Sat 3 (7-19c)
I wake early again with bad sinus. Windy and cool, but clear. Domestic chores for the boys and I start some lunch preparations. Late morning we drive in to l’Ametlla for a walk in the sun around the port and along the seafront. Some beers at a terrace in the Plaça - games with olives and cocktail umbrellas. Green bean and orange salad with left over chicken. Potato and pumpkin tortilla. The boys have a siesta and we leave in the car for Barcelona about 6:30pm. Meeting Jordi at 9pm for pizza at La Pimpa - walk 40 mins there and back. Great pizza though with buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomato, jamon and rocket. It’s cold on the return but we walk along old narrow streets in the Sants district lined with orange trees and traditional houses.
Sun 4 (11-21c)
Up early and although cloudy it looks like it will be a dry day. Breakfast with the boys after they rise about 9am. Bus in to the centre to meet Yolanda & Andrea with Ima & Vicens at Plaça San Jaume by the Town Hall. This gothic building was home to Barcelona’s Consell de Cent and has been added to over the centuries. Only open Sunday morning so it’s a well co-ordinated visit. Stunning central hall and council chamber. After we head to Santa Maria del Mar and book in to a 1.15pm tour to the roof top (8€). Grab a quick coffee at a nearby bar before the tour begins. I love the simplicity in this soaring austere gothic edifice. Great views of across all of Barcelona from the terraces. It’s sunny now and warming up. 7.90€ salad buffet at a cheap restaurant up Leitana. Nothing particularly exciting but it’s very fresh and great value. Another coffee in a tucked away bar then bus home from Universitat. After 10:05pm I do my online checkin then head out to the club night Churros con Chocolate in Poble Sec. Fun night, great crowd, 2 dance floors, in a big old theatre space. Home about 4am.
Mon 5 (12-20c)
Wake late morning to a low grey threatening sky, so it’s all afternoon on the sofa with Hermes (and a blanket). Mario does a creamy rice with prawns in the Thermomix for lunch before heading to work and Roque brings home sushi for dinner.
Tue 6 (11-17c)
Roque wakes me at 07:00 for breakfast before heading off to work. Mario heads back to bed for an hour and I start organising things for packing. My last day, and there’s plenty of sunshine. Fresh out though, and a busy day planned. We catch the bus 13 up Montjuic for a repeat visit to the Joan Miro Museum. Some stunning works in a fabulous gallery space. Next bus 55 down through Poble Sec to the newly renovated Mercat Sant Antoni in Raval. Wonderful job with the restoration and we take in the colourful stalls with fabulous produce. Time for coffee and strudel at a cute bar in the market. Power trips the market into semi darkness for a good 20 mins. Later outside on a terrace for a beer and croquettes. Then a walk along Gran Via de Las Cortes Catalans admiring the grand apartment buildings with decorative facades, many lovingly restored over the years. We have a 2:30pm booking for Michelin starred restaurant, Angle, on the (angled) corner of Arago & Aribau. Elegant and casually sophisticated, yet not pretentious. We take the 6 course €50 tasting menu along with a fine Albariño from the Rias Baixas.
* Ham with cheese ice cream
* Sardines with smoky eggplant
* Mushroom broth with sweet potato crisp
* Black rice with cuttlefish & prawns
* Roast guinea fowl
* Chocolate dessert w glass of muscat
* Petit fours & coffee
Bill lands at €153.50 ($250) including wine. Overall a wonderful experience with fantastic service. We quickly dash to Son & Calm in Gràcia where Mario admired a ceramic ‘boot’ umbrella stand for L’Ametlla on the 2nd day. Make payment as they are waiting on a stock delivery - colour is yet to be decided. Metro home to quickly finish packing and shower for the long journey home. Final airport drink after 2 weeks together and it’s a sad farewell to BCN and my dear friend Mario.