Grandpa's got a New Computer Part III Barcelona Our Way

I have already explained the various trials (we call them adventures) of vacationing on the Cheap, (although a couple of bottles of $22 Wine does not fall into this particular category ) It is after all a matter of priorities. We arrived at Port in Barcelona and had already decided that the distance to our Motel was not all that far and since we were packed for carry on, didn't think the walk would be all that egregious. After a mile and a half with my two blown knees and a bad cold I had caught aboard ship had started to really set in, I had turned  rather cranky  and we soon cut a deal with a local Cabbie who spoke broken English. He assured, us that no worries, he knew the address and would get us there for ten Euro. I actually thought that was a pretty good deal. He also said that all Cabs are regulated closely and the price would be the same with anyone. Right I thought. Anyway he dropped us off in town. The meter said 6.50 Euro but he charged us 11.00 and apologetically said "Port Tax" I had no desire to argue with him in his own country and kind of thought what the hell. In New York it probably would have been $75.00. By asking questions, we soon found out that we were still a mile or better from the Hotel. Didn't matter, now that we were in town we were becoming intoxicated by the smells and sounds of Barcelona. With many many shops and sidewalk restaurants on every block and the eye popping scenery. Old structures everywhere. Cathedrals, Castles overlooking the City and old churches and buildings everywhere.


Ok, I am going to be a little trite here and quote a small section of Wikipedia.  I promise I won't do it again:

"Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After merging with theKingdom of Aragon, Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean is located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments.

Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair/exhibitions and cultural-sports centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.^[7][8] It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula), 24th in the world (beforeZürich, after Frankfurt)^[9] and a financial centre (Diagonal Mar and Gran Via). In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion"

It's Amazing.  I intend to put a lot of pictures on this post.  I hope in some way to inspire folks to visit this City as both Lisa and I, despite some temporary problems thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  I hope in some way that these pictures can impart that feeling of awe (not Awwwww) I think we both felt visiting here.

Jamon, or Bacon Shop

Butchers dressing the smoked Hams

There exist Museums, Exhibits and Tours of every kind imaginable.  Bus tours, bicycle and walking tours.  While there a many famous artists from Barcelona, for instance the artists completing the beautiful mosaics throughout the City.  However the three Artists who generate the most interest are Picasso, Salvador Dali and the Architect Gaudi.  Below is some of Gaudi's work.  I am just not an Artist and did not go into the 30.00 Euro Exhibits. (Sometimes More) therefore I am not going to exploit my lack of expertise here and generally let the pics speak for themselves

This Exhibit, also for 30 00 Euro was packed. A very high end clothing store was located right next door.  We stopped at a sidewalk Cafe and several African immigrants arrived, all carrying knockoff merchandise in a square sheet with ropes tied to the corners as handles for a quick getaway.  There was no way, I thought to myself the merchants at that location would tolerate this.  I glanced around and saw the lookout, cell phone on the ready.  They aggressively sought to hawk their wares for a few minutes.  An unknown signal was given and they all gathered up their merchandise and en mass disappeared down a subway access stairway. Not more than three or four minutes later several police officers arrived by foot, vehicle and Scooter .  I thought to myself pretty slick, but darn close.  In general Europe has a safety net but unemployment is a huge issue and many sleep where they can.   Like in America, we saw many pushing shopping carts full of trash they had collected.  I don't believe they starve here however, or go without medical care.
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                                Street Performer on La Rambla

                    These guys are just trying to blend into the Crowd.

  And on that note a word about pickpockets, not to infer that these guys are however they are fair game for a chuckle.  We were informed that Barcelona has the fastest and most skilled pickpockets in the world.  And while we were not victimized, we talked with another passenger from the boat who told us they had lifted his wallet and phone and he hadn't even noticed.

Another form of thievery while we are on it are the currency exchange booths.
 There are apparently two rates of exchange.  One for the locals and one for tourists.  The first two attempted to charge us $1.79 per Euro.  Figure at the time a Euro was worth $1.31.  I'm not sure the motivation for the clerk to do this I guess skimming the profits for her or his employer.  In the first instance I simply backed out of the transaction.  In the second, I flat confronted the Clerk who claimed the rates were set and he had  no other options.  Bullshit.  In the third instance we paid around .13, expensive but probably not for the area.  A dead giveaway in both instances, was a general hostility and rude demeanor as well as a rush to sign the exchange agreement.  Don't do it and just walk away.  There are cheaper alternatives.  Basically my bank charged a three percent foreign exchange rate.  Also the ATM's did not seem all that out of line charging three Euro.

   Lunch at one of the many open air restaurants in one of the many squares located around the La Rambla  area.    These guys showed up to entertain.  Some rather gifted acrobats risking life and limb for basically beer money.  Lisa shot this video for her sister Sheila.  Here you are Sheila.                  

