Sunday, December 11, 2011

Barcelona

This time we were reasonable.  No 7 a.m. departures for us. It wasn't an Italian holiday, it was American Thanksgiving.  We slept until 8 a.m. and then got ourselves to the Naples airport with 90 minutes to spare for our 10:40 a.m. flight . . . only to discover that the Neapolitans were celebrating November 24th with travel plans of their own -- the lines at security were the worst I'd seen them.  We made our flight via a mad dash.

A few hours later, we found our apartment on Gran Via de las Cortes Catalunyas . . . and settled in for a bit, before heading out for a walk toward Las Ramblas -- which we never reached since it seemed appropriate to celebrate our arrival with some late afternoon tapas and wine.  After which, we sauntered back to the apartment to put our feet up.

About 7:30 p.m., Lily, the 8-year-old traditionalist, was nonplussed.  "Where is our Thanksgiving dinner?"  she asked, in the midst of our early evening torpor.  I did a google map search and realized that we were but a short walk from the restaurant an old friend had recommended called Taverna Can Margarit.  His evocation of the conejo a la jumillana . . . well it sounded like it would make a swell stand-in for turkey and the rest.

Me and my happy snails
At Lily's urging, we all rallied and set off.  After a few wrong turns plus a helpful Spaniard with her iphone GPS, we arrived at Taverna Can Margarit: a barn-like establishment with huge barrels of wine along one wall, big farm tables and chairs, even farm implements on the wall.  Minus the drink, an almost pilgrim-like ambience.

The wine was immediately forthcoming (no pilgrim, I).  Then the Happy Snails.  And the resulting "happy" daze (pictured right) was not unlike many a Thanksgiving "fellowship feeling" I had experienced before.
ahem, don't tell Lily. Conejo = Rabbit
Then the conejo and the lamb arrived . . . then another lovely ceramic pitcher of wine . . . then the desserts . . . delicious puddings and cakes.  Blissful indulgence.



After some requisite holiday table silliness, we floated back to the apartment and counted it an excellent Thanksgiving.

Lily and the lion

Quinn points the way.
Look at that BLUE sky.  Day 2 began with a photo op at the Colom monument to Columbus at the foot of Las Ramblas.  There is much revisionist history to enjoy on the monument, and it's across from the walkway over the harbor to the famous Barcelona Aquarium.  We thought the Aquarium would be a good start for the day, remembering what a hit it had been for Emily many years ago.  And it was.  Nothing like sharks sailing overhead to warm up kids for a day of siteseeing.


But then there was lunch to be had, whereupon Quinn started feeling less than optimal.  So we headed back to the apartment for reposo or siesta, take your pick.  After a good rest, we headed over to the old bull ring, cum new shopping mall and enjoyed some browsing and a lovely dinner with a view from the top floor.

SATURDAY we tackled La Sagrada Familia early in the a.m., arriving just a few minutes before the tour buses started rolling up.


We had a short wait for the elevator up to the top of a tower, and then a long vertiginous walk down.  I hate heights.  Don't ask me why I said yes when buying entry tickets to the tower elevator add-on.  After putting on a good show for a family photo at the top, I was queasy the whole way down.



Lily didn't enjoy it much either.


I was much happier on the ground floor, looking up.  And with this vaulted wonder to contemplate, the trauma of five minutes prior was forgotten.   We jumped on the fabulous Barcelona metro again to get back to the thick of things.  Grabbed a great lunch and then took in Barcelona's Contemporary Art museum (or MACBA).  It had a kind of Guggenheim logic to it: i.e. start at the top and work your way down.  Lots to see and talk about . . . and have a little fun with.  

Lily disguised as installation

The next day was race day for Jon and Quinn.  They had been training for a 10K and found that one was happening in Barcelona while we were there a few weeks ago.  Serendipity.
Here's Jon's shot of them at the start of the race
Here's the cafe celebration afterwards with Jon's friend Pete who was in town for the race, too.
After congratulating the boys, I set off for the Museo Nacional de Arte Catalunya to see the Romanesque frescos (another excellent recommendation from my friend) and some of the Gothic and Renaissance collection.  The Romanesque frescos were astonishing -- all the more so for the fact these 11th century painted walls were transported undamaged from the mountain villages to Barcelona . . . large apses and alcoves of clerestory windows were painstakingly reestablished within the museums ample galleries.  Worth a go . . . the Gothic and Renaissance works were worth seeing, too.  Though I was glad that I went on my own, for all the bloody and gruesome depictions of martyred saints on view.
Jon took the kids to see the Maritime Museum: wouldn't you know.

We reconvened to walk around the Barri Gothic, had some nibbles and wine, sat for a while in Sta. Maria del Mar.  The remaining highlight was a fine Mexican dinner in our little neighborhood.
Hasta luego Barcelona.  We will be back.