Hola!

Day 3 in Barcelona - another beautiful day! My number one priority today was to see the Picasso Museum. Barcelona is home to Picasso - he did most of his training here so they love him like a son. I heard the museum was wonderful so I headed out early to get my ticket. The way it works is that you line up to buy a ticket, and then you come back to actually see the museum at your assigned time. Assigned by them - not you! I didn't do too badly - my assigned time was 11:30. So I had about an hour and a half to do something else so headed to the next stop on my list which was very close. Another church called Basilica De Santa Marie Del Mar - Our Lady of the Sea. Totally different from La Sagrada Familia for sure!! Considered the Gothic style and built from 1329 to 1383 - considered fast in those days! It was so quiet and peaceful inside and had such a spacious feel.  

A gorgeous stained glass over the entrance. 

Then a wandered around a bit until my 11:30 ticket time. Barcelona is known for it's textiles and there are wonderful shops with handmade designer clothing, shoes and handbags. I wandered into an area that had quite a few handbag shops which is my one shopping weakness and at first I thought it was fate! Then I heard my daughters voice in my ear saying "you don't need another purse" so I resisted. The streets in the old area are so narrow and they wind all over. Here is a picture as an example and what you can't really see is that there are little shops on both sides of the street. I just happened to snap this when no one was walking there as it's normally pretty busy. 

There are some that are even much narrower! 

Next stop the Picasso Museum. It was really one of my favorite places in Barcelona. The building it is in is actually 5 adjoining buildings that were medieval mansions. There are 16 exhibit rooms that you flow through, and they really focus on his earliest works. The first room has paintings from when he was just 13 years old and they are unbelievable! I have just recently become a big fan of his. I went to a special exhibit on his sculptures when I was in NYC in January at MOMA - and have been intrigued by him ever since. Many of his earliest works are more in the Impressionist genre - which is consistent with what I have learned in that great artists are usually wonderful traditional artists before they move into a style that they make more their own. I am not an art expert by any stretch - I just love to learn about it! And Picasso (or Pablo as I like to call him!)  spent many years in Paris "hanging out" with the great Impressionist artists so again seeing these works makes sense to me now. Unfortunately they don't allow ANY pictures - drat!!! But I did get a few of the exterior.

So old but so beautiful! 

I mentioned how pedestrian friendly the streets are and this old fountain caught my eye! 

Go ahead and fill your water bottle for free! 

This afternoon I made a late decision to jump on a 3 PM tour to Montserrat. Montserrat is a monastery high on a mountain about an hour ride from Barcelona. I had heard and read great things about it but didn't know if I would be able to squeeze it in. I like to sight see more then shop so decided if they had a spot I would do it and so glad I did. Plus I have walked a ton - and the hour bus ride to and from sounded pretty good! The monastery dates back to 1025 and was founded to commemorate a vision of the Virgin on the mountain, after which the Virgin de Monserrat, allegedly carved by St Luke and hidden here by Peter was discovered. I say allegedly because the tour guide said there is a lot of mystery as to where the statue came from and how it made it to a cave in Montserrat. It is one of the "Black Madonna's" and you can actually touch her fingers and the ball she is holding!!! Which of course I stood in line to do!!! Much of the original church was destroyed in the early 1800's but they have rebuilt and it's really amazing. So different from the church I was in this morning. Lots of gold and really a Byzantine look.

Montserrat! You can't tell from this picture but it's a very high spot in the mountain - quite a climb (in my case ride) to get there! 

Upper left - the view from the monastery. Upper right - the Black Madonna. Lower left - the Black Madonna as seen from the church floor way high over the alter. Lower right - the Funicular! You can take a tram right up to the top of that mountain if you dare - which I didn't!!!  

I didn't do very well on food today - sorry!! Kind of ran out of time so got this ham and cheese sandwich on amazing fresh bread - and a bag full of great cookies to snack on!! 

That was my day!! Fun fact I learned about Barcelona - prior to the 1992 Olympics held here they had 1 million tourists visit a year. Since 1992 they have over 14 million tourists a year - amazing!!! It is really a beautiful city with friendly people and lots to see and do.  

Tomorrow I am off on the "fast" train to Madrid! Adios!!