My Observations
33 photos for this day's album. Actual number of shots, over 800.
Today, I'm starting to use is a program called Dragon Dictate where I can try to speak in a microphone, and then have the program type it for me. We'll see just how well that works out at how much I actually save, or make more work for myself.
Started out with breakfast at one of the local deli-bakery shops. Got to see just what the of the menus were like. As you will see below, I mention that it is in 2 languages; Catalan and Spanish. Although I can understand some Spanish, looking at the Catalan version, then Spanish of the same thing. It's not easy to find the right words for me to properly pick out things.
About two blocks West from the hotel, is one of the main four-lane streets, Rambla de Cataluña. A pedestrian walkway in the center as well as next to the building doorways. Although the word Rambla is in the street name, it is not truly the Rambla shopping district we are looking for. The Rambla shopping will be one more street to the West of where we are at, Passeig de Gracia.
One more block south, we turn left and are going west again and spot a museum. We find that instead of calling it a museum, it's called a foundation or Fundacio Antoni Tapies. There is very interesting artwork on the front and the top of this building. We decide not to go in, but will look up more information about it after we get back to the hotel room. Today, we are looking for the specialty shops that start on this main street called Passeig de Gracia. We turn on street name, Carrer de Arago. We find a hardware store that I'm interested in stopping in. There is a sign in the store window, that indicates a good view of the Casa Batllo site can be had from the second floor garden patio. We spend probably 90 minutes on the patio watching the visitors at Casa Batllo. We can take some photos that they can’t get. Some of these photos you'll see in today's album.
As we turn the corner onto Passeig de Gracia, we see the entrance for the Casa Batllo; Antoni Gaudi designed house. We noticed a long line there, and decide better to just take some pictures from the outside and come back another day. We continue walking and looking at the various stores. We admire the fine goods there, and of course the high prices.
Needless to say, after walking almost 5 miles today, we were tired. We stopped to eat. Then back to hotel to get some rest.
Here are internet links for highlights:
Rambla de Cataluña http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambla_de_Catalunya
Catalan Language http://www.omniglot.com/writing/catalan.htm
Fundacio Antoni Tapies http://www.fundaciotapies.org/site/spip.php?rubrique64
Passeig de Gracia http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/passeig-gracia/
Casa Batllo http://www.casabatllo.es/en/
Photo 1. Our first “taste” of Catalan language. Note menu difference from Spanish.
Photo 2. Shows Carol having meat to start the day. Seems like a country of meat eaters.
Photo 3. Our first look at local newspaper. The Spanish language one – La Vanguardia.
Click here for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/Day3Of2715Oct14WednesdayBarcelona
