The Return Home

This trip to Spain has come to an end and we are on a flight from Barcelona to Philadelphia and then on to Chicago. It has been a wonderful trip, warm most of the time, relaxing, entertaining, full of good times and good food and good wine.Look back to the middle of April at my blog entries and you will see how wonderful this vacation has been. One striking part of the trip were the people we have been with and how different we are and how we can all enjoy similar experiences in different ways. Katie, Jason, Aliza, Mary, Jorge, Nick, Helen, Lee, Peg, Sharon, and me.

Another Sagrada Familia and Osmosis Day

 

Yep, another visit to the Sagrada Famila for me and a first for Lee and Peg and Helen and Nick. This visit for me was a major disappointment. The center of the basilica was blocked off for an event, chairs were up and a stage was in place in front of the altar. There was also construction in progress inside and it was noisey. Because I was hoping to just sit and observe details and contemplate, I was foiled. And, the visit experience was certainly not as satisfying as it could have been. I could not get us tickets for the towers, so we did not go up. As you can see below, Sharon was moved to prayer!

 

Returning From Paris

Nick and I are on the TGV rolling from Gare de Lyon in Paris to Estacio Sants in Barcelona and enjoying the comfortable almost 300 km/h ride. There are rain clouds on each side of us as we head south, but all we have todo is watch them and enjoy them. Sharon and Lee and Peg passed by here on these same tracks a few hours ago. We have received no updates on their progress as it seems Sharon's phone is turned off and Lee and Peg do not have phone service here.

This morning we saw the trio off between 8:00 and 8:30, then Nick and I cleaned the apartment. Evilio came at around 10:00 and we passed on the keys, leaving the apartment around 10:15. We walked and gawked our way to Batille where we stopped for coffee and juice. I finally learned what to order in Paris when you want the equivilant of a cortado, a noisette. We continued on to Gare de Lyon where we had a nice lunch in the station, picked up a few snackss, then boarded our train for our 14:07 departure.

A lady with a cat in a carrier boarded with us. She was scheuled to sit with me but must have not liked what she saw. She never sat down, but looked around the car for a vacant seat. And a guy came with a ticket for the single seat across from me but a girl was sitting there. Seems she was on the wrong train. We seem to be part of two trains hooked together. One of them only goes to Perpignan, but makes all the other stops with us. I suppose we will seperate there and we, on the front of the caravan, continue on.

 

Public Transportation In Spain And France

This morning I got on the train in Sitges headed to Barcelona Sants station where I will continue on to Paris. The trains and busses here, public transportation in general, puts the United States to shame. On both busses and trains you will find them to be clean, running often, and reliable. In the past month we have taken the train multiple times to Barcelona and back, to Vilanova and back and each trip has been comfortable and on time. We have taken the bus in Barcelona, and the bus from the airport to Sitges. we have taken the bus to Barcelona for shopping. I feel the prices are reasonalbe as well. Using a T-10 ten ride three zone ticket for the Sitges Barcelona train or the Sitges Barcelona Airport or shopping run cost 26.75€. A T-10 one zone for Barcelona metro and busses is 9.85€.

On another note, this TGV to Paris Gare Lyon is making multiple stops. I wonder if there is a direct train? We will stop at Girona, Figueres, Perpignan, Narbonne,Montpellier, Nimes, and Valence. I learned something this morning about the Lounge for first class passengers. It is in the station behind the medium distance ticket counters. Do not pass through the baggage check xray machines because you have gone too far!

I am in the first car behind the engine, in a single seat, upper deck, first class. Very comfortable, lots of leg room, big tray table, electrical outlet, electric seat recline, foot rest. Whoops, we are pulling out and it seems I am in the last car not the first, unless we turn around. Oh, and I am going backwards. We did leave on time. I am amazed how much luggage some people can carry. Some people just got on with bag, after, bag, after bag. We are past Figueres and moving at 294 kmh with is about 180 mph. Try that in the U.S. of A. One trip to the dining car so far. It is a stand up affair, not fancy, but you can get coffee, and soft drinks. wine, and beer, snack sandwiches and more. cart came through selling wine, coffee, snacks, sandwiches. I went for a cheese sandwich which tur ed out to be egg. tomato, and a thin slice of cheese on toasted white bread. I would not recommend it. I had wine with it and it was passable, but only because of the wine.

 

Barcelona

Katie, Jorge and I headed for Barcelona today leaving Sitges around 9:30. The only plan we had was to meet for lunch at 2:00 at Casa Lolea. We split up as we entered El Born and wandered. Katie and I found a number of very interesting shop - leather goods, purses, photography, art, gift shops, clothing, shoes, etc. We were in a shop close to the Picasso Museum a little after 1:00 when Jorge called, announced he was hungry, and was already at the restaurant. So, we headed that way to join him. This was a place that we found on Trip Advisor and, as it turns out, we had passed by the other day and thought it looked appealing. We ate an assortment of tapas and all were outstanding with layers and layers of flavors. We declared we would go back. Highlights - the cherry gaspacho with tuna tartare, coca with sardinas, manchego cheese, pan with tomato. All good!

During our wanderings Katie and I came across grafitti, street poetry, interesting scenes, and a Cuban restaurant. We had no plan and were able to wander randomly from one corner to the next. The leather shops, primarily purses were delightful.

