Fish Stories

Fish Stories

Today was all about fish.  Our schedule was a little bit more relaxed so we allowed ourselves to sleep in and get a lazy start.    Once up, we headed to Starbucks for our morning coffee fix and then Marta and Nancy did some shopping for souvenirs and gifts in the local neighborhood.  Unfortunately in the process I am starting to discover what cool stores I have available to me right outside my front door!

I had heard about a ‘world famous’ café in the La Boqueria market called the Universe Café and this seemed like a good day to fight the crowds and see what the raves were all about.   This is one of those crazy places where people stand in line for hours waiting for one of the limited number of tables or seats at the counter.  It is known for its amazing seafood and we are delighted to tell you the reputation is well deserved.  We shared platters of sea bass, octopus, razor clams, mussels, lobster and mixed vegetables, all of which was delicious.  This will become one of my regular spots to take visitors for a taste of ‘real Spanish seafood’.

Following our meal we took a short walk over to another Gaudi house.  This one is a home right here in the Gotic district that Gaudi built early in his career for wealthy friend called the Palau Guell.  Like all Gaudi building it was something to behold.  This building was entirely different than the Sagarda Familia but no less impressive.  This home was built in the 1880s with the richest of materials of stones and woods that could be found in the world.  And of course, in Gaudi fashion, attention was paid to the most minor of details.  

Then we were back to the La Boqueria to purchase every possible type of fruit we knew of and even a couple we had never heard of before along with several different types of cheeses.  Dinner was going to in and light.  A few cold meats I already had on hand accompanied by the fruits and chesses. 

But before dinner we had one more daring event on our agenda……….a Fish Pedicure!!  We had been walking past a salon every day that offered these and our curiosity was getting the best of us and we were simply going to have to find out for ourselves what this was all about.  Basically you submerge your feet into water with lots of tiny little Garra Fufa fish from Turkey.  These little fish are nicknamed the nibble fish and they nibble on your feet removing the dead skin and increasing circulation. The misnomer is that these fish ‘eat’ the dead skin but that not exactly true.  They actually just knock off the dead skin while they search for real food.  Fortunately for us they don’t consider feet ‘real food’.  The whole experience was interesting and although we all had a start when the fish first ‘attacked’ our feet it didn’t take long to relax and start to enjoy the gentle stimulation of their many little sucking mouths!  One of the finest feet massages I have ever received completed the treatment.  Amazingly enough, we all agreed we would do it again! 

Now it’s time to pack for Paris………we’re leaving on a noon train.