WHERE ARE WE ANNE?: October 2013

Saturday, 26 October 2013

A STEP AHEAD OF LONELY PLANET

BARCELONA TO VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDES IN CATALONIA, SPAIN

23rd OCTOBER 2013

A GAUDI GINGERBREAD HOUSE, PARC GUELL

When you're on to a good lunch deal in a town you don't know, that not even lonely planet knows about, it's real easy to get on a bus and go there again. We found the idea irresistible and sat down again at Salamanca 2 in Barcelona for a completely new 'menu del dia'. It didn't disappoint and I fear I am turning in to one of those people that blog every meal they consume. But it was just a delicious 10 Euro bargain and one should celebrate the joys. The waiter recognised and welcomed us again giving us extra sign language attention to guide our choices. English does not appear on pretty much any menus, signs, instructions, transport, shops etc. so it is a real immersion in guessing derivation and drawing on what french we have. Doesn't help a whole lot when you are deciphering Catalan words though, they're completely different. It's always fun to see what turns up when you order.

Barcelona and the surrounding region of Catalonia has always had an independence movement. They want to secede from Spain and be their own country. The movement is gaining traction and very strong at the moment, they've banned bullfighting because it's a 'Spanish' thing and most of the rest of Spain calls them traitors, so the ante is being upped.

Regional politics not quite aside, we headed out to Vilafranca Del Penedes for a day and night. It's a key Cava production area. Catalonia produces most of the Cava in Spain which in turn is being boycotted by much of Spain because of the strong Catalan independence movement. Some Cava is produced outside the Catalonia region so they have experienced increased sales internally while Catalonian Cava is pushing it's export markets.

It's a very Spanish and Catalan thing to make human towers. You see them a lot with musical accompaniment. We dropped in to the gym in Vilafranca Del Penedes after dinner to see the local community practicing their different tower formations. Amazing stuff.

PARC GUELL

CRAZY ZANY AND LOTS OF FUN

OUR WAITER INSISTED ON SNAPPING US ON OUR SECOND VISIT FOR THE 10 EURO BLOWOUT

I THINK IT'S PERFECTO IN ESPANOL

A CHARMING VISIT TO FOUNDACION MIRO

VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDES. ANOTHER DEMO. EDUCATION CUTS

COMMUNITY TOWER BUILDING

LITTLE TACKERS ABOUT TO STAND UP STACKED SIX HIGH

GIDDY WITH GAUDI AND THE AMAZING LUNCH

21st October 2013. My brother's birthday. GREECE TO SPAIN

GAUDI'S LA PEDRERA IN BARCELONA

ATHENS TO BARCELONA

At the end of our Athens time we had a delicious dinner with Anne's old mate Nick, topped off with Mastika liqueur and espresso at 'Tailor Made', Athens hip cocktail joint and espresso bar. A great end to our week in Athens.

An early morning relatively expensive Aegean Airlines flight then brought us across the Med from Athens, Greece to Barcelona, Spain. Any flight without bumps that lands safely is a good flight in Anne's books. That girl cheers up enormously once we are taxiing in. They did actually do a very nice landing.

We found our apartment easily in Barcelona but had to wait while five very laid back Columbians took two hours to leave after check out time. We dumped our bags, left the owner to sort out the cleaning and walked through the local markets while marvelling at Gaudi's creations. Anne and I both hit the wall early that night opting for a simple snack before a welcome sleep in the superbly comfortable bed. We've come to value bed comfort very highly in the accommodation criteria on our travels.

After a good sleep we got off to a very early start and stepped out on the street at 1.30pm. to explore more of Gaudi's Barcelona. We're getting the hang of the European lifestyle now, though it wasn't exactly like that. We spent a good while researching the next move, sights to see and how to see them before we headed out in the warm 27oC second summer they're having at the moment.

Lunch was the all time best value, best tasting bargain of our travels so far. Our airbnb host tipped us off to 'menu del dia' at 'Salamanca 2' restaurant in Barceloneta. We thought we would have to pay extra for the wine, dessert, coffee and bottle of water but it was all included in the ten Euros each for sensational Seafood Paella first course and then delicious Ham and vegs second course. I was stuffed. I asked for a glass of wine, they brought out a bottle and said go for it, all in Spanish. I tried but had to leave some wine. All this was then followed with complementary Grappa. Now that's a deal. We fuelled up for the days exploring and only had a glass of Rioja for dinner while I banged up this blog.

'WAKE UP' IS A BIG THEME IN GRAFFITI IN GREECE

WELL FED DOGS WITH COLLARS SLEEP ON THE STREETS IN ATHENS

MASTIKA AFTER DINNER WITH NICK

ANOTHER ATHENS DEMO. MASSIVE UNIVERSITY STAFF REDUNDANCIES

ANNE SAYS GOODBYE TO ONE LAST GREEK PUSSY CAT

GOOD LOCAL RESTAURANT TIP. THE WAITER SAID 'WHO SENT YOU'.

CATALAN HIGH RISE

WAITING FOR THE COLUMBIANS

SETTLING IN TO BARCELONA AS BEST WE CAN

THERE IS ALSO GREAT CAVA IN LIFE FOR THOSE WILLING TO TAKE THE JOURNEY

NOW THAT'S A CHURCH

LA PEDRERA

FIVE MINUTE SALE. ROPES ON THE CORNERS SO THEY CAN GRAB AND FLEE IN SECONDS

FOUR RED STRIPES IS THE CATALAN INDEPENDENCE FLAG

FULL

JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR GRAPPA

CROWDS FLOCK TO THE BEACH IN UNSEASONAL WARMTH

WAITING FOR THE BUS

ANOTHER GAUDI BAUBLE

CATEDRAL GOTIC

LED MODERNISATION LACKS A CERTAIN CHARM

WHAT PHOTO BOMBER?

CASA BATLLO

CASA BATLLO SIGN

Friday, 18 October 2013

ACROPOLIS NOW

ATHENS CONFERENCE AND SIGHTS SO FAR

MIRJAM AND ANNE ON INTERNET GODDESS EXCHANGE PROGRAM

17th OCTOBER 2013

The rain cleared and our visit to the Acropolis was in delightful weather. The crowds were there, I suspect we timed it perfectly with a cruise ship as fleets of buses arrived as we did.

Work at the Acropolis, I imagine will go on forever as will the daily income from so many tourists paying 12 Euros each. What would Socrates make of it now?