Spain 30/6

Today a quick coffee round the corner before we head off in different directions - Stig and Kate to their Spanish lessons, Rob and I to the bus. Today we did something I have not actually done before, we got on the tourist bus, sat on the top deck, plugged in our earphones and off we went, cameras poised in case the bus flashed past something interesting. Kate had told us that the information was good and that the routes were varied andwent to a lot of good spots so we gave our legs a rest. The information is good and we settled in to enjoy ourselves as the bus headed up Montjuic. First stop Fundacion de Joan Miro - I love Miro, the works always make me smile. The simplicity, the colours, everything. What I was not so familiar with was the work during the Spanish Civil War and WWII. Very different, very dark and not funny at all. The museum is not only a repository for Miro's work but also an art school. The whole thing was set up by Miro himself and houses works he and his wife donated, a large personal collection on loan and a room of works that are tributes to Miro by other artists. We spent ages there and I would happily go back if we had time. But I realise that I won't do so as it will mean missing out on something else and we all know that would be a mistake. So - for now, back on the bus and off we go heading eventually towards the Gaudi apartment block, Casa Mila. And off again, when we realised that the queue standing in the sun would take half an hour at least to get in. We headed out to the once outlying village, Sarria, now part of Barcelona to get some lunch. We went a couple of blocks down side streets and went into a bar that was laid out and had the feel of someone's dining room where they had the neighbours in. The waiter took one look at Rob, asked if he was English and told us to "wait a moment". His way of translating the menu for us was to turn up with a plate of each of the menu items for us to choose from. That was a first for us. Same thing for the second course, but the other waiter told us the desserts - we stopped listening after "lemon mousse of the house". It, like the preceding courses, was delicious. Everywhere we go is like the last place, and at the same time very different. The various areas in and around Barcelona certainly have their own identity. Driving through the areas which contained 'moderniste' buildings is perhaps my favourite. I never tire of the beauty of the designs. I wish I had written down the name of the architect who did the houses with beautiful ornate glass and iron work on the outside - I think it is Cadafalch. I am going back to Barri Gottic and having a good look round. I might not get there this time, but as I have drunk from the right fountain in La Rambla I will be back .. Well, anyway .. back in the bus and round some more sights before we head back to see if we can get in to Casa Mila and lo and behold the queue is gone and we get in straight away. It is every bit as interesting as the Park yesterday. Gaudi's attitude to everything is to make it "fit" in with nature, and with the nature of the place. Door handles that have been made specifically for holding - I realise that sounds a little silly, but they are shaped for fingers to fit them perfectly. The foyer is open of course, the roof terrace, and one of the apartments. The roof terrace is a little like a walking roller coaster with steps up and down all around it. They are the tiles that I would definintely not like to walk on in the wet, but it is dry so they are fine. Looking around the rooftops is fascinating, some old, some new, all so very foreign. For all the variations the blocks of flats still don't look as though they are jumbled or squashed together. There is still a sort of continuity to them. It looks as though they will remain too as there is a lot of renovation work going on around the city. The facades stay, but there is certainly some heavy duty work going on behind them - I suppose modernising the flats, but that is a guess. We stay out so late we miss our siesta, but our excitement and enjoyment of the day carries us on into the evening. It does seem more sensible to have a light meal at the end of the day when it is served late in the evening so that you don't feel uncomfortable going to sleep. And sleep we do - soundly and deeply, looking forward to another foreign day....