Thursday after we cleared customs, Kathy and I walked up Las Ramblas, stopped for tapas in a square, baby fried fish, summer salad, spicy meatballs, CERVESAS! We walked back to the ship in time to board a tour bus with a local guide for a tour of various Gaudi buildings. Wonderful! Visionary! We saw one of the residences he built (Casa Battlo) from the outside, walked through a park he designed (Parc Guell), a all-too-quick run through the temple (Sagrada Familia) and a walk through the Casa Mila.

The weather is 80 degrees and sunny, but the city has lots of trees. Even so, we were fading on the sunny rooftop. Kathy and I had already “signed out” from the bus at the last stop so we could linger at Casa Mila and find our own way back to the ship.

As we were leaving the Casa we were both feeling weak and tired, so… a stop in one of the many sidewalk cafes was in order. Fortified with some pasta (el carbonarra) and some tinto, we were able to walk again. Down through the Plaça de Catalunya. There are signs in many places talking about the need to remember the struggle the people faced during the fascist regime. But they seem to try to strike a balance. Condemning the violent repression without demonizing the people who were on each side.

We made our way to the gothic quarter and had another small meal (Cafe Schilling). Then we walked through the Gothic quarter back to the ship.