Barcelona

Saturday 7th June

Washing all up to date - Sam's portfolio, we head off to do a bit of retail therapy. 

Primark and H & M first. We then have 5 kms of La Ramblas area to check out.  Plenty to look at and a few bargains to be had. Probably should have come with an empty suitcase! This area is notorious for pick pockets so our bags are close.

We check out La Bocqueria Markets . Wow! This market is a foodies paradise. Everything is here.

The pots of fresh fruit and fresh juices are amazing  and only one pound. There's fresh seafood and an incredible variety, no wonder the Paella is so good! Salamis, ham, chorizo, panacetta - delicious.

Of course we had a few samples on the way.

Just a little bit bigger than our Farmers Market!

It's 30 plus degrees so head to the beach! On the way we come across street bands. They are on every block or so, dancing and playing their music. Seems like a bit of a competition. Fun to watch . 

Sam grabs a beer and a couple of glasses of Sangria and we head to the beach for a bit. It's packed!

Couldn't resist a bit of ice cream. These are really novel. The ice cream is shaved off a big block, then you choose a couple of toppings from about 20. Wallah! An ice cream person!

A bit more of a wander of the shops and we head to see Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. 

What an awesome sight!

Placa Cataluna with it's gorgeous fountains

And the Sagrada!

This was begun in 1882 funded by the people of Spain. Gaudi died In 1926 when only 15% of the project was complete. It is said to be completed in 2026 to celebrate 100th anniversary of Gaudis death. Will have to come back! Pretty amazing building! 

We head back to the apartment for a freshen up before heading out for tea. Tonight is a pintxos bar - tapas on sticks. You save your sticks in a container - and count them up at the end . There is a huge selection to choose from. Need one of these in Havelock!

Wander home after a couple of Sangrias - day done.

Barcelona to Montpellier

Sunday 8th June

Today we are packing up. Will definitely be back to Barcelona some time. A great city. 

We have the most delicious French breakfast and lovely coffee before heading to train station. Chocolate croissants are to die for. Not so good for waistline. Luckily we are doing plenty of walking!

It's 3 hours in the train to our next stop - Montpellier - our gateway to the South.

We get checked into hotel about 4.30pm and as usual set off to explore. 

This city is set up for pedestrians! Especially in the Comedie area where we are staying. There are tunnels for cars underground and also underground parking and a great tram system.

We take a tram out and walk back to see some sights. There are lots of squares with restaurants and live music throughout the older part of the city.

The Town Square 

The Opera House

 A lot of the cities have Roman and Medieval ties

One of the little old buildings on the edge of the gardens selling ice creams - cute.

This fountain is at the beginning of the botanical gardens which are apparently the oldest in France.

Gorgeous little, narrow lanes 

The Opera house at night. The sky is so blue at sunset. Stunning.

Unfortunately we're a bit late for happy hour, but settle in for a drink and a bite to eat .

Early night tonight ready to hit the road early tomorrow when we pick another car up.

Perpignan to Barcelona

Friday 6th June

Breakfast and pack up. Head to train station to drop off our car and catch SNCF - fast train to Barcelona. It takes about 1 and a half hours.  Meeting up with Rebekah, who arrives by plane at about 3pm.

Apartment all sorted, bags dropped off we head into town - via foot - best way to see the sights.

IPhone in hand to lead the way with "Maps with Me", putting us on track .

 Not far from our apartment Is Placa Espanya. Many of the main roads meet here. It is a huge roundabout, lots of traffic.  Could see how you get stuck going round and round. This is the spotwhere Freddy Mercury sang "Barcelona" with Madame Calletta for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Place de Espanya

Christopher Columbus Column

Dinnertime - just have to have Paella and Sangria. Delicious! Chock full, of seafood. Rebekah and I manage to polish of a litre and a half of Sangria. Sam has the largest beer of the trip so far.

After dinner we wander through the Barri Gothic area. Gorgeous little lanes, with lovely boutiques and back up through La Ramblas. We will definitely explore around here again tomorrow. There are hundreds of people about. This is notorious for pickpockets, so we keep our bags extra close.

There are lot of these guys lined up the street. They have knock off bags displayed inside a parachute type bag.  They're a bit like meerkats, always on the lookout. If they have a sniff of police, they pull the strings, and they're off!

We pop into a dairy for a bottle of wine on the way home and amazingly,  in a city of 4 million people,  bump into Sophie and Cheye, old friends of Rebekah's from Parkvale School. They are over from London for the weekend. Incredible!