Barcelona Day 3

After our bike tour yesterday, we realized that there was

a lot we didn't get to see. So we went on a walk-about.

Down the alleys of the Rambla we went.

We read about this "hole-in-the-wall" store down one

of the alleys that we wanted to find. It was the best

store ever. It has all kinds of dried fruit, nuts and

spices you can think of. Plus a lot more. We bought

dried strawberries, apricots, prunes and dates.

If I had room in my suitcase I would have bought

a lot more.

We continued to walk and walk and walk

and came out on the lower end of the Rambla

close to the Mediterranean. One part of the

plaza has all of these actors in various costumes.

I thought they were statues, but if you but money

in the can she would move. It was really cool.

We continued walking to sea and there was a

boardwalk that took you out to the end of the pier 

where there was a mall.

Looking across the harbor there was this tower.

A cable car would start at the mall and go over

to this tower. It would either stop and the people would

then go down an elevator in the middle of the tower or

they would continue on...

to the top of this hill. You can barely see the cables.

We wondered what was over there that people would

pay 50 euros to ride the cable car to. So we decided

to find out, but we WALKED over.

After a very long hot walk we found these stairs. They

were beautiful with bright blue tile.

So we climbed...

At the top was this beautiful building with lots of water

fountains. The stairs we climbed ended up by the building.

This is just a front view. It is the Palau Nacional MNAC or

their museum of art.

From the museum you can see out over the entire city

of Barcelona.

Almost in the middle, just at the base of the mountain

you can see the Sagrada Familia or the Gaudí church 

that we saw yesterday.

Behind the museum we kept walking and found the

Olympic stadium were the 1996 Olympics was held.

The Torch

Olympic Stadium

The Natatorium

And a park

It was really cool to see this area.

Walking down from the museum there was this fountain.

Every couple of minutes the water changed and sprayed

a different pattern. We sat and watched it for quite

awhile. (I really needed to rest!!)

On our walk back to the hotel we saw many other sites,

like one of their arenas, etc.

One last thing. All around the city you see these lots

with these orange bikes. We watched people get of 

the bus, go over to a machine by the bikes, put their

smart phone up to the screen on the machine. The

machine gives them a number and the person goes

and finds the bike with that number. The machine unlocks

the bike and the person rides away.

What a cool idea in a city where bikes are the best way

to get around. When the person is done they can return

the bike to any bike station around the city.

Well I think we walked at least 15 miles today. It was

hot but there was a nice breeze.

Thank heavens the hotel is air-conditioned.