typical of rooftops of that era.  There is a central atrium used to maximize daylight, even in the rooms not opened to the exterior walls.  The attic space houses a fantastic exhibit, showing Gaudi’s plans, designs, and some insight to his way of thinking. He incorporates science and nature in everything.  I have to admit, I have a new appreciation for his “fantastical” work.