After a 6 hour train ride from San Sebastian, we hit the ground running in Barcelona. We wandered around a while after the cabbie dropped us off in yet another car-less plaza. But we finally found the street we were looking for in the maze of high walled stone buildings. Dropped our stuff off at the Hotel Neri and headed to the waterfront, over to the La Ramblas and then to the tapas bars in the gothic neighborhood.
The waterfront is remarkable. Filled with sailboats and huge yachts from around the world. The kind you see on the travel channel and can't fathom their reality. Let me tell you - they are real and they are spectacular! There was a boat show going on as well. 70, 80 150+ foot yachts for sale. I have mine all picked out for when I win the lotto!
We also started scooping out the various seafood restaurants and their menus. They are lined up right along side the marina - outdoor dining in November along the water with fresh seafood from the Mediterranean Sea. It doesn't get any fresher then that.
La Ramblas is a long street about 1 mile long filled with shops, outdoor street vendors selling everything you can imagine including a huge farmers market. There are all kinds of fresh flower vendors, outdoor restaurants, trinkets n trash, street performers and at the very end where the waterfront begins -A huge statue of Christopher Columbus on a giant pedestal stands tall pointing out to the sea.
From there we wandered into the gothic neighborhood where the cool tapas bars are. There is one in particular I'm looking for but I don't know the name of it. I know it's across the street from the post office, near a church plaza, on the corner and it has giant barrels that shoot out hard cider from spouts. We find the post office and the church plaza. And there it is.....Sagardi. Immediately my head begins to throb from the flashbacks. Amanda and I bumped into this place where we had 3 bottles of evil wine called chocolie. It's poured out of the bottle high up in the air from the glass from a special spout aerating the wine. For those of you who have been to my house, you know which bottle I'm taking about....the green one with the special spout....(ok so I lifted one back then..). Anyway, the next day Amanda said to me 'mom, how did you find our way back to the hotel?'. Me: 'I have no idea....'. We both had a headache for days and could not find this place again for the remainder of our trip. But by hook or by crook, Jud and I were going to find it - and we did. The tapas is on the honor system. They give you a plate and count your tooth pics up when you're ready to check out. Imagine that in the US. No one would ever have any tooth pics! After a few beers, RED wine and tapas we decided to call it a night.
Tuesday was a ground covering day and we were up and out early. A little espresso, some pastry and it was time to hit some sites. Sagrada Familia, Parc Gurell, more La Ramblas strolling, Jud continues to drop coin to any street person with a dog, and a gondola ride high over the beach all before dark. A little siesta and then back to the waterfront for dinner. Same rules apply - nothing (good) opens till 8 pm. Our earlier scoping totally paid off and since it's last night where we can have a hangover the next day, we decide to go all out. A bottle of Veuve ( toasting our 10 year anniversary for the zillionth time) mussels, dorado baked in sea salt and lobster. All caught fresh that morning. We dined outside, the service was spectacular and the view of the marina was amazing. The sound of sail boat masts clanging, the roll of the water against the bulkhead and the smell of the sea is so calming. Port for Jud. Limencello for me. Nice walk back the hotel and zzzzzzzzzzzz.....
Today is Wednesday. Hard to believe we've been traveling for 2 weeks and I'm not ready to go home yet. Perhaps I could become an english speaking tour guide and Jud could drive a rickshaw......
We headed down to the central market in La Ramblas. It a huge market filled with fresh fish, meat, meat, more meat, produce, olive oils, cheeses - everything you can possibly imagine and weird stuff too Funky looking clams, barnacles, rabbit, whole pigs and all their parts, lambs - I just cant look at that stuff. Note: there are fruits, vegetables and butter in Barcelona!
After what is called an english breakfast of eggs over ez, bacon and toast, (and chorizo sausage from Montserrat on the house) we decided to venture out on a boat cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. An hour and a half up and down along the beaches. It was so beautiful and a perfect day to be out on the water and it's so clear, you can see down for several feet.
Tonight is our last night in Barcelona and we have dinner reservations at Tickets at 9:30 pm. I have no idea what to expect but I do know this, I had to make these reservations 90 days in advance - stalking the website every night after 7 pm EST so when their book turned for the day, I would hopefully get a spot. More to come on that later.
It's time to go print the boarding passes for tomorrow's flights. We have a 730 am flight from Barcelona to Madrid. Then 1230 from Madrid to Phila. Going to be a long day.....
Sent from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment