What do you do on a food tour?

If you go on a good food tour, you do more than just eat. You learn about the local culture. In this case, we learned about how people shop for food at the markets in Barcelona. As I said in my last post, Pauline, our guide from Devour Tours, was wonderful and and I learned a lot!

We took the Boqueria Market tour. It is an old market that has been renovated over the years. I had to google it to help me remember dates, but the roots of the market go back to 1200. There are many markets in the city, and people tend to shop their local market where they get to know the stall owners, and meet and visit with their friends. I do so wish there was something like this at home… the grocery store is just not the same.

We started at the front with coffee…

IMG_5244

IMG_5239

We moved through the market, and outside it a bit, and then back in, eating and talking.

IMG_5251

IMG_5252

IMG_5241

I learned a lot about jamon, very thinly sliced ham. We got to try some of the expensive ham, from pigs that live in the forest and eat acorns… I’d eat a bit of the every day if I could afford it. You really can taste the difference!

IMG_5285

IMG_5288

There is a lot of seafood here…

IMG_5280

IMG_5284

I like fish better when it isn’t looking at me :-).

I’ll share more from the rest of the day in a few hours. We are about to head out to Park Guell now!

 

 

Day 3…

We have been on the go all day long. First we went on a food tour with Devour Tours and it was fantastic! Many thanks to Pauline, who was our very own guide.

Food Tour-01

Food Tour-02

And there is so much more that we did today but it is 11:00PM and everyone is going to bed. INcluding me! I’ll be sharing more from today, tomorrow. Until then, sweet dreams!

A day trip to Montserrat

This is a day trip for us to the Montserrat mountain and monastery that inspired Antonin Gaudi. It was fantastic!

Montserrat

The mountain is conglomerate rock, really interesting up close. It’s used in all (or most) of the buildings.

Montserrat-rock

There are many new buildings. This is the facade of the old church.

Monterssat-facade

We lit candles for mom and my sister, Christy.

Montesserat-Candles

The inside of the church is wonderfully ornate. It was filled with tourists—we were four of them. A cantor came out while we were there and began to sing. It was wonderful and odd at the same time, to be in a sacred space filled with tourists.

Montserrat-Inside-1

We took the funicular up the mountain. It is easier see the larger Montserrat complex of building from above.

Montserrat-Funicular

From there, we hiked up a ways to the small St. Joan’s Chapel. There were many pictures taken along the way.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Montserrat-StJoan

It really is easy to see how Gaudi was inspired by this place.

Montserrat-1

Sagrada Familia 1

It was a lovely excursion, followed by a cava (the Spanish equivalent of champagne) at the Codorniu Vineyard.

Walking off jet lag in Barcelona

This is the view from our apartment:

Sagrada Familia 1

This is the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antonin Gaudi. Construction started in 1882 and it may be done by 2026 (or so). I have always been fascinated by his work and now I get to see it up close. His buildings feel like living beings.

Sagrada Familia 2

There are words on the Sagrada Familia… I didn’t expect that. And the fonts they are written feel modern.

Sagrada Familia 3

We’ll take a tour of the inside in a few days.

Next up, we walked to Gaudi’s La Padrera, aka Casa Mila, an apartment building, and toured the inside. This is looking up through one of the atriums…

La Pedrera-1

The rooftop is covered with magical ‘figures’…

La Pedrera-2

La Pedrera-3

La Pedrera-4

In the attic you get a chance to appreciate how Guadi’s buildings are constructed. They may look random, the the math and engineering behind them if perfect, and astounding!

LaPedrera-Attic-02.jpg

LaPedrera-Attic-01.jpg

I am fading fast as I write this. I hope it all makes sense :-). Tomorrow we go Montserrat!

Wednesday Giveaway

Pat C is this week’s winner. If you are not Pat, you probably still need a Bonus Buddy Ruler and you can find it, and more at pieceocake.com!

I’ll be back next Wednesday with another Giveaway. Happy stitching!

BonusBuddyRuler

 

Wednesday Giveaway

Lizabeth F. has won 1/2-yard of one of my favorite prints from Alison Glass! The ‘text’ure is wonderful! FYI: You can click here to find this fabric and more at pieceocake.com.

Print

I’ll be back next Wednesday with another Giveaway!