Here we are, sitting on the verandah of our stateroom, watching the stir as the Marina prepares to leave Barcelona. It's been a great couple of days. Yesterday we took the Hop On Hop Off tour of the city, picking up the bus just a block away from our hotel on Av Diagonal (which my brain persists in seeing as Diagon Alley). Saw some spectacular architecture, beautiful vistas, and learned much about the people of Catalonia. We even saw some of Gaudi's work, though I must say that it's not really my cup of tea. His buildings look quite creepy to me, and his sculptures, just incomprehensible.
Went back to Piscolabis for dinner, and had more ham and bread, plus their version of bravas. I'm liking bravas a lot! We also drank quite a lot of wine. We must have been there close to four hours - we considered the waiters part of the family by the time we left! It's a real testament to the city that we felt so welcome. After all, here we are in a foreign country, understanding neither the language nor the culture. It also takes a leap of faith on our part to open ourselves to the experience.
We've been ordering food and wine not knowing what we're getting and, usually, not even knowing what it will cost. (The restaurant bills have so far been pleasant surprises.) We have been communicating mostly with gestures and English words of one syllable, and receiving similar replies. We say gracias a lot. (We don't know how to say sorry in Spanish. :-))
Goodbye, Barcelona. It was very nice to meet you!
No comments:
Post a Comment