Barcelona

Grand final day! Michael listened to the game through his phone on his computer, interspersed with commentary from Nicole via skype! What a great victory for Geelong. Michael was very pleased, although it all felt rather unreal.

Exploring Barcelona!

We walked down to the port area and got the seaside feel of Barcelona. A coffee on the floating sea platform watching the yachts and pedestrians, then into the old city of Barcelona for more wandering. Later we headed out to the Sangreda Familia - Gaudi's masterpiece of a Cathedral which is still being built 100 years later, and still has another 20 years to go. It was absolutely amazing. We walked around, then through, then up one of the towers in an elevator - which was just breathtaking to see it all from up there. He really was a genius.

In the evening we found an old, old restaurant ( approx 250 years continuous service!) where we enjoyed some traditional spanish dishes such as seafood casserole and sausages and beans. It was an interesting rabbit warren of a place, decorated with old wall paintings.

Then we watched the replay of the grand final in an Aussie bar - just to make sure it really happened.

The next day we wanted to see more Gaudi work, so we went to the Bartlo House (on Nicole's recommendation). It was amazing too - all curves and incredible attention to detail in the woodwork and beautiful ceramics. How the house worked for ventilation and light was fascinating too. We ran into my Feldenkrais friend Maxine there, with her partner Graham. Unfortunately we forgot the camera that mroning - so no photos. We then wandered back into the main part of town - through a square where celebrations were going on and at one stage had nudists promting their cause at a stand behind us (in the nude of course), young girls doing the can can on stage and an animated Catalonian separatist handing out pamphlets in front of us!

We had a great lunch at a little bar where the locals were having spritz, so we had one too, and a toasted sandwich.

Later on we caught the fenicular up Mont Juc (beautiful views at sunset), then the cable car up to the castle - where there were more festivities going on. We wandered around with all the locals taking the evening air and enjoying the views out to see and over the town. Then down to the area near our hotel for a good dinner of paella.