¡Hola!

Despite missing my connecting flight to Barcelona and then being refused a rebooking unless I purchased another ticket by the f$#@$-ing pirates at Lufthansa (250 Euros!), I'm alive and well and kicking around Barcelona until Sunday morning. I'm staying with friends who have a beautiful apartment in the very fashionable L'Eixample neighborhood.

I got in late Wednesday afternoon, so after I showered and took a short nap, we went shopping and bought lamb chops, an assortment of regional sausages, and a couple of bottles of good Rioja wine, then barbequed up on the terrace. We made a simple ensalada and patatas fritas to go with the grilled meats. Delicious. Afterwards, we dropped in at a nearby Brazilian bar for a couple of excellent Caipirinhas, that combined with my jet-lag, knocked me right out for the evening.

Yesterday, I spent several hours walking around the old medieval quarter, the Barri Gòtic, where I visited the cathedral, and a couple of museums. Later, I stopped at one of Barcelona's several ancient tiki bars, Kahala, and drank in the fabulous decor, along with a not-so fabulous cocktail called Doctor Funk that was so sweet it should have come with a syringe full of insulin. The bartender was nice enough to let me sample some of the mix from their other cocktails, but they were all incredibly sugary.

Today, we'll have lunch down by the beach, then I'm going to visit a few more museums. Tomorrow, we have a tour scheduled at the Codorníu winery in the Alt Penedés region of southern Catalunya, then a traditional feast of roasted calçots (leeks) with romesco sauce, and grilled meat.

These Catalunyun donkeys know how to live!

[Link: Barcelona Tiki Bars]
[Link: Codorníu]
[Link: Calçots]