May 29 Girona

 

Cathedral and Bascilica

Girona

 

We started our day at the train station. It was a day of adventuring out to the city to Girona. An attendant showed us how to buy a round trip train tickets through the ticket machine. We located the proper platform and track. Most important is to learn how the electric platform announcement screens work. A train arrived and we had to ask a patron if it was going our way. Fortunately, on the train the announcement board was audio and in English.  

 

 

L'Onyar River without much water

Most of the clouds in the sky are jet contrails.

 

Upon arriving in Girona, we found the inforrmation office closed. Using a smartphone and google maps you can pretty much find your way any where on earth. Fortunately, Stu can read the maps and has a sense of direction. We walked down to the river and there was no water in it. We were very disappointed. We crossed the river on one of the many bridges and went up to the University. Close by we found a pub hang out for college students. Stu's having trouble with his hip so a little beer and some ibufen cream rubed on his hip helped. We entered the old city behind the Old Roman Walls and walked to the Cathedral and then the Basilica. The history of both is fascinating.  It seems like the struggles between mankind and his religions is an earthly constant.

 

 

Old town

 

Roman Wall surrounds old town

 

Once many statues alined the door way

 

Looking down at the alter

 

Monument 50 year memorial to Ann Frank  

Most surprising! Water in the River Onyar. Fish too

 

Compare this to the first river picture.

 

Park de la Devesa  

6th floor exercise pool, chilly

 

 

 

 

 

May 28 Eixample

 

Last night we stayed up waiting for the sun to set ;then, walked up to the Placa Espanya to see the magic fountain of Montjuic It is a spectacular display of color light motion music and water. It's first performance was in 1929 for the great Universal Exhibition. It took 3000 workers 1 year to construct. There are 4500 light bulbs. Water moves to the music that is played and turns colors. The fountain's performance lasts about 30 minutes and starts after dark  There are thousands of people walking around and standing near to capture the beauty of this spectacle.

Magic Fountain            

magic fountain

Bubble maker, exciting all to try and break them.

 

 

Eixample

 

May 28

We started our day at the train station to buy tickets for tomorrow's train to Girona. Today is Sunday and only same day tickets can be purchased. With help tomorrow we will try to purchase tickets through the machine. Purchase lines are long. We did case the joint so we will be ready.

We then walked over to the Eixample  neighborhood to see three houses. Casa Batllo designed by Gaudi. He combined futuristic construction techniques for cooling systems with beautiful artistic design. The roof is like a dragon's back and the balconies are in the form of carnival masks. Next door is Casa Amatller. It was designed by Pugi Cadafalch. It's facade consists of a brilliant display of blue pink and cream tiles with burgundy florets. Finally there is Casa Milla. It was also designed by Goudi. It resembles an open cast quarry and defies the laws of gravity. The curved walls are held in place by undulating horizontal beams  attached to invisible girders The balconies are made with intricate wrought iron.

 

 

Breakfast is served

 

Placa d'Espanya

 

Casa Batllo

 

Casa Amatller

 

 

 

 

Casa Batllo

 

Casa Milla       

Casa Milla

Statue by Joan Miro

 

PB - Pastry Break

 

 

 

May 27 La Rambla-Old City

 

La Rambla, on a quiet day

 

La Rambla & Old City

Barcelona is a walking city. It is devided into neighborhoods. Each neighborhood offers glimpses into the Catalunya culture and past. The city's reputation brings crowds of touists and many local folks on bikes. At congestive street intersections alertness is the key to a succesful crossing. 

