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Well, I get internet access and a strong need to rest my feet, so greetings from Barcelona. It´s as great as I expected (but as hot as Bill feared)--wonderful tapès, including cuttlefish and such savoury olives, lovely fresh and also cured anchovies, potato tortes, etc. I do find myself drinking beer rather than wine because of the heat, but late in the evening it cools off and then the vino is welcome. We´re staying near the great Gaudí cathedral, Sangrada Familia (actually very near the Hospital St. Pau--both buildings are wonders of the imagination, incredibly rich with details but also impressive in overall design. I will post pictures eventually). In between is the Avignudo Gaudí, a broad street almost closed to cars with cafes lining it and tables in the center, so we can sit and eat and drink and see the buildings all at the same time, without having to go very far.
Today we did go further though, and wandered around the old medieval part of town, the Barri Gothí (I´m not checking the spelling so forgive errors in Catalan) with tiny winding streets (but of course that doesn´t stop the scooters from scooting along them) and great little shops and bars. We ate (more tapés) in the St. Catherine market, a huge indoor market with wonderful displays of meat, cheese, fruit, etc. and went to the Picasso museum.
Although there are lots of kids doing the summer thing, one thing I´m really loving here is how the people my age and older are out and about, so much more than I see in cities at home (maybe I´m just choosing the wrong neighborhoods--maybe there´s an Avignudo Gaudí in Chicago I´m missing). But I love seeing a table full of people in their seventies still dressing up and out in the evening having a good time. And they do dress up--especially this year, with skirts in style, everyone wears such lovely patterns and colors, and such flowing lines.
Hopefully the combination of feet and internet will strike again, but if not, more when I get to Florence, Rome, or home. Hope you´re all well--miss my LJ!
Today we did go further though, and wandered around the old medieval part of town, the Barri Gothí (I´m not checking the spelling so forgive errors in Catalan) with tiny winding streets (but of course that doesn´t stop the scooters from scooting along them) and great little shops and bars. We ate (more tapés) in the St. Catherine market, a huge indoor market with wonderful displays of meat, cheese, fruit, etc. and went to the Picasso museum.
Although there are lots of kids doing the summer thing, one thing I´m really loving here is how the people my age and older are out and about, so much more than I see in cities at home (maybe I´m just choosing the wrong neighborhoods--maybe there´s an Avignudo Gaudí in Chicago I´m missing). But I love seeing a table full of people in their seventies still dressing up and out in the evening having a good time. And they do dress up--especially this year, with skirts in style, everyone wears such lovely patterns and colors, and such flowing lines.
Hopefully the combination of feet and internet will strike again, but if not, more when I get to Florence, Rome, or home. Hope you´re all well--miss my LJ!
