Barcelona Spain

Pine Mountain
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Hello again from Pine Mountain. It has been a warm winter so far. Every time that we receive a winter storm it warms up and melts the snow within a couple of days. Even night time is about 10 to 15 degrees warmer than normal. Well enough about the weather.

This week I have been making the early morning commute into the big city to work on projects. I will be glad when the project is done and I will be able to stop commuting. I am not sure how people make that commute every day for decades. It gets old fast.

This week we will continue with the new three section layout of our newsletter. Those of you that have just joined us here is how the newsletter is laid out.

Section 1---- Pine Mountain News

Section 2----Travel story of the week

Section 3----Pine Mountain Evening

This week our travel in Spain Continues. We arrive in Barcelona and tour that famous city.

Barcelona Spain

We left the city of Tossa de Mar and meandered our way down the coast highway for the last 103 kilometers until we reached Barcelona. We had become accustomed to the Spanish country life in the last couple of days and were not prepared for all the sights and sounds and magnificense that is Barcelona this second largest city in Spain.

Barcelona has an abundance of old world charm and a rich and colorful heritage. Historic buildings and world class museums abound and there is a new and exciting view at every street corner.

The center of Barcelona is Las Rambles. This wide tree lined central walkway begins at Cataluna and continues over a kilometer to Mirador de Colon ( Columbus monument ) in the harbor. there are so many sites to see in Barcelona that you hardly know where to begin.

Probable the most familiar landmark in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia ( Sacred Family Church ). Originally designed by Antoni Gaudi, this church began construction in 1882. So intricate and complex are the construction that the latest completion date is 2026. More than 2.4 million people visit this church each year.

Another place to see in Barcelona is La Aquarium. It is one of the most modern and the largest Aquarium in Europe. There are over 11,000 creatures in 35 tanks that show the variety of the 450 species that call the Mediterranean home. There is even a walkway through the largest tank that is a totally submerged tube. This lets you see the Mediterranean creatures in their natural environment.

An interesting place to visit in Barcelona is La Pedrera. This Antoni Gaudi building was built in 1905 and it looks like it was sculptured instead of built.

All this touring makes you hungry. Barcelona is world famous for fine dining. Chefs like Ferran Adria, Carme Ruscadella, Santi Santamaria, and Sergi Arola make fine dining an art. You will find dishes like zarzuelas and cod esqueixada. There are many fine restaurants like Mamacafe, Dos Trece, and Carmelitas that will make sure you are well fed.

You can spend weeks in Barcelona and still not see everything. If you are ever on the south coast of Spain make sure you visit Barcelona. Next week we go offshore to explore the islands of Minorca, Mallorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.

Pine Mountain Evening

It is evening again on Pine Mountain. I am in my easy chair by the warm fire in the fireplace

Squeekers is on his perch munching peanuts. My coffee of the evening Irish Cream is from http://www.coffeefool.com/. This American roast coffee combines with Irish cream to give you a tasty coffee that makes you think of Ireland. It goes well with homemade sugar cookies. Squeekers and I have been watching and theTV series called Lost. My coffee and cookies are now history and my show is over. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage and turn off the gas fireplace. It is time for bed. Good night all have a great week. See you next week.

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