Barcelona: Good to the Last Croquete

The day started out with torrential rain and thunderstorms. Fortunately, the rain subsided by 8am. We were out and about by nine, heading back to Montjuic to visit the Joan Miro Foundation. We were familiar with Miro's work, having viewed it in a number of collections around the world. For some reason, I've never come to love it (or even particularly like it). I'd hoped this was be a transcendent experience much like my visit to the Chagall Museum in Nice (or my unexpected discoveries of Ellsworth Kelly in San Francisco, Jeremy Moon in London, and Blinky Palermo in Munch). Yet, while I came away feeling better informed, I was still unmoved. Libby felt likewise. Oh well.

Next, we went to the Boqueria Market for browsing and lunch. Yum! This place is on par with my beloved Borough Market in London. It's positively a cornucopia of fresh meats, seafood, and produce. Gigantic Serrano hams (photo below). Chorizo by the mile. Mountains of ripe fruit. Oceans of fish and crustaceans. If only our kitchen were packed into my suitcase!


After lunch, we visited the church of Santa Maria del Mar and the Modernista masterpiece of the Palau de la Musica Catalana. By late afternoon, we'd finished sightseeing and headed for shopping on the upscale Passeig de Gracia. And, guess what? Libby bought another handbag... a TOUS from the “Cubik” collection this time, a Spanish brand with (we learned) boutiques in the United States. Who knew? Who cares (hopefully Libby won't read this, lest I get in trouble for that last comment)?

Tonight dinner was at Qu Qu. More tapas. All were good, including the Qu Qu house wine (a quaffable rioja at only 7 euro per bottle). We grabbed a sweet treat and a coffee on the way back to our hotel.

Now it's time to finish packing and get ready for bed. We fly home early tomorrow.