Day 22 – Barcelona

Up at 05:45 to get the train to Barcelona, no problems. It was a new fast train that did 300 kmh and got there in 3 hours and a bit. Scenery was Ok, not too spectacular. Got the metro to the hotel, which is actually a 2 bedroom apartment overlooking the beach. It has a lounge with a kitchen. I told the girl who showed us up that the main bedroom was as big as our hotel room in Paris. I wasn’t joking. It has a washing machine, dryer and dishwasher. It’s nice to have the space, and it’s not expensive.

The sun was shining but it was a few degrees cooler than Madrid, but still shirt weather. We walked up the main street to get some lunch. Had a set menu again – all the restaurants seem to do this. I had a chicken and apple salad and Song had a bean and fish soup (fish again). Both servings were quite large compared to what we had had before. I had a mixed grill for main, Song had elbow of pork (I didn’t know pigs had elbows). Mine was Ok, Song said hers was nice. I had a chocolate cake for dessert, Song didn’t feel like dessert.

Got the metro into the centre, took about 10 minutes, and walked around a bit. Came to the Catherdral, built by Gaudi (but not the famous one, we’re seeing that tomorrow), then kept on wandering. Came upon the main street called La Rambla, then the Plaza de Cataluna. More wandering, but this time with a purpose, to visit the Picasso Museum.

Spent about an hour there, and I still don’t get Picasso. I don’t see in his work what others obviously do, so I think I’ll just move on. Song wasn’t impressed either.

Feeling hungry again (all we seem to do is walk and eat), popped into tapas place and had a load of canapes each.

Got on the metro to go back to the hotel, discovered we were going the wrong way so got off again, then headed in the right direction.

Thought about going for a walk along the beach, but tired from an early start so watched the sunset and then read until bed.