OCTOBER 2022 : SPAIN : Barcelona

The rest of the team arrived from Malaga overnight. We all organised different activities and planned to meet together for dinner. Maugie and John had booked a 4 hour bicycle tour of the city, Claudia, Olivia and Miriam explored parks and playgrounds in the area and we plotted  a Gaudi extravaganza.

In our building, washers and dryers for our use on Level 1. Free. Another useful amenity.

Everyone is still complaining that I have a mania for washing.

From a cafe in our street we caught a glimpse of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s cathedral, our first plan for the morning. Only ten minutes away.

Such an impressive building begun in the nineteenth century and still in the later stages of construction.

Barcelona is tourist central at the moment and we could only get tickets for 2.45pm. So we decided to continue our Gaudi fest by walking to Casa Vicens and Parc Güell. The best thing about this was the route was through some fascinating neighbourhoods, especially Gracia, not on the tourist route.

Antoni Gaudí

1852-1926

Casa Vicens, in the district of Gracia, was designed by Gaudi and constructed in 1883.

It had an oriental theme, strong colours and such attention to detail.

We continued north climbing up to Parc Güell, which is the iconic Barcelona park. It was designed by Gaudi as a garden and architectural park. Begun in 1900 and finished in 1926.

Very crowded but we still enjoyed the views of the city and the beautiful ceramic seats.






After a light lunch (gazpacho and grilled octopus) we headed back to the Sagrada Familia. We visited here in 2009 and it was definitely a construction site. Now it is spellbinding!

Dinner at Ca La Nuri Terra, a Basque menu.

Lots of nightlife

We feel very safe at all times, particularly at night.

And we passed a cocktail bar laundromat.. heaven .. drying socks gives a Dry Martini another dimension..

M&M