My Observations
For Day 3 journal entry, I tried to “simplify” my process for writing the details. Unfortunately, the Dragon Dictate program, which allowed me to speak in a microphone and the words were “automatically” typed, was not a success. All the words typed were spelled correctly. Many were not the words I spoke. I think some of the error was caused by so many foreign language words. So, back to pressing the keys and putting enough keystrokes together for me to share my thoughts.
Today, we took a little different route to find breakfast. Went to Boldu, another deli restaurant and noticed some fancy cakes in the front window. Within a block, we could already see Casa Mila (La Pedrera). Having a chance to meander allows us to pick and choose, where we stop and how long we visit.
I use a GPS device each day to determine how far we walked. Today, we traveled 5 miles. I also use the GPS data to merge to the electronic information on each photo. The term to do this is called geo-tagging. For me, helpful should I want to return someplace that I did not take note of address or other important details that would help my return.
Even with a building restoration shroud around Casa Mila, the beauty I saw from photos was still there. Just look at the photo on the right side top of this website. In person, it was even more beautiful than any of the photos. Since a group tour is schedule only a few days in the future, decided to get some snaps of my own. Then, go to the bookstore and find what might be available in printed material I could take back home. Well...5 books later, had cashier ring me out. I saved the reading for when we got home. Part of my “post-tour” research.
A few blocks further, we find that there is very limited vehicle traffic, with mostly pedestrians everywhere. There are some stores on both sides of the street, as well as various vendors selling things in the middle walkway. The interesting part, is the small cobblestones walkway in the form of what looks like alternating white and black wavy pattern. This makes it look like running water. I'm told later, that the term Rambla is the Arabic word stream. It is very appropriate, since there had been a running stream down this area from the mountains to the north and then further in the south it ended up at the Mediterranean Sea. Ah, progress?
We continue window browsing, and notice a sign for the La Boqueiria market (Boqueiria Mercat). We know this is on our tour in the next couple days, but decide we need to stop on her own. We want to spend as much time as we like rather, than maybe feel we would be rushed on the tour. There were so many food stalls. Some selling food that you could take home. Other stalls with food that you could sit and eat there. It was a temptation not to stop and eat at so many places. It all looked yummy (-:
After leaving La Boqueiria area, we continued on a few more blocks until we got to the waterfront. There is a large monument with a statue of Christopher Columbus. As we got to the monument, we noticed a sign indicating that for a small fee, we could follow a stairway up to the top and look out both to the sea and as well as to the mountains. A short walk away, is an area referred to as a Rambla del Mar. Although not as busy as the main Rambla area, this pedestrian only walkway has a bridge that crosses over the water. There are several places to shop, including restaurants. Some large boats are anchored nearby. We spent time there and had lunch. This was the main site of the 1992 Olympics.
Since the Rambla is so wide, we decide to walk on the opposite side walkway and look at some of the shops that we had missed. Next we find our way back to the hotel.
Another 5 mile walk today. Seems like it is getting easier (-:
Here are internet links for highlights:
Rambla Shopping http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/La-Rambla/
1992 Olympics http://www.olympic.org/barcelona-1992-summer-olympics
Rambla del Mar http://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-rambla.html
La Boqueiria http://www.boqueria.info/mercat-benvinguts.php
Columbus monument http://www.aviewoncities.com/columbusmonument
Photo 1. Barcelona is a city of motor scooters, more than cars. Scooters get to park on sidewalk.
Photo 2. Boldu bakery has their favorite cookies – both boy or girl (-:
Photo 3. Balcony of one of Antoni Guadi’s architectural creations; Casa Mila.
Click here for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/Day4Of2716Oct14ThursdayBarcelona
