(taken 9:55)
Once again we set the alarm to wake us up. Since our first port of call is the Picasso Museum which does not open until 10:00, I set the alarm for 7:30.
This was also our first morning to homemade coffee. Though I did not mean too, I made the coffee really weak, so Karen liked it. I did not. We still had to stop at our corner café for a really coffee. We made our way across the boulevard and to the museum. Since we had walked past it before, we knew right where it was. We are here. We are a little early and we are in line.
Once again we set the alarm to wake us up. Since our first port of call is the Picasso Museum which does not open until 10:00, I set the alarm for 7:30.
This was also our first morning to homemade coffee. Though I did not mean too, I made the coffee really weak, so Karen liked it. I did not. We still had to stop at our corner café for a really coffee. We made our way across the boulevard and to the museum. Since we had walked past it before, we knew right where it was. We are here. We are a little early and we are in line.
(taken 11.47)
Believe it or not, we actually went through the entire Picasso Museum. Can hardly believe it myself. Our normal approach to an art museum is something like this:
“What room is the Mona Lisa in? Great, thanks. Other art? Not interested, gotta another museum to got too. Thanks.”
But the Picasso Museum is really cool. For 6 euro’s, you get to see lot’s of Picasso, from his formative years (in his early teens) right into his later years when he was creating pottery. His early work is really excellent and conventional. It was not until his 20’s that he got into the modern art thing. I have to say, while I understand the idea behind cubism, it makes for ugly paintings. But hey, that’s me.
After Picasso, we decided to walk around El Born some more. One place Karen wanted to find for sure was the Chocolate Museum. Took a little effort, but we have found it. We didn’t do the museum part, but definitely have checked out the gift shop.
Believe it or not, we actually went through the entire Picasso Museum. Can hardly believe it myself. Our normal approach to an art museum is something like this:
“What room is the Mona Lisa in? Great, thanks. Other art? Not interested, gotta another museum to got too. Thanks.”
But the Picasso Museum is really cool. For 6 euro’s, you get to see lot’s of Picasso, from his formative years (in his early teens) right into his later years when he was creating pottery. His early work is really excellent and conventional. It was not until his 20’s that he got into the modern art thing. I have to say, while I understand the idea behind cubism, it makes for ugly paintings. But hey, that’s me.
After Picasso, we decided to walk around El Born some more. One place Karen wanted to find for sure was the Chocolate Museum. Took a little effort, but we have found it. We didn’t do the museum part, but definitely have checked out the gift shop.
(taken 11:54)
Still on our walk through El Born, we have reached Placa El Born and decided to have a respite at one of the cafes here. There are 5 of them right together that share the same area in the square for outdoor seating.
Still on our walk through El Born, we have reached Placa El Born and decided to have a respite at one of the cafes here. There are 5 of them right together that share the same area in the square for outdoor seating.
(taken 13:38)
The target of our next stop is the harbor cable car that runs from Barceloneta to Montjuic. Originally, the idea was to take it back from the Montjuic, but we never figured that part out. So we decided to visit the Barceloneta tower. We had stopped here the other night and checked on hours and on prices. It is 12 euro round trip to Montjuic, 9 if you go one way, or if you just go to the top of the tower it is 4. Since we have been to Montjuic twice and seen the city skyline from high above a few times already, we decided we would just do the tower. Turns out to have been a smart decision. You get a great view of the city and they pack the cable car with people, so unless you are lucky enough to be on the outside, you do not get much of a view. Also, we finally spied where the station on Montjuic is. It really is not up the mountain much. Any trip to there, or from there would require a bus ride to get to the top. We take once last look up to the tower here from down on the beach road.
The target of our next stop is the harbor cable car that runs from Barceloneta to Montjuic. Originally, the idea was to take it back from the Montjuic, but we never figured that part out. So we decided to visit the Barceloneta tower. We had stopped here the other night and checked on hours and on prices. It is 12 euro round trip to Montjuic, 9 if you go one way, or if you just go to the top of the tower it is 4. Since we have been to Montjuic twice and seen the city skyline from high above a few times already, we decided we would just do the tower. Turns out to have been a smart decision. You get a great view of the city and they pack the cable car with people, so unless you are lucky enough to be on the outside, you do not get much of a view. Also, we finally spied where the station on Montjuic is. It really is not up the mountain much. Any trip to there, or from there would require a bus ride to get to the top. We take once last look up to the tower here from down on the beach road.
