Four days in Barcelona

Hi everyone - Judith here this time.

We had four leisurely days in Barcelona. Our hotel was in a great spot quite close to La Rambla which is Barcelona's well known thoroughfare.

Highlights for Milton were Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia cathedral (commenced in 1882 and still not completed), a visit to the Joan Miro Museun, and a tour of a once private residence designed by Gaudi .

I was singularly underwhelmed by La Sagrada Familia especially the most photograped front Nativity entrance.
Barcelona the city, like the people who live there, seems to be an elegant and stylish place. I spent some time looking at the shops getting a preview of next summer's fashions.

I also went on a historic walking tour and discovered that, like many European cities, Barcelona's history is studded with wars and invasions from the Ottoman empire to the Spanish Civil War.

St George, of the dragon fame, is the patron saint of Catalonia and Monday 23rd April is St George's Day. It is Barcelona's equivalent of Valentines Day. Women are given red roses and men are given a book so it is a great day for booksellers and florists. The streets were crammed with people and temporary stalls selling flowers and books. We noticed quite a few of the flower sellers were charitable groups so obviously a big fund raiser day too.

We also visited Sephora, the cosmetic store, as the Barcelona store is the biggest in Europe. If a perfume or cosmetic exists in the world they probably stock it.

Next stop ....... Granada.