Barcelona

Wednesday 18 November

The hostel common room is right behind my room and I found out that is open till 04.00 some days. I went down to reception at 01.00 to try to move.

08.30 Got up and went to breakfast. Leo advised me to fill up on packets of cakes and biscuits to take snack on later in the day. Good advice. We then worked out which what sites we should try to see out of Ed long list.

10.30 Changed rooms. A smaller room, two floors up and at the rear of the building.

11.00 20c. Down to Barceloneta with the group to carry out our project. Draw 3 sections of the Barceloneta esplanade waterfront with the usual suspect group. A warm day and very busy on the beach with people sun bathing. Walked along the waterfront via the parks. Through the marina Port Olympic, through Parc de la Nova Icaria and on to the McDonalds for a selection of 1euro items. Over the Bridge to Parc Poblenou. A large open sports area at first, continuing along a gravel path into a pine tree woodland and on into a more formal grassed area. Otherwise, not very inspiring. Then through newly developed residential areas to get the metro at Poblenou. Up to Sagrada Familia, which just like a Hollywood star, is smaller than expected and a real building site. We did not go in due to the high charge and time. Back on the metro to Parc Turo de la Piera. Surrounded by what looked like new build / refurbished council blocks. The park stands on the top of a neighbourhood hill and has 360 degree views from the cross at its summit. We could see the 144m Torre Agbar on Ave Diagonal, Barcelona’s’ copy of the Gherkin building in London. But another hill blocked the main view of Barcelona’s’ centre. Now 18.00 and time to get back, due to poor light and the stench of dope coming from the growing adolescent group gathering on the basketball court below us. We walked back to the metro at Vilapicin, got off at metro Diagonal, to walk 6 blocks to the hostel. Passed Mouri, a fantastic food shop come cafe and on to Passieg de Garcia. Some very high end shops in this area. Spent an hour relaxing in the common room and catching up with others. Then off out with Aaron, Joe and Jason (Enrico spend time with his Uncle, who is in Barcelona on work to eat at Eds recommended Spanish restaurant. Not so good, but ordered a veggie paella and a beer. Then a dry almond cake dipped in sweet wine, very good.

23.30 back at the hostel via a very busy Las Ramblas, had a shower in the en-suite, then time to sleep (I hoped).