December 2011 - Spain, USA
December 7, 2011
Hi Everyone, Another beautiful sunny week in Barcelona. Al got a lot of outdoor varnishing done but we still found time to sight see and ride our bikes. Sunday we went to Palau Nacional to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya "Home of Catalan Art". Great facility and collection. We especially enjoyed the Modernistic art. It took us over 4 hours to do the audio tour and it was well worth out time. We found a little neighborhood restaurant on our walk back to Port Vell for lunch. Refreshed we decided to visit the Maritime Museum (free on Sun) and then check out the Nativity at Town Hall and the Christmas Market at the cathedral. We still haven't gone walking at night to see all the Christmas lights so plan to this next week.
We've ridden our bikes every day this week. Yesterday we went to a World Heritage site, Hospital de Sant Pau complex designed by Montaner, who also designed Palau de la Musica de Catalunya. The complex includes 16 unique pavilions and gardens meant to cheer up the patients. Mantaner uses a lot of colorful ceramic tiles to decorate his buildings. We could only ride our bikes around some parts as it's under restoration. So today we went back with friends to take a guided tour. First time we've paid half price because we are retired! Usually they ask for age 65 or as in Turkey a special card.
We went to a nice Japanese Restaurant "MIU" for sushi. Lots of people off work as yesterday was National Day and tomorrow is Immaculate Conception so the streets and restaurants are busy busy with locals on vacation. We plan to work on the teak toe rail tomorrow so we can get some new varnish on before we come home. Mont Tibidabo and Collserola park are high on our list of things to do before we come home. Maybe Friday:-) Hope all is well and everyone is keeping warm. That's the part we don't look forward to when we come home! Home by this time next week:-)
Love and God Bless Sally and Al
