Dinner on Las Ramblas

The 90 minute nap was a great idea (and always is!). We awoke refreshed. Here are a couple of shots from the hotel lobby, taken early on Sunday morning as on Saturday evening when we awoke it was full of people drinking and living la dolce vita (only in Spanish). A very good pianist was playing Spanish classical tunes with gusto. A lively scene.

The elegant elevator lobby

Our plan for this evening was simple-to have dinner outdoors in the warm Barcelona night air.
I had already looked online while in the USA for a place near the hotel that would offer this. it was on the northern half of Las Ramblas, the most touristy street in the city. The Northern half is quieter than the Southern half which leads down to the port after Playa de Catalunya splits them apart.

We found while stopping at the front desk for information that the restaurant I had chosen-El Passatge del Murmuri- was owned by our hotel. What a coincidence!

it was just a few blocks away and we followed our laminated pocket-sized Barcelona map. Like many restaurants on Las Ramblas it had an inside restaurant (where the kitchen lived) and a short distance away on a pedestrian island running the length of the street, an outdoor terrace with a canvas roof and walls should it rain or become windy. We got there before it got busy at 9 pm and had our pick of the tables. We were here for tapas, of course.

To start, following the arrival of our drinks (and for me that meant Estrella beer) we had some tomato bread. A simple out of focus dish...

A gigantic salad for Carol and a board of Spanish cheeses arrived soon after. Both were consumed and enjoyed.

  We both love anchovies!

Patatas Bravas was a lot more food than we expected. We eat tapas at a great restaurant in Chicago called Mercat a la Planxa which is owned by one of American TV's "Iron Chefs" where the portions are much more manageable. We were hungry though so we ate all of this food you see.

Carol's salad was enough for three people

The restaurant has by now drawn more diners as Carol enjoys her dessert course

Yogurt and mango pannacotta

A busker came along and set up his mic stand and small amplifier and played and sang pop songs, including some by the Beatles, so I had to go over and give him a couple of Euros tip.

A great late meal and we were in no hurry to move on as the ambiance of the restaurant and the sublime weather (and beer!) made us linger. Families strolled by-several generations; kids parents and grandparents out enjoying the night air together. That's not something we see in downtown Chicago.

We were feeling very good about our decision to leave the ship and spend two days seeing this city. We loved everything we had seen so far. Tomorrow we had plans to see two more Gaudi buildings, unguided. Each was just two blocks from our well-chosen hotel. Life was good!

We eventually did have to move and walk back to the hotel to sleep. It was my plan to get up early on Sunday morning to wander the empty streets with my camera.

That's what you'll see next...