We started the day with a visit to a Barcelonan icon, the Casa Batilo, an incredible house designed by Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) in the Modernisme style. The unique street front façade includes green-blue ceramic tiles, with a roofline depicting a dragon and the house is designed with numerous humorous touches. We were given terrific audioguides which brought our tour of the house to life!
We stopped for lunch at Alsur Café, which served ‘tourist Spanish' cuisine and then Ian and I set off on a walk around a couple of distinctive areas of the city, following notes from travel author Rick Steves' book on Barcelona.
We started the first walk in the Ramblas, which is the main boulevard in the city. Commencing at the Place de Catalunya, with its statues and fountains, we passed impressive Art Deco buildings and department stores.
From there we followed the Barri Gotic walk, commencing at the Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel, where there used to be a medieval city gate. We passed the Els Quatre Gats, an historic restaurant where the artist Picasso had his first one-man show in 1900. Further on we came to the Placa Nova where two Roman towers still stand, guarding what used to be the ancient city of Barcino. Next we came to a book market and then the Cathedral of Barcelona, but since we had run out of Spanish coins and didn't have enough for the church entry ‘donation' we decided to find the Metro and return home.
For dinner tonight we accompanied Chris and family to The Venue Steak House, which belongs to Rab McLuckie, a Scotsman who owns the Barcelona apartment where we are staying. We had a great meal, with huge steaks for Ian, Chris and Kristie (and a huge serving of salmon for me), plus desserts (chocolate soufflés for several of us), followed by a complimentary whisky for the adults.
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