Day 28 - Barcelona, Spain

As we were leaving Iceland a few years ago, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted. When we left Italy yesterday, Mount Etna erupted. I think the universe is telling us something but I don’t want to know what it is.

Today’s adventure was a tour by Eco Tuk Tuk with Pablo the guide. What a guy, we’ve now met someone who worked for Google Street views - you know the people who drive around to map all the streets so our maps work. And he did it during the pandemic, so the streets were clear.

In 1888 Barcelona hosted the Universal Exhibition. The Arc de Triomf was built as the gateway to the fair which was held in the Parc de la Ciutadella. The monument is classical in shape and proportions and features ground-breaking sculptural and decorative finishes replete with symbolism. It has become one of the city's iconic landmarks.

La Segrada Familia will be the largest Catholic Church in Spain when/if it’s ever finished. Hopefully 2036. Architecturally it is modernism. More on this tomorrow.

Last house designed by Gaudi, nicknamed La Pedrera - the stone house. George Lucas based the storm troopers costumes on the chimneys.

The golden block has three houses designed by Gaudi, Badllo, and someone. The House of Gaudi has a frogman like roof in respect for St Jordi (George) who drove his lance into the dragon and a bush of red roses sprang out of the blood that spilled. His was a bold and selfless gesture that changed the course of the town's history and gave birth to a legend. Ever since it has been the custom in Catalonia to give your loved one a rose and receive a book in return. St George’s day is a huge celebration in Barcelona (April 23).

There is an outdoor piano in a park at kilometer 0, a central point in Barcelona. Apparently, the better the player the bigger the crowd.

FC Barcelona’s new stadium will hold 140,000 crazy football fans. I can’t even imagine! And look at Barcelona being so smart by building public transportation at the same time. Looking at you Arlington, Texas.

Of course we went to a church. Santa Maria del Mar is a church in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Principality of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence.

Then we went to the mountains of Barcelona. We saw the Olympic Stadium and where the archer shot the arrow to light the 1992 Olympic cauldron. Still the coolest lighting of the flame, IMO. Wiki: In 1992 Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo famously shot the arrow of a lifetime to light the Olympic cauldron in Barcelona. Interestingly his goal was never to shoot it in the cauldron, but rather 4 feet above it to ignite the gases below. The shot was 230 feet.

And some random shots from the Tuk Tuk tour. The Americas Cup is being held in Barcelona later this summer and you can see the boats practicing in the Mediterranean.

Then it was laundry time. It’s hot here and were outside all the time so almost nothing can be worn twice. I stuffed all the clothes in the suitcase and rolled my way to La Wash. The owner helped me figure out the system and all was good. I pulled out my iPad to read while I waited. The owner said I should keep the iPad and phone on my person at all times while I was in that area. Ok so umm am I not safe here? After I put everything in the dryer, a 20-something guy came in, not doing laundry, and sat next to me. I ignored him but glanced at the owner who kind of wriggled his eyebrows at me. I 💯 took that to mean this guy was waiting for an opportunity to grab my stuff. I stood up and went to the other side of the table and sent out an SOS to Martha, Linda, and Jerry to come hang with me until the clothes dried. They answered the call in 8 minutes, and some of that was figuering out which direction to walk (lesson learned to drop a pin.) The guy ended up leaving and seemed offended that I was nervous about him. But when the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, listen first, and apologize later.

And on to more pleasant subjects, we had dinner with my nephew PJ and his wife Dianna and their kids Sienna, Trevor, and Gavin. They’ve spent July in Barcelona and took us to a very nice place in Port Vell. What a fun evening!

Lastly, when my Mom was dying I asked her to drop a penny in my path occasionally so I’d know she was thinking about me. My Mom was funny and said why don’t you want nickels, and I laughed and said no one ever finds nickels. So where am I going with this, Trevor found a penny on the way to dinner. ON THE WAY TO DINNER! My Mom is amazing, even in Heaven.