Today we started our walk from Placa Espanya to Placa Catalunya where the Rambla starts. The Rambla is about a mile walk that ends at the waterfront. Though we were early, there were thousands of people. It is a famous walk with stores and museums, cultural centers and venders of every imaginable like. There were fresh vegetables and crafts. It is also famous for its pick pockets. We prepared and left all our papers at home; and, wore our purses and pouches in the front. The Ramba runs along side the old city with its narrrow streets and tightly packed housing. We wandered between the old city and the Rambla. The streets in the old city are lined with small stores offering handmade goods such as shoes, clothing, ceramics and jewelry    It is also the Catalan film and theater district. We visited two churches while we were there. The Cathedral and the Basilica Santa Maria del Pi. Both are important examples of Gothic style. The present Cathedral was started in the 13th century and not finished until the 19 th century  It is framed by the remains of Roman Watchtowers and heavy stone walls. The Basilica has been rebuilt after being destroyed in the 17 th century. It has one of the largest rose  windows in the world. While walking along the Rambla, we visited Joan's favorite store, Desigual, which is a Spanish clothes specialty outlet. We stopped for lunch at Murpheys an Irish pub and resturaunt. We then finished  up our walk at the waterfront. This too is a neighborhood of boats and long wide streets with statues and sculptures. Lots to see. We fortified ourselves with ice cream and made the long treck home.  

Old Town  

Plants bring a freshness to the crowded apartments

Joan looking around for gifts for everyone

   

One way to privately crossover

Inside Basillica  

Rose Window

Feeding time  

Shore walk  

Stu is being chased  

Columbus Placa  

Nautical Museum

 

Shopping in her new Dress

 

Joan insists that I show off  

Our bedroom  

Our kitchen

 

May 26 Mountjuic

 

After a delicious breakfast we walked up to Placa Espanya then onward to Montjuic, which means the Jewish mountain. This sizable park was first landscaped for the 1929 international exhibition. It fell into disuse because of the shadow surrounding the Castle that resides on top of the mountain. This castle was used by Franco as a slaughter house where for years he killed people with firing squads. Near by is the Catalunya Cemetery. 

The park below the castle was transformed for the 1992 Olympics. It was turned into a green oasis with both, museums and sport facilities. All are connected by a network of outdoor escalators and gardens. The National Palace is the home of the National Art Museum of Catalunya. It is fronted with soaring jets of water and fountains. There is every imaginable sport facility including pools, tracks, soccer and baseball fields. 

On our return we had lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, Kikiriki. In Spain there is a  menu for the day offered and it runs about 10 euros. You get a choice of about 4 starters and 4 main dishes. In addition you get wine bread and desert. We had a pasta in a spinach and veal sauce. I had chicken in a cherry sauce and Stu had the tuna steak. All was delicious and intoxicating. A long nap followed...

 

Always clever

 

Escalators, thank goodness

 

Magical Fountain-lit up at night with music

 

Castle top of the mountain

 

Cemetery

 

Runner carved in stone near stadium

 

 

Enclosed swimming venue

 

 

Telecommunication tower for Olympics

 

 

National Art Museum of Catalunya

Our Barcelona Lodging

Having a meal awaiting Lodging

 

Our Lunch time hange out  

Awaiting owner to show us around

Having our evening meal on the roof top

 

Looking towards Plaza Espana

 

A toast to all of you.

       

 

We Have Arrived

 

Choices One to take a flight from San Francisco eastward for about 5 hours to Newark, New Jersey and then catch a flight 3 hours later for an 8 hour trip to Barcelona. Choice two fly east for 5 hours; then get a hotel and leave the next day for Barcelona.
We decided on the second choice Big mistake. We didn't pay attention to departure time to Barcelona. The flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 7:30PM. Check out time from the hotel is 11:00AM.
This leaves you 8 hours to kill.
The traffic in to New York is horrible and there has been problems at Penn station so we stayed in New Jersey. Joan saw a listing of places to visit. Her choice, Jersey Gardens. Great. We love gardens except it is not a garden it is a mall with 500 stores so we checked our luggage at the airport and took the shuttle to the Mall. We walked for about 5 hours throughout the maze of stores. We lunched at Applegate. We are now waiting in the United Club only to find out that we have to await a plane arrival. A stated delay is one hour. It turned out to be two!

 

Checking Flight Delay