New Year in Barcelona

Hello everyone

 

Wow 2015 already - hope you all had a merry Christmas.

 
We had a great time – cooking Christmas lunch in the van was a success and it was lovely being in the sunshine, although by mid-afternoon it’s getting chilly now.


After a couple of days relaxing, we hit the sights again. We visited the Olympic Stadium built for the 1992 games – it’s a large complex set on Montjuic Hill, and with only a handful of other visitors it was pretty quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

Montjuic Castle is nearby, and the views over the city and of the port are great. Following a huge buffet lunch with sangria, Peter visited the Motorcycle Museum, whilst I wandered through the Christmas markets in front of the cathedral.

 

 

 We walked over to Park Güell - designed by Gaudí with his characteristic curved walls and columns which look very fragile in places.

 

 

 

 

Many of the walls, roofs and chimneys here along with a large salamander lizard on the main staircase are decorated with shards of broken tiles - it’s a beautiful coloured sight, especially with the sun shining on the tiles. 

 

 

 

 

 

From here, we ambled down Las Ramblas to browse the outdoor Boqueria Market.

The New Year tradition here in Catalunya is to eat 1 white grape for each of the clock strikes at midnight, so last night we went down to the camp bar armed with our plastic wine glass filled with 12 grapes to join in the celebrations which lasted til dawn break. Needless to say we’ve had a lazy day today!

 

We’re off on our travels again tomorrow heading south for the warmer sun.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year, and best wishes for 2015

Will post again next week - love to all