A Big Birthday in Barcelona

So, this year, 2019, was a big one for a certain person……although I keep telling him “he’s in Africa…….in denial (in De Nile)”. He didn’t want any fuss, (unlike his 50th in Barcelona when he was so smashed he couldn’t remember much of the weekend) so no guests, no visitors, no surprise party, just me and him. And so it was!

We actually had some fun on our own, we booked a short notice hotel as the site we were on was only 50 minutes away but the coach journey from the site entrance to the Centre of Barcelona was a bargain price of €5.25 each!! The Hotel was just off the Rambla, right near a Metro station so we really got down and dirty with the locals and took the bus and Metro before checking into our hotel. Lunch was on the hoof as we walked up to the top of the Rambla and off to the right to find the Sagrada Familia Gaudi Cathedral, a long walk punctuated by stops at cafes, shops and tabacs to do bits of shopping, buy coffees and keep warm, on this grey day. Although the temperature was about 15c, we had a cold wind blowing and grey clouds overhead threatening a rainshower. Thankfully this didn’t happen.

We booked tickets at the Gaudi Cathedral for 3.00pm entrance, and came out at 5pm! If ever you want somewhere spectacular to go, I can highly recommend this building, it’s such an unusual cathedral, like nothing we have ever seen before. Despite being full of tourists, the Cathedral had an ethereal feel, quiet and so warm, full of sunlight and a multitude of colours from all the windows in the ceiling. We got a lift to the top of one of the towers, and walked back down the narrow spiral staircase, stopping off to admire the city views at various points where bridges connect to other towers, but it was the interior that fascinated me, the whole building told a tale at different sides and points, a story of birth and death, love, resurrection, betrayal and afterlife.

After tapas and a drink, and then a short recuperation (snooze), we headed out to a local restaurant just off the Rambla that had caught David’s eye earlier, a steak and burger place that stored some of their meat in a dry storage unit to mature it; when we ordered he did order the 45 day dry aged steak and I ordered just a normal one. Mine, despite being well cooked, was much more juicy than David’s medium cooked steak, although both were extremely tasty. David was serenaded by a group of visiting musical minstrels while we were eating, whih was funny. We enjoyed a great bottle of Rioja and some fun with the staff who spoke very little English but understood that it was David’s birthday so offered him a free glass, just the glass (it was stamped with the name of the vineyard), but I forgot to pick it up!

So we headed a few door along where we spotted a bar, opened only 9 months ago, and run by a Portuguese lady called Vieja (vee-eka). The bar had been in operation since 1910, and everything inside was original, and she was an expert in cocktails!

We slunk out of the bar and managed to stagger the two doors along to our hotel, some time much later. I recall trying several different cocktails off the menu but towards the end she asked what spirits we liked and made them up for us…..I think!!! Some, in honour of David’s birthday, were spectacular, sparklers and lights were involved, as was much tequila, vodka, passion fruits, rum, bourbons and the odd plate of crisps and nuts!! Just to say that at about 5am, David stuggled to find the ensuite bathroom, so we had a great night with Vieja!!!

The next day we strolled down to the Marina area after a full Irish breakfast (Irish sausages, bacon, black pudding, mushrooms, eggs, beans….the works!!!) before walking the whole of the Rambla, admiring the street artists, Japanese tourists with their cameras and face masks, and the old buildings along the way. Before we caught the coach back, we stopped at a coffee shop, had coffee and orange juice and suddenly felt human again! A very odd sensation!!!

• 

• 

Photos of Familia Sagrada Basilica (Cathedral) – which will hopefully be completed in 2027 with the erection a total of 18 towers, 12 are currently built, the rest are in progress.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

And now, for the evening…….

• 

• 

Clearing our heads the next day, admiring the scenery.