We landed in Barcelona in the early afternoon, found our driver and made our way to El jardi, our hotel in the old section of the city. Fun notes on our trip included David commenting on all the motor bikes/scooters “lane splitting” between the cars on the highway. Although “Mr. Motorcycle Safety Coach” was very concerned about the practice, our driver told him it was legal in Barcelona. He also admitted that with all the traffic in a city of 4.2 million people it really helped with getting around. His commute to work on his motor bike takes 15 minutes (thank you lane splitting) but in a car it would take close to an hour.

We also passed an amazing hillside cemetery Cementerio de Montjuic. It is actually a tourist attraction as it has a lot of art and history within the many acres, a cable car that can take you up to a restaurant that serves tapas under the palm trees and a magnificent view of the city and the harbor. It won’t be part of this trip, but maybe the next one!

The hotel is an older building in the old section of town. Our room has a little balcony that looks out on the central courtyard filled with locals enjoying tapas and a drink, entertainers from street musicians to strong young men doing acrobatics. And this morning the crazy screeching of Mitred Parakeets sitting in the trees by our balcony. We have heard them around the city but they are not easy to see as their bright green feathers blend in with the trees they frequent but their screeching is unmistakable!

Some of the window displays are amazing. And I love the little tile vignettes found at the edge of a street or by a shop.