Two and Two Half-Pints: Barcelona, Day 1: Las Ramblas & Barri Gòtic

14 Feb- 15 Feb

Warning: Graphic raw meat images below.

Flight was as-would-be-expected from a budget airline (EasyJet)-- cramped, free-for all, no food or entertainment, but at only 2 hours it was not bad once we were situated. Bryce was entertained by his Bob the Builder magazine temporarily before screaming his head off on the descent into Barcelona. To be fair, my ears hurt too. Ellis, no surprise, slept soundly through it all. When he was not flirting with the ladies on my right, that is. This boy knows how to captivate an audience, let me tell you.

We had a loose plan of sights we wanted to see, but the details for each day didn't get sussed until after the kids went to bed the night prior. We rented a self-catering apartment in the L'Eixample (pronounced "ee-shomp-luh") district, close to everything without having to deal with late-night noise. 2 beds, 2 baths, lift, but I have never wanted wall-to-wall carpet more in my life. The high ceilings and tile floors made the boys' cries and whines amplified beyond belief. Thankfully no neighbors complained, but I did!

After getting settled around 8:30PM, I popped over to the LIDL supermarket and scooped up some groceries before they closed at 9:15. We cooked up frozen pizzas and ate late like proper Spanish people.

In the morning (and a pretty rough night for the boys in a new place) we ate a bread and cheese and chorizo breakfast, along with extra-strong espresso from the machine in the kitchen. I need to get one! Then we headed off for a nice stroll to the top of Las Ramblas, through the market (where we ate a late lunch), and then meandered through the Gothic Quarter during siesta. This was pretty meaningful to Stephen and me as we both read, loved, and highly recommend The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Someone mysteriously brought it to a book swap at one of our tree-trimming parties years ago and we have no idea who it was. Anyway, it takes place in the Gothic Quarter and it was fun to see the neighborhood and compare it to the images created in our heads.

We found another playground and then made our way back down Las Ramblas and to the water's edge. Took the metro back home and had a quick kebab for dinner on the corner of our street. They were awesome-- not like kebabs in either NYC or England. Different and delicious. Hit the sack with another big day planned.

Bryce and his Bob the Builder magazine

Ellis cozy and ready to saw some logs.

"Torre Agbar" designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, 2005

First stop on our stroll, playground #1, situated smack in the middle of the sidewalk so there was no avoiding it.

¡Hola!

I did not place Bryce in the bear's lap, he did it, the cheeky monkey that he is.

Stopped at this bakery for a treat. Stephen chose "bunyols" which I berated him for. I said, "why would you order beignets at a Spanish bakery?" Well, turns out they are a true Catalan thing- basically their version of a doughnut- and very popular before Lent. We were, in fact, eating like the locals.

Bunyols

Bryce got a chocolate cookie-thing that was so hard he almost lost all of his baby teeth.

La Boqueria market-- a colorful, mouth-watering display of food and chock full of pickpockets. Sadly no one picked our pockets. I wanted to see the look of disappointment when they came up empty-handed!

Colors have not been enhanced.

Colorful spices

Yum! Pig snout! Stephen found one of these in a bowl of soup later in the week. More on that later.

Octopus tentacles

Barracuda! (sung in the style of Heart)

Jamón País

"Bombas" Read the interesting back-story to bombas here.

Patatas bravas y butifarra con judías. The latter was the most delicious sausage I have had IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Bryce was asleep when we got to the market, but he woke up to watch them restock the fish! Exciting!

Sheep (or goat?) heads, a steal at just 1.75€, and brains only slightly more. Does anyone recognize the organs at 3.50€?

Can't decide between tripe and tongue

This little piggy went to market...

Delicious raspberries

Fearnley boys strolling down Las Ramblas

Bryce loved looking for dragons and "monsters" carved into the fancy buildings

Carrer del Bisbe Irurita

wiggle wiggle!

Carrer dels Comtes

Stephen claims this is the elephant and castle, but i think it looks like a tusked anteater. Upon further investigation and internet research, I am going to conclude that it is a mastodon, with its straight tusks and small ears. Nevermind the castle-esque structure on its back.