Barcelona!

Spain! Warm wonderful Spain! Home of tapas and sangria right?! Yes and no. After our first afternoon here (drove from dordogne to Barcelona airport and caught train to town) I'd have said it was home of scantly clad women (some more beautiful than others) on the roadside looking to promote the 'stop revive survive' campaigns by getting weary drivers (or was that horney drivers?!!) off the road and into the back seat/bush (pun intended!). We, or at least I, must have seen 10 or more on one short stretch of road: can only assume the local government has identified this 'sextion' as a 'black spot' danger zone!! My other impression was that of dodgy street people selling these whistles which can only be appreciated truly after 2+ hours of listening to them and being offered the purchase of one. Arrrrgh! You'll be glad to know the tapas and sangria experience did come. Along with Antoni Gaudo. He for Manda and I has really made Barcelona what it is. He must have had a brilliantly intelligent mind for art and architecture as his works are inspirational and certainly mind boggling. Not surprisingly Manda has gone Japanese on anything Gaudi with the camera, to the point of suggesting to me we get up at 5am, yes in the morning, and go and get photos when no one else is there (ie get photos like in the books or better!). We bought a book instead! His works here are indeed amazing with the most brilliant still 15 years from completion; the sagrada familia. Long lines (4000 people a day), expensive admission (15€+ for a student more if an adult: we are both students, so the ID card says!!! And the church call it a donation!!!) and tourist central (constant stream of tourist coaches ALL day) but well and truly worth the wait. English tour a must.

Gaudi chimney on rooftop

Manda on rooftop

Front of Gaudi house

Also have done the beach thing. It was ok, good atmosphere but usual poor surf. Watch your bag! Thieves as always in operation.
Markets here great. Preserved ham amazing! At 150€ per kg it'd want to be I guess (3€ a slice for the record). Also worthy of mention was their fresh juice 200ml cup 1.50€ a bottle for 3€ and the flavours and combinations of fruits seemed endless. Manda had raspberry and coconut and I had pineapple and lime one day mango and coconut the other! Gig!
Lunch at gaudi park had an impressive view over Barcelona! Puts it all in perspective. Scalpers sold Manda some cute little bracelets which she managed to bargain them down to less than 1/2 price! Good job I thought. Will make lovely souvenirs!
The citadel park was also beaut but we very nearly had our bag stolen from right beneath our noses! 3 young blokes (15 maybe) came round as we were having lunch (bag open of course) and asked us to sign a petition for something to do with the deaf. I figured the best idea was to sign it and they'd piss off. I took the clip board from one of them and Manda followed my lead. I read the top of the form and was dubious but proceeded to sign as did Manda. Next thing we knew they wanted a donation, ie where is your money, and when we said no they were right up in our faces pushing the board really close hence blocking our view of the bag, camera etc on the ground. I felt like something was going and instinctively grabbed at where the bag was and by chance caught 1 of the 3 of the blokes had in our bag so grabbed it extra hard and pushed him and his mates back. They looked sheepish and all started yabbering away in spanish before disappearing. A close call as he would only have been literally 2 seconds from pocketing the iPod as it was on top of the bag and in clear view! Phew! A timely reminder to be more vigilant and street smart!
Otherwise time here has been wonderful and couldn't say a bad word. A few amazing dinners and sangria along the way also. When we return home I think a sangria and tapas party will be in order; the Spanish certainly know how to have a good time!