Grilled Artichokes in BCN


We’ve been in Barcelona (BCN) for two days now.  Since we live near the top attraction here, the Sagrada Familia, we visited that on the 26th.  Sagrada Familia is the most spectacular cathedral we’ve ever seen; designed by the architect Antonio Gaudi, famous for his modernistic style in which he used many of the themes of nature in his design. For example, the main columns in the cathedral are essentially tree trunks in structure with a single pillar that branches out as it approaches the ceiling.  He’s also incorporated the design of palm leaves, seedpods, honeycomb, coral, and more in his designs. The cathedral is in its third century of construction  (begun in the late 1800’s) and continues with completely private and anonymous funds (mostly entry fees).  There was much construction in evidence. 

We searched after that for a restaurant that we thought we had the address for, but to no avail.  We eventually settled for Bacab a traditional Catalan diner.  The butifarra (pork sausage with peppers), French fries, green bean and peas, baked apple and wine were warm and satisfying.  Arriving back in our apartment that night my pedometer read over 8 miles of walking!

Yesterday the 27th we took the tourist Hop on Hop Off bus.  Traveling around the northern perimeter of the city down to the Old City we hopped off looking for a good meal of the day.  Not to be disappointed we found a place we’d recommend, The Troubadour.  Grilled artichoke with Romescu sauce for dipping, baked monkfish with sauce Vazencia and coffee.  It was all wonderful.  Then to a market where we found a cheeses for our evening, at home, tapas dinner.  Saw a few more Gaudi buildings from the bus, walked the final leg, putting in 3.2 miles – although it felt like 10!

Our tapas dinner at home consisted of green salad with roasted red peppers, a Catalan cheese, Cabra Moia with vinaigrette, baguette with two types of beans, one with clams in sauce and another with vegetable.  We accompanied all this with Olmillos, a tempranillo, and finished with a wonderful light fresh white cheese sweetened and made roulade style with pomegranate seeds.  

Went to bed early and slept for twelve hours!

Yesterday we also went to the Picasso Museum and today to the Joan Miro Museum.  Picasso’s was informative in that it showed such a progress of his work from childhood to mature artist.

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