Art is in the Air!

It’s early Sunday morning and the Barri Gotic is still asleep when I stroll over to the plaza to meet Rob’s taxi.  I have just bought a cup of coffee from Pans and said ‘good morning’ to the four taxi drivers already waiting in the plaza hoping for a fare to the airport when in drives the taxi with Rob in it.  There will now be five taxi drivers in the plaza waiting for their next fare.

Rob and I haven’t seen each other since he moved back to California over a year ago and even though we were both in Washington for a couple of years  he was in Seattle and I in Gig Harbor so we found it difficult to get together very often during that time.  We really haven’t spent a lot of time together since he left Puerto Rico, over 5 years ago.  He looks great and we are delighted to see each other.  Rob lived in New York City for many years so the flat feels like home to him immediately. 

We sit and share a cup of coffee and just enjoy being in each other’s company.  Our friendship started when we shared an office at Yipes in San Francisco and has always been an easy one.  It appears nothing has changed.   We talk a little about what our week in Barcelona will look like.  He’s got the usual list of places he wants to visit and things he wants to do but most importantly he wants to take it slow and easy and simply enjoy  being on vacation.  This sounds absolutely perfect to me.  This will be my last week in Barcelona and I want to savor it.  Rob asks me what I find most memorable about Barcelona.  Before I answer several things cross my mind but then it hits me, what will change me forever is the exposure to their art, art that is present everywhere, in every aspect of life.

Sitting still is starting to make Rob sleepy since he flew all night with little sleep so around 10a we go out to just walk around the neighborhood.  The Gotic is not yet awake and the morning air a little chilly which is so delightful compared to the heat of the last few weeks.  It’s a nice introduction for Rob.  After an hour or so of walking we’re hungry and decide to go to Milk for their famous brunch.  But before we go we have to stop by the flat and pick up one of their plates I have there.  Last week I went to Milk for dinner and wanted to take some of it home but they didn’t have any take-a-way containers so they just covered my dish with foil and told me to bring the plate back the next time I came in.  We both celebrate Rob’s arrival with a glass of cava and eggs benedict.

From Milk it is any easy walk to Port Vell.  We approach the port at the well-known Muir sculpture and turn right to walk along the marina with all its beautiful yachts.  Rob spots a couple of sculptures sitting on a rock wall and laughs and wants me to stand between them so he can take a picture.   We are right by the Nao Victoria which is a replica of the first ship to sail around the world.  Like everyone before him who has seen this ship he is amazed at how small it is.  We continue past the Spanish Galleon which is a much bigger ship and make our way to La Rambla del Mar.  This is the famous walkway that swings open to let ships pass instead of rising up as they usually do.  We’re lucky, boats are crossing and we have a front row view to watch the walkway make its swing.

We go to the top floor of Maremagnum the shopping center located in the center of Port Vell.  The top floor is full of café/bars with great views of the marina.  After looking around in every direction we wandered around the shops on the first two floors.  After a pleasant walk back out of Port Vell we made our way to the Barcelona beach and home of the now well-known lemonade beer.  Rob is determined not to let his first day in Barcelona pass without a lemonade beer.  Apparently he liked them because he ordered the second round before I’d even finished my first one!  It was a delightful beach day with the temperature around 85 and a constant breeze.  I was being reminded of all the wonderful island afternoons I have spent since moving out of California.  Today I am an island girl at heart and I will always blame Puerto Rico for that!

It’s a fairly long walk back to the flat and Rob’s travel day is sneaking up on him, he’d like to take a nap so we leave the beach to return to the flat.  This has proven to be one of the best things about the flat, its location.  It’s convenient to almost all of the neighborhoods in Barcelona.  

Since I was up early for Rob’s arrival I do something I almost never do and take a nap also.  A couple of hours later we are both up and feeling totally refreshed.  I teach Rob Cribbage and he wins the first game.  Maybe I taught him just a little too well!

It’s time to clean up and go to dinner.  We’ve both agreed a on a casual and early night and select the ever delightful Bar Lobo.  The crowds are definitely gone and everything in Barcelona is easier.  The streets are less crowded and the restaurant has empty tables when we walk in.  The waiter is new to me and playful.  He is also darling and provides us with excellent service.  Rob joins the ever growing Bar Lobo fan club. This will probably be my last time there and I will certainly remember it as one of my favorites.

As we’re walking home Rob notices Miro’s large tile artwork in the center of La Rambla.  He is amazed that such a well-known artist designed the walkway that thousands of people walk on each day.  This is very near one of my favorite buildings in that same area.  The building has an Asian flare with an entertaining dragon on the corner and clusters of painted umbrellas decorating the walls.  For me this building is joyful and I love to pass by it.

Rob shares my joy of the dragon and umbrella building and is already amazed by the many displays of art we have seen in just one day.  He has no idea how much more art Barcelona will share with him before the week is over but I do!