Barcelona Trip - Day 1

Let the first official Mini-Break of the year begin! Kathleen and I managed to find each other in the giant Barcelona airport yesterday (imagine - it took over 20 minutes for the bus to get from the plane to the terminal!). We navigated the metro system, with help from a kindly (= handsome) stranger to the heart of this vibrant city.

Last night was also a celebration for Chinese New Year - in the company of old friends and new colleagues for Sandra and Junzi. The ISU network is alive in Spain. After feasting on homemade chinese delicacies, we are energized to start our tour of Barcelona today.

Sandra took us on a tour of the lively Boqueria (market). We tasted the wares as we went, from candied watermelon to mango juice to fresh anchovy pizza.


It was hard to decide among literal mountains of fish and produce, but we came home with brightly-coloured exotic fish and a massive octopus. Then we toured Las Ramblas, a plaza filled with street performers, open air restaurants and jewellery booths. I was coralled into "helping" this act :-)

Intrepid explorers, we head down to the waterfront, to drape over the quay and watch the giant fish. Too soon, the sun goes down on our first day.