Well we left the Pyrenees on Monday as it was very chilly in the morning so
we decided it was time to try and find some more warmth. The drive down to
Barcelona took about 5 hours and was mostly pleasant with some great views
of the mountains on our left side, but pretty much all of the towns we drove
through were not very nice and very old and run down. There was the odd
place that could be seen in the distance but was inaccessible due to the
poor quality of road that led to it. Our new site was in the town of Sitges
about 25km down the coast from Barcelona. Again, not much to see in Sitges
itself as it was fairly run down with a lot of building work going on. The
site was very nice but next to a building site and the main railway line
along the coast, so it was very dusty and occasionally noisy.
On Tuesday we took the bus in to Barcelona as it stopped just outside the
gate of the site and we didn't really fancy having to try and park anywhere
in the city. It turned out to be very convenient as it stopped at the top of
Las Ramblas, the historic old avenue that runs down the side of the old
town. The avenue was very busy, and this is only April. Half way down after
some strange sights including cages of all sorts of birds for sale, we found
the Mercat de Saint Josep. Wow, what a place. The traditional old enclosed
market crammed packed full of food stalls selling most things that you could
imagine, and some that you possibly couldn't. Amazing fruit and veg, and
quite jaw dropping selections of meat and fish. Some of the items at the
meat counters were not something that you come across every day, like
skinned sheep's heads, calve heads, and a nice selection of various sizes of
brains. I am sure when they are all cooked in a traditional way are very
delicious, but it would take some convincing after seeing them raw first.
Anyway, we managed to find a treat for breakfast that we had been keen to
try, 'Chocolate con Churros', a thick syrupy cup of hot chocolate sauce with
a side of twisted batter sticks that you dip into the drink. Very nice
indeed.
Suitably nourished we headed off to see the sights. As you would expect the
cathedral was clad with scaffolding, and there was a service on inside so
access was very limited. The old streets were very appealing and after an
amount of casual ambling we required some lunch. After trying to find some
guide book recommendations we eventually found a small little bar cafe in a
side street that had an interesting 'menu del dia'. Three courses, some very
nice bread and a bottle of wine to share for 8€ each. Can't complain, and it
was very tasty indeed, all freshly cooked as we could see her doing it.
We chose to take a stroll to the marina to walk of lunch and check out a
couple of very extravagant motor yachts moored up. Huge does not best
describe them, I am not sure if poor old Mr Chelsea himself could afford
them. After trying hard not to appear too envious we aimed in the direction
of the Eixample district to check out some of Gaudi's masterpieces. The
Sagrada Familia was as to be expected fairly well supported by scaffolding
as it is still yet to be completed. It is quite nicely set off by the
typical Spanish restaurants that line the streets around it, like MacDonalds
KFC etc. I am sure Gaudi would be delighted. After a long stroll around
searching out his other main works, which are okay but not as impressive as
you would expect, we sauntered back to get the bus.
We probably could have made another day of it in the city, but we chose to
up sticks again this morning and head for 'La France'. So we are now just
north of Perpignan at Le Barcares. We drove around in circles for a while
trying to find the site, but we eventually found our way. Whether we will
find our way out again we don't know. Tomorrow we will move off again and
head further along the coast and aim to be in Italy early next week. Or not
as the case may be!
Au Revoir
M&S
No comments:
Post a Comment