Completion of my collection - Day 6

October 4, 2018

Evening of drinks and music at Casa Batillo

I was finally warm, and didn’t have to sleep in sweats and a hoodie. I did fall asleep hard, before midnight, but not for very long as I kept waking up after about 5am. Finally I got out of bed around 7:45 and had breakfast and check email and social media.

Eggs and yoghurt was the order of the morning, but not together. :-) I Had my shower and then relaxed on the couch...not usual to having extra time. Two glasses of Coke Zero was needed to give me a kick.

I had an 11:05 flight so I called my Uber at 8:50. Uber in Belarus requires cash...no credit card. It’s really about the same as a taxi but easier due to the app. He was there quickly and right where I had requested. That’s not usually the case anymore with Uber in the USA. Also, they are nice cars, not necessarily the case with transport around the world,

35 minutes to the airport, not bad. I had read that it was 50 minutes but I did not find that to be the case coming or going.

Check in was easy but they did require my checking the bag...ugh! Immigration was quick and painless, another lighted magnifier to view my passport...interesting. First place that did that.

I was a bit hungry...breakfast wasn’t quite enough. Burger King fries and a chocolate shake would do the trick. The lady who tried to help me wasn’t able to understand my pointing to the menu so I said “English”. She got a young guy to assist. He easily understood and I gave him the remainder of my Rubles (4 =$), which is actually a decent amount to them as a metro ride is .40k, their version of cents.

The flight departed on time and I even had a row to myself. I couldn’t sleep though even though my eyes feel tired, I couldn’t sleep.

Arriving in Barcelona the immigration all was filled to overflowing. I don’t know why I thought it would be different than this. I guess when I traveled from Amsterdam in the past, it was never like this. But this is a different time than it was then. It took about 30 minutes to get through immigration and there was not customs stop. My suitcase was easy to find and then I was soon on my way to catch the train.

I have been given directions to buy the 10 use card for €10.80 which is quite a deal as one ride can be almost €5. It took me a couple of tries to understand the new machines but eventually I got my ticket. I had it out to the platform for my wait. About 15 minutes later, The train came. There seem to be delay after delay but we finally reached my destination in about 30 to 35 minutes later. That’s still not too bad.

I exited to be in the middle of Barcelona, been a long time. Or use my GPS and easily found a hosti train came. There seem to be delay after delay but we finally reached my destination in about 30 to 35 minutes later. That’s still not too bad.

I exited to be in the middle of Barcelona, been a long time. Or use my GPS and easily found the hostel. Immediately it seemed quite inviting and the guy checking me and went through the whole process of what the city requires and what is expected of me during my stay. He was quite friendly and show me all of the touristy things to do in Barcelona. I have done much of them would be revisiting mini on this trip. He did give me the information regarding reservations as it seems everything requires a reservation now. It was not that way… 10 years ago.

He should meet in my room, the single but I had two beds. By European standards the room is quite spacious. It looks clean and it was air-conditioning… I would be just fine here.

After settling in I came out to the common room and asked about places to eat. It was about 445 and that is not a time where people are eating. They are still at siesta it would be opening shops and people will be eating much later. I was hungry now after calling a few places to see if they were open and if their menu would be compatible, the very kind lady helping me suggested I go to a café called Mussol.

It was a couple of blocks away but as I was still getting my bearings, the two blocks one way and two blocks after my turn became many more blocks than that… LOL I found it and it seem quite charming. The menu was unbelievably creative. I had the most tasty of meals. I had potato and roasted leak soup with local cheese, I had a flat bread with the cheese spinach and raisins, and I had a piece of pear tart with white chocolate and Violet ice cream. Everything was a small portion but was all amazing. I would have to return.

I came back to the hostel to change clothes before the evenings entertainment. I was going to an event at Gaudi’s Casa Batíllo.

Was about a seven minute walk to the masterpiece of the building. There are many people outside I’ll take photos the dreaded else let up for the evening. It was a live with activity. I got a buy a property line, the special people. We would be attending an event after the closing.

We got into the appropriate line and l soon where inside it will processing it with a augmented reality smart phone tour guide. Started in the dining room and then went stairwell by stairwell and took as many pictures of the space and all detail elements , now with a different life and experience. The living room sets if a class culture of colorful windows with arches done with circles colors. The woodwork, by fine crafters building expressive form. I looked up lighting and a swirl of smooth plaster looking like a circle of waves with a center like a gold jelly fish.

The central courtyard is a masters piece of tile design. Not only the beauty in the gradient of color but the visual texture of the flower like relief tiles. So much thought about how light will transfer down from the roof. The colors are shades of blue to white. It’s very calming, like the ocean, his obvious inspiration.

There is a large gift shop now as. 10 years ago there was but a tiny one. So much exploitation of his creativity. I have been guilty but this explosion even surprised me.

Walking through the top floor structures that look like bones covered in plaster was quite a sight. Remind me of something you’d see inside a whale or even like some architecture seen in Lanzorate. Such a feeling of peace and tranquility.

Now it was time for the evenings special event we all exited to the rooftop where there were tiny lights strung across and waiters with mimosas offering you a drink. A party for Gaudis genius in this most special of places, my favorite building of his. The night provides a different perspective and lightning conditions for a different feel, more intimate. Photographs take on a magical quality.

Soon a guitar player and his vocalist emerge. He’s a handsome bearded man with fingers of a poet and she was all smiles and confidence. It was an easy music, romantic even. They enjoyed what they were doing. They completed the ambiance of magic. I hadn’t planned on staying the whole party but I was captivated...in a trance. I felt feelings of my time there 10 years ago, difficult but beautiful.

It was time for the evening to end and I could have enjoyed more. I left to go me my friend Judith. We knew each other a short time during my life in Amsterdam but we connected and remained in contact. She is a special person and always a kind word for me.

We met a a Café and had sangria. The night was cool and breezy, perfect. We had so much to say but I monopolized the 2 hours with some explanations about the end of our time in Amsterdam and the end of my marriage. It was surreal to be chatting with her again, 8 years later. What a day this had been, and emotional one. Barcelona has a special place in my heart even though I’ve spent least amount of time of the Cities of Spain that I have enjoyed. I’m so happy to get a bit more.

:-)