Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Today was our day to climb Montjuic, pronounced “mon-jew-eek,” the hill overlooking Barcelona’s harbor and city beaches.
Besides a spectacular view of the city, there are many things to do and see, for example: the Fundacio Miro, ruins of an 18th century castle, the Catalan Art Museum, and the 1929 World Fairgrounds.
We took the Metro and a bus almost to the top of Montjuic to visit the best of Joan Miro’s artwork in the world. The collection is housed in a fabulous building specially designed in 1975 by Josep Lluis Sert to showcase Miro’s amazing art. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed in the galleries, but I took a few photos in the outdoor spaces.
Then we rode the circa-1929 Teleferico del Puerto – Aeri del Port cable car down to the harbor peninsula known as Barceloneta. We rode from a station on the side of the hill to the top of a tall tower and onward to another tower by the beach. It was great fun and the views of the city and the harbor were amazing.
After a quick elevator ride down the last tower, we were on the beach and the Mediterranean Sea!
It was a long walk back to our hotel on the Ramblas but we did it! It was good to explore another part of Barcelona and admire the architecture.
We enjoyed a couple of recouperative ‘cavas’ and patatas bravas in a little outdoor cafe behind the hotel.
Later at night, we ventured out for homestyle paella at Restaurant Vigo.
Amazing food in Barcelona!!! We shared tomato bread and fried chorizo for appetizers and a delicious seafood paella for an entree.
