Jimmy Lisa Barcelona

Greetings from Barcelona!

After an easy travel day (driving from Obidos to Lisbon airport without getting lost, returning rental car, early enough to have a tuna sandwich at the Harrods airport cafe and read the Washington Post, short

flight to Barcelona on a very small jet) we arrived in Barcelona early Monday evening - early enough to stroll on the Gran Via where our hotel is located and eat at a nearby restaurant (vegetarian for Jim, very chatty owner).

Tuesday (yesterday) was all about Gaudi. You may not like his style (I happen to find it full of life, motion and whimsy), we learned so much about what inspired him (nature, geometry, geometry in nature) and how every detail (and

there are many) was so intentional.

For some reason I can't arrange the photos from this laptop, but these are from Parc Gruell, two apartment buildings, the hospital, and Sagrada Familia - all Gaudi creations. In spite of the Sagrada Familia being unfinished, it was fascinating to see it in progress of being restored and finished (should be done in 2026, so plan your travel accordingly).

Once we completed our Gaudi walk (with the help of the metro) we went to several cathedrals. While this country allows you to enter without a care about your passport, entering a shirt with bare shoulders is not allowed, so we had to take turns as I was wearing a sundress - so once Jim was done, I put on his polo shirt and took my turn!

We ended our touring with the Picasso museum - fabulous building, intriguing area with narrow alley-like streets winding around. The museum is like a walking/visual biography of his life, his phases, his inspirations, including lots of his early sketches from art school, as well as the pottery he created later in his life, comical and erotic etchings from a book he illustrated, etc.

We finished up there at 8:00 p.m., just in time for an "early" dinner. We found, interestingly enough, an asian-fusion tapas restaurant near the museum and had a wonderful meal and very potent sangria. We arrived back at the hotel exhausted and with very tired legs.

We are planning out assault on Barcelona Day two now, and will let you know how it turns out!