DAY+TWO+NOTES

=BARCELONA – how Gaudi is it?= A slow awakening this morning – not stirring until around 9am but, of course, this is Espana, the land of eating late in the evening and strolling, talking and drinking until even later. Being in part of the old town where the streets are narrow and car free has a few disadvantages – the main one: being able to hear every conversation, foot step and TV in the neighbourhood. .. even at 2am and after. But it is VERY quiet in the mornings! We plan to get up to speed very quickly and eat late / sleep late from now on (with maybe a siesta in the middle) SO, after for us a late start we headed off to the metro bought some 2 day passes (all by ourselves at the machine) and rode into the centre to get some info and maps etc. In a city of 1.6 million people and millions of tourists per year you would assume that the Tourist Information centre would be somewhat larger than a small demountable caravan manned by one person. Well, we did anyway, but, like good folks we joined the queue anyway, got our maps and were pointed to the bus which would take us to Park Guell. Designed by Gaudi as a garden city on 20hectares, it was never fully completed and is now a World Heritage site. Quite hilly, hot and pretty crowded (we would hate to be there in mid summer) it is a most interesting and (being Gaudi after all) unusual site. (SEE PHOTOS HERE) We spent several hours there before heading off to Las Ramblas (or Les Rambles if you’re a Catalan linguist) and doing our bit to add to the thousands wandering up and down the street in a seemingly aimless manner. We ended up at the waterfront near the huge statue of Christopher Columbus (although of course CC really had bugger all to do with Barcelona but ???) A few tapas and a beer for afternoon tea and then home by train (several changes but we got there) and time for a nap before heading out for the evening. Where to? No idea, as usual, we’ll play it by ear. THREE THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY: Gail’s fashion tip for the day: To the elderly shirtless Spanish gentleman in the black trackpants and carrying the large gold ladies handbag – don’t!
 * 1) When offered a “large” beer check on what the waiter means by “large” ( a litre bucket is a LOT of beer in one go)
 * 2) Always double check that your order has been understood. Otherwise you may end up with fried artichokes rather than the anchovies you were expecting.
 * 3) There is a good reason why some bottles of wine are only 2.75 Euro !