K & L's Travel Blog

26/12/2017 Casa Vicens  L’Estel Ferit I went out to visit Casa Vicens this morning while Kitty rests from another night coughing. Vicens is Gaudí’s first commissioned house that has just recently (Nov. 2017) opened for visitors. It was about a 15 minute walk from our place.  Admission at 16 EUR is a bit dear, but… Continue reading St. Stephen’s Day

25/12/2017 Adíeu Kitty is low with her cold. Even Mucinex cannot rouse her this morning, and I know she slept poorly with all of the coughing through the night. I remember two years ago when I was struck with a similar cold—coughing, coughing, coughing—and she forced me to stay in for a day and relax.… Continue reading Christmas Day

12/24/2017 Eixample Eixample Christmas Eve, and we are settling into a domestic routine in anticipation of the holidays.  Kitty has been worried about managing meals with stores closed, so our first things is to go to the grocery store this morning. We get there fairly early, about 10:30, before the real crowds started about 11:00.… Continue reading Christmas Eve, Parc del Ciutadella

12/23/2017 Avenue Diagonal We are considering reserving an apartment for the month of January 2018. We think it is the top floor in the building Stephen Lee stayed in last year.  It has a sunny terrace and a better kitchen.  Wonder if we will get tired of it and regret?  Would a month be too… Continue reading Eixample & Gràcia Neighborhoods

22 December 2017 I think maybe denial is a coping strategy that is underrated.  “I’m not sick.”  It just pisses me off to lag or slow down the travel in any way.  Lorena has to bully me at times to slow down. I hate to admit it, but I know it true and she is… Continue reading Catalan Music Palace (Palau de la Música Catalana)

21 December 2017 Bocadillos off Ramblas Catalunya An easy day without much of an itinerary, but one full of fun photo ops. We headed down towards El Born, hoping to explore some new squares and alleyways around the historic El Call (Jewish neighborhood). Stopped for the obligatory bocadillo at noon (this one a bit bigger… Continue reading Day of Wandering

20 December 2017 I called it “hit the wall Wednesday.”  Woke up so tired.  I have been clocking the steps and today even approached 20,000.  It’s like asking our bodies to hit the interstate after bumping along on a dirt road.  But once you hear the sounds of the street the pull is inevitable.  So far,… Continue reading El Ninot Market, Sunset at National Museum of Catalonia, Caixa Forum, Bodega 1900

19 December 2017 Spanish patriot on Las Ramblas “Just last week we were so responsible,” Kitty notes tonight. “And now….” All we worry about is how to spend our time: what to read, where to shop, what to buy, what to eat. Last week we were both scrambling to free ourselves from work. Now we… Continue reading Palau Güell, El Gato, and Pepi Pla

Day 2 Barcelona 12/18/2017 Abundance 2 Cart Shopping Day one is always exciting. Time to get settled, go shopping for basics, and settle in with what we need. I ventured out and bought our croissants this morning.  Lorena reminded me of the time when I was scared to go out alone.  So much fun now!… Continue reading Day One