                      Below a  street performer on La Rambla.  Our Hotel was located only two blocks from this area which is described as the "Heart of the City"  Popular with tourists and locals it is packed with open air restaurants, kiosks, street performers and other attractions.  Apparently this street has been this way for a few centuries, interrupted occasionally by mass slaughter of priests and nuns in the last century and apparently took quite a bit of damage during the Spanish American War. At one end is a Christopher Columbus statue and the other Plata de Catalunya where many of the statues pictured here are located.

Tapa's and Pizza are very popular here.  Translated Tapa's means "little bites"  and could be fish, sausage or other meats.  One talent Lisa and I seem to possess is to find where the locals eat.  We found restaurants charging as much as fifty Euro whereas we ate at a cost of usually ten Euro for the both of us and that often included Wine, even around La Rambla. ( and later in Amsterdm as well) The benefit here obviously was not just the cost.  We ate some awesome local Cuisine.

                          

4th Century Walls bolstered here and there with bricks keeping the ancient stone blocks in place.  Surrounded by Apartments in the old buildings that screams History.

This is the Market place.  It consisted of various merchants each selling individual products.  A fish market, Meat Market, Cheese Market, Vegetable, Fruit, you get what I mean.  Located in the building were also a number of cafe's where we frequented mostly for Breakfast.  Six or seven Euro would get Lisa and I a Potato Omelet, fried sausage, Cappuccino and bread.  Notice I didn't say toast. The omelet would also be premade and the sausage of a European variety.  A word about Alcohol here.  Europeans drink a lot of Alcohol, yet while you see folks in festivities displaying a happy glow.  I never once observed anyone intoxicated.  While I observed folks arguing about something or other, it is just not considered an option here to come to blows.  Not uncommon to be sitting at a Cafe at 8:00 AM with half the customers drinking yummy Cappuccino and the rest drinking some form of alcoholic beverage.  Often with breakfast.  Beer and sometimes Wine is available at all fast food outlets, including Burger King, Subway and while I didn't chcck,  would bet MacDonald's serve alcohol as well.  Another word about Pizza,  It is  not uncommon to be served a Pizza with no red sauce, covered in goat or feta cheese and loaded with fresh spices, making it somewhat resemble a salad.  The crust also is significantly different, either much thinner or thicker than what Americans are accustomed to.  And loaded with olive oil.  The end result is that while the ingredients are not what you are used to, the taste to me anyway is far superior.

Chicken with head, for, oh, I dunno, Chickenheadcheese maybe?

We were a little worried at first these were Cats.  Nope, Rabbit.  Fairly common on European menus.

Tuna Fish Pizza  (We didn't try it) but we had some of the other

Because of the nature in which we travel being mostly on a standby basis and subject to change at any time, our situation, like life itself is just not as predictable as we would like it to be.  In came Ernest, the night clerk at Hotel Call in Barcelona.  To make a long story short, while we were flush (as flush as we can be) with cash when we left.  a particular Bank that I use and have used for years, decided at that moment, the moment when I would be in Europe, some 4500 miles from any sort of assistance to eviscerate me.  Our main credit card had been declined twice and we deducted that a huge cash payoff had not been credited to the account.  When you don't speak the language and none of my schemes to stay in touch with the US mainland had worked to contact the Bank in question, you tend to feel in a dicey situation being glared at by a shopkeeper or Restaurant Owner knowing the Spanish constables are but a few feet away.  Thankfully we had some Euro and backup Credit Card.  Ernest, the night clerk at Hotel Call helped get through some of our issues. He made available the Hotel computer and stood by to translate whenever we needed him. He also lined us up for a couple of more nights at the price of $70.00 a night, In the heart of Barcelona a scant two blocks from Las Rambla.  I think of this everytime I have to stay at a fleabag overlooking a Wal Mart and pay the same or more.  It's funny that Trip Advisor had given this place mostly negative reviews.  I had not been looking forward to this particular Hotel.  Turned out to be an excellent choice.

In addition to out Hotel, I have included pictures of the apartment rented by friends of ours.  In both instances it is best that one not be Claustrophobic.  The old creaky elevator or "lift" in our Hotel tended to be the size of a telephone booth, as were all the elevators I encountered in Europe. I preferred the stairway but it was quite cramped as well.  In the case of our friends apartment and ours as well, the only exit led to an outside air vent constructed between the buildings.  These are very very old buildings and it is best not to contemplate the possibility of a fire too much.  In the case of the stairwell to the apartment, it was necessary for me to crouch down and climb steep stairs, almost like a tunnel.  I dislike even contemplating what it must have been like weathering an Air Raid.  They, like us aquired the apartment for an extremely reasonable price.

I could peruse pictures forever but I think these pretty much tell our story.  We were here five days.  We didn't make use of local transportation like we normally do, a result of my limitations or, I dunno just getting older I guess.  Anyway, next is Amsterdam

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