Something we no longer see – a cigarette vending machine.
After you PRESS KEY TO SEE PRICE it will probably be $5.62 USD per pack.
Bicing is Barcelona's public bicycle borrowing scheme for permanent residents only. Tourists cannot rent city bikes. Residents can register online to get a Bicing city bike membership card, which allows them to borrow bicing bicycles from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The cost is €47 a year for an annual subscription. Visitors to Barcelona cannot use the bicing system.
Paella is a Valencian rice dish with ancient roots that originated in its modern form in the mid-19th century near the Albufera lagoon, a coastal lagoon in Valencia, on the east coast of Spain. The dish is widely regarded as Spain's national dish.
Candy, as you walk on Las Ramblas the restaurants (every 25’) are all selling the paella – after seeing the ingredients, I didn’t order it while I was here. I really don’t think it is a dish that I care for – too many opportunities to hide leftovers. Kind of similar to stew.
Jamon samples
We had the toilet paper delivery and now we have the beer.
Being a tourist can just wear you out.
Underground art in the Diagonal Metro Station.
If I had taken the time to take pictures of all the metal steel roll-down doors and/or just the regular doors, I know I would have a 1,000-page book. This is the best door city I have ever been to.
Lots of dumpster (trash can) diving in this city. Some of them are rather well dressed. This guy was pulling out magazines that had been trashed.
I will miss the sound of the “rollies” on the cobblestones.
Sunday, after I did the Sagrada Familia, I went to the El Corte Ingles department store and went up to the 9th floor (the curved section) and had lunch overlooking the city.
My ulterior motive was to take pictures from a higher elevation. The arrow shows the site of the 1992 Olympics.
Monday (9/14) I took a tour with Claudia to Girona/Pal/Costa Brava. The city of Girona was my favorite and it had lots of Kodak moments. After I get home and caught up I will send out the images from that all-day trip. Here is Claudia talking to one of the eight tour attendees.
Well, I am packed and tomorrow I leave my humble abode that has served me so well for the past month. What did I learn from this trip?
I could have done two months.
In the early ‘90’s when I was a little bored with my position, I sought employment in Europe. I should have tried harder. This stay has confirmed in my mind what I have always suspected – I could live my life in Europe just fine. I am not forsaking the U.S. of A. or my citizenship, but the planes are flying every day, the emails go back and forth as do Skype or FaceTime. At this stage in life, residence in a foreign country is not going to happen.
But. . .will I do this again? YES!
Will it be Barcelona? NO – if you can only visit one city in Spain, do Barcelona. I got exactly what I wanted; the best location for lots of action. I think it would be fun to stay in a small village in a waterfront town – Portugal, Chile, wherever. The world is at your fingertips with different apartment/villa/house rentals.
My blog will be my memories of my stay in this great city. Hope you have enjoyed my sights, my trials and my happiness.