(taken 15:43)
Ahhh! And finally the beach. After the tower, we went back to the condo to change into our swim suits. We then headed back down to the beach. This time, we walked through the neighborhood to the beach. What we found was a lot of what looked like low income housing/ projects. It is amazing that in this area so close to the water, and so full of tourists from all over Europe, that more money has not come into this district. My speculation is zoning and rent control. Could be wrong, of course. The history of Barcelona, as we have learned, is that the well off have lived away from the water. Historically, it was a very active shipping and fishing port, and perhaps this is why. I do wonder if this will change. Further up the coast, beyond the Olympic beach area, you do seeing building and definitely a better class of housing.
Before the sand, we decided to have sandwiches. We ate at one of the beach side cafes (seems like there is one every 200 meters or so in Barceloneta). I had a bacon and cheese sandwich, while Karen had mozzarella and tomato sandwich. Bother were good, but we agree mine was exceptional. Gotta try making that at home too.
Now for some sunning! Karen is styling in her new bathing suit. Very nice and also modest by Barcelona standards.
(taken 18:24)
We have been getting lot’s of sun just walking around, and we did not want to over do it at the beach, so we only stayed an hour or so. What to do next? The mall of course! Right across the marina from us is the Maremagnum mall. From the outside, it looks enormous. But it does share space with the Aquarium, the Imax and a multiplex cinema. So as it turns out, the mall is not very large. Has a variety of stores, but frankly nothing very interesting. And the professional notes that there are no anchor stores (meaning department stores to you and me). They do have a few café/ restaurants, however, and we stopped for a beverage in one of them that had a particularly great view of the marina and city skyline. This place also advertised wifi. Darn, if only I had brought my PC!
Karen poses for her coworkers so that they know, even on vacation, she is checking out the competition.
We have been getting lot’s of sun just walking around, and we did not want to over do it at the beach, so we only stayed an hour or so. What to do next? The mall of course! Right across the marina from us is the Maremagnum mall. From the outside, it looks enormous. But it does share space with the Aquarium, the Imax and a multiplex cinema. So as it turns out, the mall is not very large. Has a variety of stores, but frankly nothing very interesting. And the professional notes that there are no anchor stores (meaning department stores to you and me). They do have a few café/ restaurants, however, and we stopped for a beverage in one of them that had a particularly great view of the marina and city skyline. This place also advertised wifi. Darn, if only I had brought my PC!
Karen poses for her coworkers so that they know, even on vacation, she is checking out the competition.
(taken 19:23)
You would think a visit to the mall would be enough, but there you would be wrong. Here Karen is entering a dress shop that is a mere 1 block our condo. Wonder what she will find in there.
(taken 19:34)
Needing more key supplies for the condo, in particular bottled water to make coffee, we headed back to the supermercat. What we discovered on this visit is that in addition to the super market, behind it, in the same building is a whole mini food market, looking much like a miniature version of the St. Catherine market we visited a couple of days ago. While visiting, Karen decides to get a cappuccino to go. This is how she got it – in a plastic cup.
(taken 21:02)
Dinner time and we decide to try our luck at one of the better looking places down at the end of the pier. Karen craved pizza, and this place looked good. Our waiter is in fact from Italy. As Karen points out, he speaks English better than just about anyone we have met from Barcelona.
(taken 21:09)
Another try at the Sangria. And this time we got it right. This place makes it the way it should be, loaded with fruits and juice from those fruits. Now Karen has a taste of what Sangria should be like, and she likes it. Her honey, let me pour you another glass!
The pizza here is also excellent, made in an authentic northern Italian style that reminds us of our Honeymoon. With our Anniversary tomorrow, this does feel like a bit like a second Honeymoon, too.
(taken 22:20)
On our way back home, we stop by once again the Bar Jaica to see if we can get in. No way. This place is packed as always. Karen poses in front, which is the closest we are going to get to this place.
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