Day 12: Barcelona

It was another slow morning at the apartment. We left late and took another stroll through the Barri Gothic and found a lunch of bocadillos. It rained. We explored Plaza de Pi, which I guess means Plaza of the Pine, names after a pine tree there. There’s a cute church and a nice little market out front. It’s artisany stuff like soap and herbs and honey; there was also a cheese stand and some wooden items. Very cute. We bought some honey pastilles and little unsweetened licorice bites. C liked the licorice.

On the way home, we stopped next to the big gothic cathedral and everyone looked around a bit. C and I weren’t interested so we watched some Chilean harpists instead. And then we lost everyone. We watched them for a long time, and then looked up and down the street and throught the square in front of the cathedral. I don’t know how we missed them because Chris said they were there, looking for us, too. We headed back to the apartment and the rest of the group met us there about ½ hour later. No fun.

C and Ruby napped. Grandma and Grandpa left to go get on their cruise ship around 4. It was a very short visit! I hope we can see them more next time.

After nap we began searching for new accommodations. I didn’t reserve the apartment for the whole time we were in Barcelona. I didn’t think it would be a problem to move, and the apartment was a little pricey. But the children seemed so happy there, and it was nice have a big space, so I called and tried to get our reservation extended. But the apartment was already booked. Apparently there was some kind of music festival. This proved to be a problem.

There were absolutely no hotels/hostals/pensions that could accomodate us in the 5 square blocks we searched in the Gothic Quarter (nothing under $250 a night, that is). I was getting a little worried but also exhausted so we stopped in the lovely Plaza de Pi to have dinner. It was very pleasant. Then we went home to enjoy our last night in the apartment.

It’s good to see C smiling. This trip was hard for him, I think, even though he enjoyed a lot of it. I learned a lot about the needs of a travelling toddler. Notice that he’s making his fingers in a live long and prosper shape — we’ve been working on that!

At dinner, we ate in a little outdoor cafe at the backside of the church. It was really great and I enjoyed the food a lot. I also liked the view of the back of the church, but of course these things come out less in a picture.

C was still on the verge a little bit this evening; Chris is trying to talk him into sitting still. We found out the next day that C was experiencing a little tummy-sickness, too.

In the center of the shot, between the tree branches, there is a woman standing on her balcony. I missed the moment, but she was standing there cuddling her little baby. It was very cute.