Since I am typing this on q French Keyboqrd; I hope you zill ignore the occqsionql typo or mis-punctuqtion:
Ze visited the Eiffel Tozer:
qnd q funhouse (zith some very good friends),
The next dqy ze zent to see the Tour de Frqnce:
we waited
and wqited
and zqited
and waited
and zqited some more
Finally; BIKES!!!!
Thqt zqs it: I think ze saz Lqnce Qr,strong: Nobody fell dozn: So ze left qnd zend to the Gqrdens of Versqilles:
It zqs beautiful111
kisses!
Sasha and I walked thought the park overlooking the harbor.
FYI all of the above are strictly forbidden in this harbor. hummm...
Small but ride-able surf today-- if you brought your wetsuit. Air temp is 14*c and water is colder.
Hump. Oops.
Watched three great street acts- this one was two acrobats! So much talent.
Dinner of pintxos and wine. I LOVE the food culture in this town! You grab a plate and pile on the little finger foods. At the end of your feasting, the bartender has magically kept track of what you ate and the price is often very reasonable. (notice the iberian hams hanging behind the bar, they are my new favorite food)
Antoni Gaudà was an architectural mastermind of his time and still is today!
The buildings he constructed were so well thought out and every detail was given great attention. He was big on excluding the use of straight lines and believed in using nature as his guide. His use of color and natural light were two pillars around which much of his architecture revolved.
We took hundreds of pictures but have only posted a few here.
Click here to see highlights of Spain.
Arrived in Barcelona in the afternoon so we parked the car at Bill's place and trained into downtown. We walked along the harbor and stopped in a chandlery to check inventory and prices (old habits die hard). Below is a haul out facility like none we've see before- ask Sasha for details.
Then we took a FUN-icular ride across the harbor for great views of the city.
The funicular dropped us in the park so we walked back into town and found a cervasaria and tapas place for a late lunch.
Did a little window shopping.
Walked La Rambla and admired the street performers.
Almost bought some flowers..
Almost bought some chipmunks...
Decided to buy some coffee instead.
The pics are all blurry but you get the idea. The girls are not allowed to "do business" within the city limits, so they set up shop along the highway.
Sasha was amused.
This was a ceiling painting.
View from our hotel in Costa Brava.
Our local wine with dinner.
This picture should make my parents happy! We've actually slept separate more often than not- between crashing with family and staying in a couple economy hotels.
The church was a dedicated sailor/ seamen church. The walls were covered with paintings of different boats and photos of sailors and fishermen who sought the lord's protection along their work and travels.
It was an ornate chapel.
Sasha was very happy to have found this place.
Another weird name connection/ coincidence.
All the way up the hillside leading to the church are memorial plaques for sailors lost at sea.
After visiting the church we took a few hour hike to a look out tower- picture are included in the France highlight link.
Sasha found Chateau Le Bouis online a couple years ago and has always wanted to visit. When we set our route for this trip it became obvious that we would be in the area and, therefore we had to book a room! The chateau is a 300 year old domaine consisting of multiple vineyards, a small production facility, six nicely furnished rooms for rent, an on site wine caveau, and a fantastic restaurant.
The view from our room which overlooked the restaraunt and caveau.
Sasha enjoying a glass of house rose with dinner. Vineyards in the background.
More of the eating area- notice the sign!
I have never tried fresh caught sea snails- made me think of the locals on Jost Van Dyke who eat whelks (they've got the right idea)!!
Our evening entertainment. Oliver and Alexander were traveling musicians/ artists/ comedians who quickly decided they liked us and so spent most of the evening at our table . This photo was taken just after they found out that Sasha was a boat captain. Alexander launched into a whole long sketch with his little captain hat!
Breakfast was included with the room and served on the front porch of the hotel building. It was good food with another gorgeous setting.
Yes. We bought a little wine!
Had to get a photo with the sign! Sasha tried to hard to get a discount because of his name, everyone was amused and couldn't believe the coincidence- but no discounts were given.
To see more photos from Chateau Le Bouis click here.
