- 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_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_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_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_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_2309
our first of many arm-out shots - IMG_2313
old building, still a novelty on day one - IMG_2324
Leslie anticipates lunch. - Sagrada Familia exterior
Gaudi (the architect) cited a forest canopy as one of his inspirations for the interior. - IMG_2317
examples of Barcelona's famous leather-working - IMG_2327
We ended up with an excellent view of la plancha, where seafood goes to become delicious. - Sagrada Familia exterior
Sophie, Leslie and Max spent Wednesday wandering around the spectacular and unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral. - IMG_2312
narrow medieval street - IMG_2323
spices for sale - IMG_2319
Leslie in the walkway next to a plaza - IMG_2316
Bryan, graffiti - IMG_2325
We wait for a seat. - IMG_2314
buildings, sky - IMG_2311
some picturesque things reflected in Bryan's lens - IMG_2420
Woof, we were up early for this train trip. The best part of this photo is the pissed-off Spaniard behind us. - IMG_2334
sunset from our hotel window - Familia
One of our first stops with Jeff, Sophie and Max was La Rambla and the Boqueria. - IMG_2322
The Boqueria! After falling in love with it during our 2007 trip, we got back here as soon as possible. - IMG_2410
Max wants you to know about this bottle cap. - IMG_2328
mixed mushroom grill - Beaches
We headed out of town the next day by way of a whole string of gorgeous beaches. Bryan heads back after getting an up-close view of surfers.