Final Hoorah in Barcelona

Hola l'Kulam (Spanrew for "Hello Everyone):

Today was my last full day in Barcelona and I've used it to tie up loose ends and to revisit my highlights - a nice mix. The day started with a run through the gardens/park and breakfast. I then did a bit of online research into a hotel in Madrid for my last night in Spain before I fly out, which I successfully booked. With my backpack loaded with the essentials (guide book, novel, camera, sweatshirt and iPod) I set out.

My first stop was back to La Boqueria marketplace. Each time I have visited it has been late afternoon, and I understood it was a bit more alive and bustling earlier in the day. With my obsession for marketplaces I felt I needed to see it in the morning. I love marketplaces! I think it is the mix of fresh food, local vendors, community, artistry and old fashioned life. I toured the stalls snapping photos and grabbed a delicious Mango/Papaya juice (yes, I paid for it).

I then followed my instincts and some strategically placed signs towards the Museo Picasso. Along the way I passed by an old Parliament building that had attracted quite a crowd of Spaniards, tourists and policemen. Seemed like something was going on inside. Not wanting to be in the way (and not caring so much), I pressed on until I stumbled into the museum.

Now, growing up my room was plastered with wallpaper imprinted with a child-friendly Picasso pattern and therefore felt I owed it to the man to visit his museum since his art watched over me when I slept. I was not disappointed. Barcelona was Picasso's main home, and the background for his early years of learning. The museum in Barcelona was the first Picasso museum to be established, and the only one to open while he was still alive. The museum was arranged chronologically so that visitors could follow his development and movement through phases. I enjoyed seeing his early work and was struck by his talent and conventionality in his youth. As he grew Picasso certainly established his own style, starting with his Blue Period and into his pioneering work with Cubism. All in all his works were so diverse. Since photography is prohibited in the museum I only walked away with a picture of a few postcards that were the closest thing I could find to my wall paper.

From the Museu Picasso I walked back towards the city center to find the Call (Jewish quarter). Though a bit tucked away, I succeeded and wandered into the synagogue/museum. When I arrived a museum staff member was explaining some facts behind Judaism in Barcelona to a few other visitors. The guide looked familiar, and a bit distracted by my presence. Her accent seemed Spanish, so I didn't make too much of it initially. When she finished her shpiel she looked at my and asked, "Zach?" It suddenly clicked - it was Hila Levi, one of the Israeli shlichim who worked at Ramah in 2005. Such a small world! Hila has been living in Barcelona for the past year where she is taking a couple of classes, doing some distant learning through a unversity program back in Israel and working at this tiny museum. It was really nice to see her - to catch up and visit. Can you believe it??? (does this count as a small miracle?)

After visiting with Hila I walked back down to Barceloneta for lunch at a Fodor's recommended establishment - Puerde Can Manuel. Great, simple food served along the harbor ... featuring Sopa de Rape (a non-shellfish fish soup) and atun a la plancha (grilled tuna steak). Yum. I continued to walk down the beach, a bit more empty than Monday as the day was on the chilly side. I stopped at some benches to read and relax, and then curved back up towards Casa de Billy. Along the way I returned to La Boqueria (shocking) for another crepe and my final fresh juice.

The rest of the day featured some reading, writing (i.e. this blog entry), dinner and a final walk and wine tasting before returning to pack and plan for an early wake up in order to catch my train to SAN SEBASTIAN! Dinner was at yet another Fodor's recommendation - Fonda Gaig. The restaurant has a completely modern design, but features food that clearly his roots in classic Catalonian cuisine. I ordered seasonal vegetables to start followed by a delicious angler fish in a garlic sauce with mushrooms and artichokes.

More more photos from today click here (and thanks to one of my readers who requested that I configure the photo link to open in a new window as opposed to navigating away from this page!).

Adios,

Zach