Montserrat

Up at 8:00 today and off to find a bakery on the way to catch our bus to Montserrat. It took about an hour to drive, and just the last 15 minutes were straight uphill. 

We took the funicular up to a higher point as soon as we got off the bus. It only took 5 minutes and we saw some amazing views. 

There is a boys choir at Montserrat, they study and sing throughout the week and go home on the weekend. The cathedral is pretty, and was very crowded. Outside on the little street leading up to the monastery there were vendors selling cheese, honey, nuts and some pollen. We bought a baguette and had some cheese for lunch before we got back on the bus to go down the mountain. 

Gaudi built or remodeled many homes for families, there are three that are open for tours. We went to the most popular of the three, Casa Batllo (1904). I call his style the Dr. Suess' Whoville. He adds the blues of the water, the motion of the waves and the bones. Gaudi sure was ahead of his time, lots of original ideas on airflow within the house. Look for the openings from room to room and in the windows themselves. 

This was a slow day, only about 15,000 steps, we have been averaging about 20,000 per day. 

For dinner we went to a corner pizza place and did, as they call it, "take away". Our hotel has a terrace on the roof, so we relaxed with our wine and pizza. 

Picasso & Park Güell

Up early again this morning to go to the Picasso Museum. Reserved a 9:00 start time, it is a little difficult to find because it is tucked back into an area near the Jewish Quarter or " The Call" which means narrow streets. 

The Picasso Museum takes you through the beginning of his art work as a 14 yr. old with his father as his teacher, to his ever changing methods throughout his life. 

Next we walked a short way to the Santa Caterina market, man I would love to shop there everyday. 

Today also was laundry day, Tim and Annette scoped out a small place and as we have said many times already the Europeans have some pretty cool ways of doing things. All touch screen controls, the only bad part was it was hot!

Barcelona being near the Mediterranean is known to have good paella. So the hotel suggested La Gavina, near the water. We ate every bite, it was fabulous, Bryan had pork, mussel and fish, Annette and I had just fish and Tim had swordfish. 

The last thing on our list was the Park Güell, or Parkway. This is another Gaudi creation, in 1900 they came together to build a residential area for the wealthy class. It never was completed and in the 1920s the city decided to turn it into a park. 

Fireworks are going off like crazy around here this evening, it is San Juan celebration or as we know it the summer solstice. Hoping we can sleep, we have an early train to catch to France tomorrow. 🇫🇷