We split up again and Katie and I wandered in circles, finally getting back to Estacio Francia and the train home. after picking up fish for tomorrow, vino blanco and cava, and bread we got back to the piso a little after 6:00. A good day!

 

 

Barcelona And Osmosis #3

11,293 steps for Katie and me today. As Katie says, "That's a lot of steps for two people who didn't want to walk much." Jorge headed to Barcelona way before us, leaving around 7:00am, and exploring modern architecture in Barcelona. Katie and I were quite lazy and left the piso around 10:00am. We wanted to shop for shoes for me at El Corte Inglés, but that was a bust. They have more online than they do in the store. Katie got some makeup and then we headed to El Born and went to Nomad Coffee Lab. This is a SERIOUS coffee spot. They take their coffee with SERIOUSNESS, not sugar or cream. You had better know what you are doing and what you want when you come in here. Katie and I both had classico espresso which was likely a major disappointment for the barrista. We obviously did not appreciate our coffee. We liked it. Very good rich, earthy, full bodied espresso. Our next stop was the Palau de la Música Orfeó Català. I want to take Nick here when we are in town as I am sure he will appreciate it. English tours are every hour from 10:00am. We then walked back to Placa de Catalunya to catch the 24 bus back to Gracia and Arago. We had taken the 24 bus down to Placa de Catalunya. Each of these bus trips save a lot of walking on my plantar fasciitis heel. We then walked over to Osmosis for lunch. Descriptions will follow.

MENÚ MIGDIA · MEDIODIA · LUNCH

PRIMERS · PRIMEROS · STARTERS

Foie micuit amb poma a la vainilla

Foie micuit con manzana a la vainilla

Foiegras micuit with apple and vanila

o

Crema de peres amb mató i seitó

Crema de peras con “mató” y boquerón

Pear cream with fresh cheese and anchovy

o

Saltat de múrgules,olives i guatlla

Salteado de colmenillas,olivas y codorniz

Mushrooms sautéed with olives and quail

 

SEGONS · SEGUNDOS · MAIN COURSES

Llobarro amb xalotes

Lubina con chalotas

Seabass with sweet onion

o

Arròs de peix de roca amb pèsols,llagostí i llimona

Arroz de pescado de roca con guisantes,langostino y limón

Rockfish rice with green peas,prawn and lemon

o

Costellam de xai amb dàtils i espècies

Costillar de cordero con dátiles y especies

Lamb ribs with dates and spicy

(We had a cheese course.)

POSTRES · DESSERTS

Panacota d’orxata amb vainilla i albercoc

Panacota de horchata con vainilla y albaricoque

Tiger nuts milk panna cotta with vanila and apricot

o

Tres xocolates

Tres chocolates

Three chocolates

Another Trip to Osmosis

We started today with a trip to Parc Guell which was a disappointment to all of us. Katie and Jason remember when it was free. Now, it is not, and though it is only about 5€ the problem it that they are now charging. You can certainly walk through much of the park, but the areas that are recognized as "typical" Parc Guell are restricted. I don't need to go back, nor will I recommend it. However, if you do go, take the 24 bus from the train station at Passeig de Gracia and it will take you all the way up the hill to the upper entrance to the park.

And while I am mentioning a bus, buses in Barcelona are a great resource. Download the TMB app and use it to find buses to get you anywhere. Buy a 1 Zone T-10 card and use it on the buses and the Metro. Do the same in Paris with carnets. Use the local transport - not taxis or tour buses. See the people, see the city, save yourself some Euros.

Our disappointment in Parc Guell was quickly forgotten because we had plans for Osmosis which was our main feature today. Our consensus was that this week the meal at Osmosis was better than last week. Every dish was exceptional - last week we had one dud. Not so this week. For me the standouts were the asparagus soup and the final pato con chalota, though the whole menu was outstanding. The wine selection was a standout also. I learned a couple of years ago to let them pick the wine and once again they were right. Normally I will pick wine for our meals, not at Osmosis.

Last week I left my camera flash at Osmosis. It had fallen out of my camera bag and I did not notice it. Jason asked me what I was going to leave this week - and I said "nothing." I ended up almost leaving my credit card! Anything for an excuse to come back. We did make a revervation for next Tuesday at 2:00. 

Overall, long day, lots of walking - we did over 7 miles between the park, Osmosis, and Corte Engles for shopping and we are beat but happy.

Osmosis today....

MENÚ DEGUSTACIÓN

Osmosis restaurante apuesta por la auténtica cocina de mercado, sustituyendo la carta por unos menús elaborados diariamente con el mejor producto que encontramos en las mejores paradas del mercado. Seleccionamos diariamente los productos más selectos que nos llegan de la tierra y del mar, escogiendo así unos productos de primera calidad.

Al mediodía elaboramos un menú degustación ágil compuesto por tres pequeños aperitivos dos entrantes, un pescado, una carne y un postre

Menú degustación

Escabeche de caballa e hinojo con tomate y crema fresca

Emulsión de esparragos con trufa y panceta

Atún " tomba i tomba" con suquet de vino tinto

Pato con chalota, patata violeta y vermut

Níspero con yogur y almendra