Feb 6

Up early today to start touring the old town of Barcelona. We had a quick coffee and pastry at Starbucks as nothing else was open at 9 on Sunday morning...too many late nights on the weekend! Then we headed out for a walking tour of the Barri Gotic area. Mainly we walked around the cathedral and studied not just the gothic architecture but also that from the Renaissance and Baroque periods - all on Roman foundations 65 feet down. No earthquakes here damaged the older buildings, like in Italy, they just got torn down to make way for new. The first town wall surrounded the cathedral area, then expanded two more times. Unlike many places, the walls are all gone now. We did take an elevator down the 65 feet to walk around dyeing vats, fish meal factories and some other Roman ruins. Noon in the cathedral courtyard brought out a small orchestra and the Sardana dancers. People from the town sway, dance,and hop in large circles-putting their bags and purses in the middle to protect them from thieves...all ages take part, but it was slanted toward the aged as this was Sunday morning and the late nights kept the younger partiers in bed. Then we took a hike through the Ribera district to find the Picasso museum. He started out at age 12 learning to paint like the old european artists and then ended up painting in very childlike manners with broad black strokes and lots of color. Can't say we have ever appreciated the cubism, but now understand it more. Had our first hit on a tapas bar where they charged by the number of toothpicks on your plate! They weren't especially tasty, so need to find other places. Then we hoofed it again to catch a city bus to the top of Montjuic and the Olympia village. First built in the late 30's, the Olympics missed Barca because of their civil war. It was refurbished for the 92 Olympics. Quite a site. The plain of Barcelona is nestled between tall escarpments and mountains and the sea. Mainly flat, it abruptly rises to the heights around the city. Funiculars and cablecars carry you up, when they are working. The harbor and town streets were packed by evening with children on inline skates, strolling families and al fresca dining. Back to bed by midnite after 5-6 miles of walking and up early tomorrow for the modernistic site of the town's architecture...Gaudi and more! ALso off to buy camera cable.