Today I went up (down?) to Barcelona.
My intention was to go and dance some tango at Tangoneta but somehow once I got there, it felt nicer to just wander around and soak in some city energy.
At Plaça Catalunya suddenly the wind got up and autumn arrived
One moment it was a pleasant late summers day and the next we were shivering and fighting against buffeting gusts.
After a good while poking around the sports clothes in Decathlon I emerged to find it was now also raining. But the light around the cathedral was beautiful.
As always, everyone else seemed to have an umbrella. I never do!
Like a needle to a magnet I was drawn to my favourite streets in the Gotic area
Everything is like a film set or a story.
Coffee and cake and a bit of Trollope. Then a quick visit to ‘my’ church Sant Just de Pastor. It’s always a good place to sit for a while and tune in. Thank god for city churches – you don’t have to be Christian, or to pay anything, or to explain yourself or pretend. You can just go in and be.
Then I set off on the journey back home. I usually walk from the Gotic back to Passeig de Gracia because the journey on the metro, although it looks direct, involves a lot of tramping down long corridors. But as it was chilly I went down at Jaume I to catch a train. The link from the yellow line to the Renfe platforms is a full scale hike – up hill and down dale.
And now it is even worse as there are works at Passeig de Gracia so you have to emerge and change stations to catch a train to Granollers
Underground there are still lots of independent and more original cafes along the way
I’m sorry this is rather a boring post. It’s been hard recently, since my brothers death in fact, to write anything at all. There is a lot going on inside me but not much of it communicable. And there is always the sense of ‘what’s the point?’ ‘what do I do this for?’ and ‘who is it for?’
But let me finish with this photo of a happy dog sleeping on the beach yesterday, when it was still summer and the sun was warm.
I did that gigantic hike in the metro the other day…it is SO hot down there…awful Bonnie looks DARLING, looking forward to seeing you both.
Yes it’s hot and especially so when I was wearing the new polar I’d bought in Decathlon! I kept thinking, surely this will end soon….Kx
em, excuse you, I’m afraid you don’t get to decide if your readers are bored 😉 The whole post was fascinating, there were two journeys to follow with great photos – the bride with her dress hitched up disappearing up the alley, for instance, Bonnie drinking… It’s good to hear that you can live in a large town/city and still be so close to the countryside. Ideal situation for me, I think, I would miss the energy and all the things you can see and do in a city with its multitude of interesting people, architecture, events and so on.
I love reading your posts and don’t always leave a comment, but rest assured that your writing is greatly appreeciated!! End of sermon.
I also think it’s great that you are writing at all, it’s not easy when there is so much to deal with in your life.
Autumn has definitely arrived here in Holland, I am so glad I live in a part of the world with clear seasons.
Nice post, but definetly is down to Bcn, when you come from Granollers! You go with the river Congost-Besòs to the sea, isn’t it? My mum had the same problem… XXXX
Do you think it’s because we used to go ‘up’ to Glasgow?
Hi Kate,
I was read a little of your blog tonight (or should I say this morning, as its currently 1.15am and im as usual unable to sleep as i’m in Qatar and its still only 11.15 in the UK!)
Anyway firstly I just wanted to say this post wasn’t boring at all – as ever you write so well and the photos are great! I love Barcelona – I was in fact there for a few days the week before this attending a conference. I was fortunate to get free time and I spent it revisiting the city.
Secondly I am so sorry to read that you lost your brother – this is very sad and I hope you are doing ok.
Kiwi Chris x
Thanks to you all for comments! ANd I’m so glad it wasn’t boring to read. I never know until someone tells me. Or, more honestly, sometimes I know it’s interesting and other times I am not sure.
Down to Barcelona it is then! I think it is because Up and Down for me are about North and South so I get muddled.
Chris – how good to hear from you! Let me know another time you are in Barcelona – perhaps we could meet for a coffee.
K x