- IMG_0046
Bryan enjoys a final mediocre American breakfast circa 5am at SFO. - Wine shopping
Our second day of driving took us from Basque Country into La Rioja, where you are basically required to shop for wine. Bryan picks out three bottles at a little shop in Haro: one Crianza, one Reserva, and one Gran Reserva. - Breakfast
We started our days in Barcelona off with the perfect breakfast: cafe con leche and a tiny bocadillo, rubbed with tomato and filled with potato and egg. We returned to "Tapa Tapa," around the corner from our hotel, for this breakfast every morning. - IMG_0020
Leslie enjoys what she doesn't realize will be her last decent beer for a spell, at the TGI Fridays in the Atlanta airport. Goodbye, USA! - IMG_2310
the cathedral - IMG_2307
All the eggs in Spain had these amazing orange yolks. I don't understand: we buy the most expensive, hippiest eggs out there in the US and don't get yolks like this. - IMG_0026
We attempted to find a fun bar airing the FC Barcelona soccer game, to help us stay awake until a reasonable hour. The Amsterdam bar was kind of a misfire. - IMG_2305
Monday morning, our first non-zombified day in Spain! We rounded the corner from our hotel (AC Diplomatic) to a nice little restaurant (Tapas Tapas--a chain, but who cares) where we ended up eating breakfast every day while in Barcelona. - IMG_2308
Bryan didn't need to show for his conference until Tuesday, so we got to bob around the city a bit. Here's Leslie in front of...probably part of the cathedral. - IMG_2304
- IMG_2320
These street lights, our guide book informed us, were Gaudi's first public works in Barcelona. - IMG_2333
Bryan's sunglasses give out. - IMG_2309
our first of many arm-out shots - IMG_2313
old building, still a novelty on day one - IMG_2324
Leslie anticipates lunch. - IMG_2306
How could we go elsewhere? Their cafe con leche and half-flauta with tortilla is perhaps the best breakfast in the world. 2.25 euros. - IMG_0048
Bryan sucks up some power before boarding the 9-hour flight to Barcelona. - Tower view
We managed a whirlwind tour of the gigantic cathedral on our last morning--a fitting end to a fabulous trip. This shot is from the Giralda (minaret-turned-bell-tower), over the body of the cathedral and the city of Seville. - Sagrada Familia exterior
Gaudi (the architect) cited a forest canopy as one of his inspirations for the interior. - IMG_0021
Leslie does some planning on the airplane. - IMG_2327
We ended up with an excellent view of la plancha, where seafood goes to become delicious. - IMG_2317
examples of Barcelona's famous leather-working - IMG_0023
We arrived in Barcelona at about 8am. Even though we managed to sleep on the airplane, with an assist from Advil PM, we are not in great shape for our first day in Spain. At least the hotel is nice! - Sagrada Familia exterior
Sophie, Leslie and Max spent Wednesday wandering around the spectacular and unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral. - IMG_2323
spices for sale - Castile y Leon
We left wine country on our third road-tripping day and passed through central Spain to Segovia. Dramatic clouds, light, and occasional rain showers accompanied us. - IMG_2312
narrow medieval street - IMG_0087
- IMG_2319
Leslie in the walkway next to a plaza - IMG_2316
Bryan, graffiti