Geoff and June in Barcelona
Geoff and June stayed at the 4* Superior Hotel Casanova
We planned our trip using the AA Key Guide to Barcelona book.
Transport was by bus / metro/ mountain railway / cable car using the 10 trip card [7.5 Euros].
First evening [23rd May 2010] walk in central Barcelona and a meal out.
24th May
Hopped on a red 24 bus to be dropped right outside Parc Guell.
Anyone spot June ??
The Dragon....
Below - Looking back at the front entrance from the terrace
Below -Looking up at the amazing tiled terrace
It's unbelievable. The genius of Gaudi !
Then back on the bus for lunch. Pm walked around the Gothic quarter, visited the Cathedral - no photos outside as it was covered in scaffolding.
Later had an evening meal at the hotel.
25th May
Explored "Las Ramblas" - the writer Somerset Maugham described it as "the most beautiful street in the world". It's certainly breath-taking.
Three quarters of the way down we turned off to see Palau Guell.
We walked on to the Paral.lel metro station to catch the mountain railway to Avinguda de Miramar.
From here it's a short walk to the famous Joan Miro Foundation art museum.
This is absolutely fantastic - a must for any visitor to Barcelona.
How June has changed !!
Now we know which one's Geoff here !
This is Geoff self portrait when he thought someone had been in his money bag !! Right - The Tapestry
June so loved to blend in !!
After Joan Miro foundation it was on the cable car
June's no scaredy cat like Suzi !
Finally reached the Castell de Mt. Montjuic.
From there a slow walk down the mountain through the beautiful botanical gardens.
Now we're in the port. Here's the Maritime museum.
From there it's walking up the bottom part of Las Ramblas and a very late lunch plus lager and ice cream !
Needed to rest after that but out at night exploring La Ribera, L'Eixample and La Diagonal before an excellent evening meal at L'Olivia.
26th May
It's on to the metro train over to La Sagrada Familia, temple of the Holy Family.
Impressed - You should be !
The Passion Facade
In the musem.
Game of Chess anybody ?
Next it's a walk across town to the astounding Casa Mila
More Gaudi master class !
From here it's on to the Manzan de la Discordia, three historic buildings, Casa Battlo, Casa Amatller and Cas Morera, built when modernism was in full swing.
Next the Picasso Museum
The highlight of the collection is the series of 58 paintings hung together in the Great Hall. During the 1950's Picasso began looking at the great artists for inspiration and in particular Diego Velazquez. The result was a series of canvases on the theme of the Velezquez masterpiece Las Meninas [the Maids of Honour] depicting the women of the Spanish court . His cubist interpretation of the paintings reveal Velezquez's work in an entirely new light.
[Left] Las Meninas [group]
[Right] La Meninas Infant Margarita Maria
[Right] The Wait {Margot}
So far June's not been SHOPPING.
But now the hunt it on !
That night June fancied TAPAS
and we certainly went to town in the amazing tapas bar !!
