Barcelona explored, October 15

Leaving our hotel around noon, we walked one block to the Passage de Gracia to take the red route of the Barcelona Bus Turistic for an overview of the city. We went up Montjuic with terrific views of Bar Leona, down by the area of the 1992 Olympics to the sea, the port and the largest statue in the world of Christopher Columbus. Continued on to the Barri Gotic where we got off.

Going into a Starbucks we ran into our Toronto friends who had come from a three-hour tour of the Sagrada Familia.

 

After having coffee, we visited the Cathedral, a magnificent structure. Every side chapel had an elaborate altar, many dating from the 15th century. In the cloister live 13 geese as a reminder of St. Eulalia's age when she was martyred. The cloister was built between the 14th and 15th centuries.

 

 

The votive candles were battery operated.

 

 

 

We picked up our tickets for Tuesday night at the Catalan Music Palace, then said goodbye to our friends as they headed south and we walked north to the Plaza Catalunya.

The bus company had a strike and were not operating between 9:30-11:30 and 4:30-6:30, so we had a late lunch/ dinner (Liz had seafood paella and Bob had black rice with squid, both delicious) around 5:30 at a cafe on the Plaza Catalunya, before continuing our tour at 6:30, selecting the blue route this time. It gets dark by eight, so our photo-taking was limited. We got off about 8:30 when the bus was three blocks from our hotel and walked back. Later enjoyed a drink and a snack in our hotel bar and then to bed!

 

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