Tuesday, June 24: We slept until 1:00pm and I guess that is called jet lag - or just a lot to drink the previous night! Since this is truly an architectural city, we walked toward a street that is famous for the influence of various prominent artists and architects. However due to some rain showers we decided to take a tour bus and get a broad view of the city. After about 1/2 hour the rain stopped but the bus didn't, so we hopped off at Park Guell, an amazing area designed by Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect (1852-1926), whom you will hear much more about later. Park Guell was an estate that was eventually deeded to the City of Barcelona and named after the benefactor. It is on the side of a hill and includes great curved structures that are emblematic of Gaudi.
After wandering through Park Guell for four hours, we hopped back on the tour bus, after all, it was hop on - hop off, and because the weather had turned sunny we sat upstairs in the double-decker. Every where we looked there were interesting buildings and other forms of architecture. Near the University of Barcelona they had installed a tram for the Olympics. What made this one different from most was the rail bed was actually grass instead of concrete or fill material. It was quite striking. We returned to the Port Olympico area again and at a different restaurant had an unbelievable platter of sole, turbot, hake, langoustines, crayfish, shrimp, prawns, mussels, and clams. Oh yeah, and a couple of potatoes! Another bottle of wine and we were very happy. Of course the waiter thought we should be happier so he brought us a bottle of some green brandy and just let us pour to our hearts content!
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