Ola from Spain

Barcelona is elegant and grand, like Paris, with wide streets and many monuments, but buoyant, informal and  tropical in flavour.  It’s hard not to be happy in Barcelona. There are parakeets in the trees. You can hear them before you see them. We took a bus tour this morning – the streets in the early hours were quite empty except for the tough turistos like ourselves.  I guess everyone was hung over after the game.  But, by 10am they were jammed again.

Our breakfast was a great surprise – the usual croissants, yogurt, coffee, but more: a variety of Spanish pastries, scrambled eggs, sausages, ham, bacon. And wine. Doug had a glass. I declined, it being 8am.

We visited the Barcelona Cathedral, huge and having Mass when we entered, so we couldn’t go past the chain.  They’ve gone electronic though, with a big screen video of the service for us outsiders and electric candles for prayers.  You pop in a coin and bingo! a little pretend candle lights up! Somehow, I have a feeling that they aren’t an affirming church.  Outside, the Catalonian dancers performed in the square.

Our tour, of course, included the Goudi church, unfinished and organic.  His work is very present around the town.  I intend to learn more about this mystical, creative man. 

After exploring every square mile of the city by bus, we hit the beaches so Doug could have a swim.  Thousands of people cover the sand, basking in the sun. This is such an energetic city.  The streets are an array of cars, trucks, scooters, bikes and roller bladers.  The sidewalks include pedestrians, bladers, skateboarders,  and bikes.  No rules, no worries.  The Catalonian personality seems to be friendly and casual.
Today, is election day in Spain.  In order to encourage citizens to fulfil their civic duty, airplanes made great white Xs in the sky.  A lofty reminder to vote.

Tomorrow, we head back to France.