Catching Up...
We had a couple of transportation options from our airport hotel to our Barcelona hotel. The absolute cheapest, would have been the Aerobus. It’s very comfortable and would drop us off in Place Catalunya (8 minute walk). The cost for this comfortable bus is 7 Euro. Rather than hump around our luggage, we opted for the, more convenient, Bolt. With a total cost of 20Euro, we spend an additional 6Euro to be dropped off at the hotel. Well worth it! The drive was nice… we passed the harbor and a few historical sites along the way.
Our intention was to leave our bags at the front desk of our hotel and go explore the area. As luck would have it, the hotel had a room ready for us! We were able to take our things up and drop them off. Getting ourselves a little settled before we went out was nice! Walking down the alleyways, passing small restaurants and florist shops, we instantly felt the joy of this Spanish city.
So many visits to Barcelona… and only on my last visit with Corey, had I visited the Arc de Triomf. We have always been on the other side of town. It was fun taking Barry around the new locations! He really enjoyed this new area, enough to wear he allowed a “selfie”. As you can see, the weather is perfect!
As we crossed under the Arc de Triompf and headed down the Passeig Luis Companys, we enjoyed a festival that was taking place. We saw lots of traditional dresses. Surprisingly, Barry did not want to have his photo taken with one of the colorfully dressed ladies. Go figure!
Unlike the last time I was here, the weather was perfect this time! A light sweater was all I needed. The sun was shining, and the park was very full. Of course, last time was a weekday and this time a weekend. Many people picnic with families. It was nice to wander around this city park on a dry, sunny day!
This time around, it was easier to get a good look at the sculptures that make up this park. Gold horses at the top were much more brilliant that when covered by rain! Last time, it was absolutely pouring. We had to hide out for quite a while until it calmed down a bit. It was amazing to realize the intricate detail in these sculptures.
A little jet-lagged and hungry, we chose to save the Barcelona Zoo until our next visit. Outside the zoo, this gigantic cement elephant was very impressive! Like everything else in the park, the attention to detail was incredible. Very lifelike.
Vacation had truly begun… we enjoyed this leisurely afternoon. Rowboats floated on the lake. It was fun to watch the couples enjoying this sunny day! We spent quite a bit of time, sitting on a bench alongside the lake. Sweet vacation!
Well-manicured, the trees in this park were a combination of fall colors and springlike fruit. It was so, so tempting but we did not grab a single orange. I can only imagine how sweet they must be. Deep orange, the trees were bursting with fruit!
Someone put an apple on the fence post and look who showed up! There were several more birds sitting along the rail… patiently waiting their turn to nibble. Dancing around, very energetic, these birds were such a beautiful shade of green!
After a nice long walk, we decided to head back to the hotel. Always looking for a photo op, I noticed this colorful “Barcelona” sign outside of a clothing store. Usually, I am the one taking photos, but today my better half got to do the honors! Of course, one of the beautiful and tormenting things about Europe… the pastry shops. Rarely do I find one that carries gluten-free items. So, I am left to admire the tempting items with my mouth watering!!!
Having the perfect landmark to find our hotel was worth its weight in gold! The tree on the right, is where our entry door is. We simply look for the spires on the Cathedral de Barcelona and head that way! The location of Colon Hotel could not be better. We will definitely add this to our list of “must return” All of my boxes were checked… outdoor space (rooftop bar), in a walkable area (plaza outside the cathedral) and peacefully quiet.
Two perspectives…on the left is a restaurant I spotted last spring. Corey and I were out walking one evening and the lights peeking through the trees caught my eye. Making a mental note, it turned out our perfectly located accommodations wee right around the corner from this restaurant. Cercle is a romantic restaurant on the first floor (which in USA would be second floor). Nestled in the trees, we had a birds eye view of people walking the town.
Dinner was amazing… we shared a salad, had appetizers (fresh sardines for me) and a paella that was created to fit my dietary restrictions. Our waiter served us a Rioja that made the meal complete! Sipping wine, people watching, talking… planning…under the twinkling lights, made for the perfect evening. Life has us separated more than normal couples, so we have to focus on quality over quantity.
Everything was delicious. Interestingly, it was the location/ambiance that attracted me to El Cercle. After reading reviews, I took a chance that I would be blessed with a great meal. The reviews were either really, loved it or really hated it. Our experience was that the service was topnotch and the food… just what I hoped for. Funny… the photo on the left. This is our dessert menu. Barry always eats cottage cheese as if it is the best dessert. We were shocked to see it on an actual menu!
Tomorrow is another day!
