Thursday May 9, 2019

Barcelona Cathedral

We sleep in a bit today as we do not have any timed entries, trains to catch, or big sights to see. In fact, we really do not have anything planned other than checking out the Barcelona beach. We have another nice breakfast and get ready to go out. I read that the Barcelona Cathedral is free until 1200, so we decide to take a metro there first. The metro system here is well organized with signs pointing the way to different lines and directions and at the platform. It tells you how many minutes until the next train. It is very nice. We get out at the stop near the cathedral, find it easily and get in a short line at 1130.

15th Century Choir

The cathedral is gothic style and construction started on it in 1298. 152 years later, it was complete. It is the fourth holy site built in this spot. Two thousand years ago, the Romans built the Temple of Jupiter here, than in 343 it was replaced with a Christian cathedral, a Romanesque church replaced that I the 11th century and then this cathedral. It is not the most ornate cathedral inside, but we see a nice baptismal font, a 15th century choir, an organ, and the tomb of St Eulalia. St Eulalia was the daughter of a prominent Barcelona family and was martyred by the Romans for her faith in 304 A.D. She was only 13 and the legend says she was subjected to 13 tortures.

Which Way Did He Go?

We exit the church and meander through some nice medieval streets and walk to the Columbus monument. His statue is high above, pointing toward America. From the monument, we make a slow stroll along a marina filled with expensive boats and wind up back at El Dique, where we had lunch the other day. We repeat the menu of the day with salad, mussels, paella, and dessert. The only difference is we get sangria instead of beer. After our leisurely meal, we walk until we hit the beach and the Mediterranean Sea.

Barcelona Beach

We find a spot, put down a towel and absorb the beach scene here. We watch Arabs trying to sell blankets, Pakistanis with bottles of rum and glasses with ice and mint trying to sell mojitos, others trying to sell beer from a cooler. But wait, there’s more. Black ladies, reminding me of Jamaica trying to braid your hair, somehow leave me alone. Chinese ladies come up hawking a massage. Twice they actually touch Carols legs, ” make your calves feel good” ignoring the dozen ” NO’s” that Carol says. It is quite interesting but makes it a bit hard to relax.

It Was That Big

We both touch the Sea which is quite cold. After our sitting on the beach time, we walk along the sand and then the sidewalk that runs along the water. We take pictures of a big bronze fish which I think was put here during some Olympics.

I Told You it Was Big

Somehow it has gotten to be 1730 so we try something different and catch a bus back to the hotel. This lets us enjoy seeing the different areas of Barcelona and we enjoy the ride. Back at the hotel, we relax and then head,back to Chambaku for a light meal. Nina, from last night is off and the bartender does not speak English so we get a different vibe. We do talk with a guy we saw in here yesterday who is a software engineer and is interested when Carol says she did that. He is also interested in ATC. He is Columbian but moved to Spain when he was 16, got a job, went to school and work in Germany, and now lives in Barcelona. I get the feeling he is some kind of genius to be hired in software without a college degree but having finished high school at 15. Anyway, we chat for a while and then have to leave so we can get organized for tomorrow’s departure. We have enjoyed the city of Barcelona, even though a couple of sights were a little disappointing. Tomorrow we learn about another artist.

Expenses
Hostal Alslyp 114 105.68E
Barcelona Cathedral Free
El Dique Lunch 30E
Chambaku Salad and Sandwich 25.49USD
Walked 6 Miles