After that Lois and I went shopping at El Corte Ingles again, the smaller store down the block. Then back to the room for some needed rest.
For dinner we walked over to Llamber, the seafood place recommended by Henry Che. It was delicious!
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Tuesday May 12
Went to see the Casa Mila. Grand residential building also designed by Gaudi.
After that Lois and I went shopping at El Corte Ingles again, the smaller store down the block. Then back to the room for some needed rest.
For dinner we walked over to Llamber, the seafood place recommended by Henry Che. It was delicious!
After that Lois and I went shopping at El Corte Ingles again, the smaller store down the block. Then back to the room for some needed rest.
For dinner we walked over to Llamber, the seafood place recommended by Henry Che. It was delicious!
Monday May 11
Today we met Achi and Baerbel and went to the Sagrada Familia. No words.
After that we had coffee and cake again. Then we said goodbye.
That evening Lois and I had dinner at a place where they said they would save us a table outside.
I had the Ossobucco which was delicious!
Later that evening I bought a hat!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Friday May 8 2015
First full day in Barcelona. Went to the Olympic village with Achi and Baerbel. We entered on the city side where there was an auto show going on. We walked up the hill to the Olympic stadium. Achi and Baerbel decided to go up on the cable cars and we split from them to go to the beach.
Grabbed a taxi to Port Vell. Took a quick walk over the Rambla De Mar to the mall on the water. Walking back over the bridge, there was an alarm! They had to open the bridge to let some sail boats through:
Then we saw an open cruise boat "La Golandrina" so we hopped on for a 1.5 hour tour of the oceanfront:
I got sunburned.
After that I wanted to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant. We tole the taxi driver to take us to La Barcelona beach and are there some good restaurants there. She dropped us off and recommended a nice place. It was a big italiam restaurant with two floors and a large outside patio. But it was full.
We ended up at another outside place. The waiter was very fine:
After that we were exhausted and took a taxi back to the Metro, then back to the hotel.
Grabbed a taxi to Port Vell. Took a quick walk over the Rambla De Mar to the mall on the water. Walking back over the bridge, there was an alarm! They had to open the bridge to let some sail boats through:
Then we saw an open cruise boat "La Golandrina" so we hopped on for a 1.5 hour tour of the oceanfront:
I got sunburned.
After that I wanted to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant. We tole the taxi driver to take us to La Barcelona beach and are there some good restaurants there. She dropped us off and recommended a nice place. It was a big italiam restaurant with two floors and a large outside patio. But it was full.
We ended up at another outside place. The waiter was very fine:
After that we were exhausted and took a taxi back to the Metro, then back to the hotel.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Flight to Spain
May 5 2015: Flew to Spain! On United Airlines. Newark to Madrid. Took off around 8 PM. It's one of those flights where you take off as the light is fading, and after eight hours, the sun re-appears on the other side! They served a hot meal - I got the chicken. My sister Lois got the lasagne. Hers was better. I sat next to a nice Spanish lady who was in the US to visit her daughter. We shared a paper - "El Paix" which means "The Country".
After landing in Madrid, we had to walk for what seemed like MILES to the baggage claim. We had nothing to declare so we were off! Hopped in a taxi which charged 30 Euros, not bad. After a massive traffic jam and a side-street detour, he dropped us off across the street from our hotel which was weird - maybe u-turns are illegal?
Hotel Arosa is great. It has a large lounge area for ordering drinks, nice breakfast room, delicious breakfast! Hams, cheeses, bacon, eggs. 5 juices, cappuccino machine, etc. And we had a large room with views of Madrid:
It has the tiniest elevators:
I waited in line at the Apple Store to get them to unlock my iPhone.
The Apple Store couldn't unlock my iPhone. Damn them! Apparently only AT&T can unlock it. I went to the Orange store and bought a cheap smartphone and a SIM card with 20 Euros of credit. I now have a Spanish phone number!
Walked over to Plaza Mayor to get oriented. Many tapas bars are in the surrounding streets. We went to a bull bar - La Torre Del Oro. We ordered drinks and then food started appearing. Starting with miso soup, then a little cup of palella with rice, fish, little bits of potato - delicious!
Later, we took a nap - I know, you're not supposed to do that - it just extends your jet lag. But we did it. Only one hour. We had a nice dinner nearby.
May 6 2015: Took the hop on hop off tour bus. They gave us free olive oils. Weird. We saw much of the city including many beautiful buildings:
We got off for the Prada museum. After 6:00 it's free. Saw works of Goya, Picasso, and others.
Later, we had the best dinner at La Carmela, again walking distance from our hotel. I got the meat sampler. Yum! Lois had meat balls and fried eggplant strips.
Thursday May 7, 2015: Taxi to airport. Very nice taxi driver. He gave us his card! He recommended the public park with the lake in the middle for when we return to Madrid in a couple of weeks. But now it's time to fly to Barcelona! The flight on Iberia Air was a very short flight; 1:15. No food or drink because we sat in last row and we landed before they could finish beverage service! :(
Took a taxi again to our hotel. We could never have found it using public transportation because he had to go down many small, twisty roads to get there!
Hotel Raco Del Pi is smaller, small room, but it's comfortable. There is a tiny bar with free coffee and sparkling water that we are taking good advantage of.
After landing in Madrid, we had to walk for what seemed like MILES to the baggage claim. We had nothing to declare so we were off! Hopped in a taxi which charged 30 Euros, not bad. After a massive traffic jam and a side-street detour, he dropped us off across the street from our hotel which was weird - maybe u-turns are illegal?
Hotel Arosa is great. It has a large lounge area for ordering drinks, nice breakfast room, delicious breakfast! Hams, cheeses, bacon, eggs. 5 juices, cappuccino machine, etc. And we had a large room with views of Madrid:
It has the tiniest elevators:
I waited in line at the Apple Store to get them to unlock my iPhone.
The Apple Store couldn't unlock my iPhone. Damn them! Apparently only AT&T can unlock it. I went to the Orange store and bought a cheap smartphone and a SIM card with 20 Euros of credit. I now have a Spanish phone number!
Walked over to Plaza Mayor to get oriented. Many tapas bars are in the surrounding streets. We went to a bull bar - La Torre Del Oro. We ordered drinks and then food started appearing. Starting with miso soup, then a little cup of palella with rice, fish, little bits of potato - delicious!
Later, we took a nap - I know, you're not supposed to do that - it just extends your jet lag. But we did it. Only one hour. We had a nice dinner nearby.
May 6 2015: Took the hop on hop off tour bus. They gave us free olive oils. Weird. We saw much of the city including many beautiful buildings:
We got off for the Prada museum. After 6:00 it's free. Saw works of Goya, Picasso, and others.
Later, we had the best dinner at La Carmela, again walking distance from our hotel. I got the meat sampler. Yum! Lois had meat balls and fried eggplant strips.
Thursday May 7, 2015: Taxi to airport. Very nice taxi driver. He gave us his card! He recommended the public park with the lake in the middle for when we return to Madrid in a couple of weeks. But now it's time to fly to Barcelona! The flight on Iberia Air was a very short flight; 1:15. No food or drink because we sat in last row and we landed before they could finish beverage service! :(
Took a taxi again to our hotel. We could never have found it using public transportation because he had to go down many small, twisty roads to get there!
Hotel Raco Del Pi is smaller, small room, but it's comfortable. There is a tiny bar with free coffee and sparkling water that we are taking good advantage of.
Friday, May 01, 2015
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