A quick breakfast

Carol had tried to buy tickets to the two Gaudi treasures nearby online on our first day in Barcelona but alas the hotel's wi-fi wasn't operating. On the second day while I was out walking she spent two hours in the business center in the basement of the hotel and finally succeeded in printing two tickets for La Pedrera and Casa Batllo, as we didn't want to waste (any more) time lining up with the crowds outside these Gaudi attractions.

Now we could relax and have some breakfast. Even though the hotel did a fine looking breakfast in a beautiful room for 30 Euros we wanted to be outside having our first great coffee of the day. Luckily there was an outdoor cafe just 10 yards from the hotel.

Cafe de Francesco...

This double espresso was so good I had two of them and felt energized. There was just one waitress working this large number of people so I had to be patient and finally caught her eye to place an order.

After half an hour of coffee drinking and enjoying the aromas from the cafe we had to eat something and so we both ordered a "Bikini Sandwich". Ham and cheese in a fresh warm croissant and I took a few bites before remembering I had a camera. So tasty!

My favorite pastime is to sit at a cafe outdoors and drink coffee (or beer) and watch the world go by.
However when the cafe got really busy we decided to move somewhere quieter and have that beer I was just talking about. Back to the rooftop bar in the hotel!

Always a crowd waiting to get into Casa Batllo. We would be there much later in the day.

I enjoyed an Estrella draught beer and some flavorful olives and most of all the peace and quiet of the bar with few people around

Cool artwork around the pool

My waitress today was a young girl from Ireland, working here for the summer. So we had something to chat about when she came to the table.

This rooftop bar is Officially my favorite place in all Barcelona. La Sagrada Familia crowns the view

We would soon leave for the short two block walk north to la Pedrera. Hope to see you there!

Sunday in Barcelona, October 4th 2015

Long walk home

Having reached Barcelona harbor it was time to turn around and work my way back to the hotel.
I turned my back on the Columbus monument  and walked up La Rambla the way I had come.

A late night reveler (?) stops to use the bathroom at the Pension Reial

Now there are people in the street and I have no concern for the safety of my cameras

It seems everyone has a balcony in Barcelona. My kind of town!

 No driving for me on this vacation....

 I think this is an outdoor art exhibit or just someone with a lot of white tee shirts to dry

I knew Barcelona's famous Opera House was down here somewhere...

A photo of the auditorium was in the window and would be as close as I would get on this trip to seeing the interior.

The Opera season would start later in the week, after we had gone

No taxi for me. I am enjoying the walk.

Alas the famous La Boqueria food market was closed on Sunday

I thought that instead of following La Rambla all the way I would cut across to the East to find Passeig de Gracia so got to see some of the side streets

Cool art on a clothes shop shutter

Accidentally I stumbled upon Barcelona Cathedral in a square

Moving on...but just one look back

Every building was a new discovery

I found Passeig de Gracia...

Once I see Casa Batllo I know I am only two blocks from the hotel. Already a line at 9 a.m

The luxury shops next to the hotel

"Home, Sweet Home" for two days

Next up- coffee al fresco and a tour of Gaudi's amazing apartment complex La Pedrera...

Barcelona early morning walk

I was up early, just as I would have been on the ship and planning a long walk in the dark. You'll recall I did an early morning walk in Rome a week before.

Luckily the hotel had a Nespresso machine in the small front lobby and so I took a double espresso and some warm from the oven mini-croissants which could be eaten in one big bite. I took several to cram in my cheeks like a squirrel and give me the energy I needed to walk a few miles.

I drank my coffee in the quiet street just outside the hotel. The only traffic there were early morning buses taking people to work. I think it was just before 6 a.m when I set off after 30 minutes or so of just sitting and relaxing into the day. Just two blocks away was Casa Batllo which we hoped to tour later that afternoon.

I walked along the empty sidewalk and passed the entrance to the subway station

Trash left on the sidewalk for pick-up

Now I am at the main square of Playa de Catalunya

How to get around

Now I see people, waiting for buses

Catalunya is a massive square!

Pigeons call it home

I decide to walk down La Rambla as I know it will lead me to the harbor and some fresh sea air

I don't know the name or function of the buildings I am seeing but I just love the architecture

One of the lions at the foot of the Christopher Columbus statue.

There is a group of men over on the left who have white sheets laid on the ground which will be temporary tourist "shops". If the Police come along they can pull the sides of the sheet together like a bag and walk off with their merchandise. Leather handbags seem to be their favorite stock.

Columbus monument

I'm at the harbor obviously

The tower is part of the aerial tramway that runs from the beach up onto Montjuic mountain

Crazy metal sculpture by the harbor. That's Montjuic in the distance.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is the only cruise ship in port today

I can't go any further as the dock has a security fence so I turn around to head back to the hotel