Day 211 to Day 215 - Back to school

Barcelona - Cocoon Apartments

Day 211 - K had signed up for a Spanish course this week in Barcelona, so we had an early start as K had to sit a test at 8am. The class times are 9am to 1pm each day, which works well as it leaves us the afternoons to do some sightseeing. This afternoon we walked down to the port and marina which aren't far from where we are staying, and up Los Ramblas, the "main street" where all of the tourist shops are, as well as human statues (which in Barcelona are much better than the crappy ones we've seen back home and elsewhere), and lots of pickpockets (we've been told).

Day 212 - Today after K's classes we headed to Sagradia Familia, a unfinished but still impressive church. This church is expected to be completed in 2026, 100 years after the death of the church's designer, Anton Gaudi. It is very unusual as it combines so many different architectual styles. We continued on to Park Guell to see more of Gaudi's famous creations.

Day 213 - Today we had a quiet afternoon, we had to do some more planning for our travels after Barcerlona. Our original intentions have changed quite significantly, we would have liked to have stayed on in Barcelona so K can continue her course here, but instead we will move on to Tenerife so K can pick up a course there. This meant we have had to spend a bit of time on the internet checking out plane fares, hotels, etc, fortunately there are some budget airlines so the costs aren't too bad.

Day 214 - Today is the first day of the annual La Merce Festival, which is a really big deal here. The opening ceremony was only a few minutes walk from our flat, so of course we went along. The square was packed with people, who all waited through the boring speeches (worse for us because we couldn't understand them), before the main show commenced. Papier mache giants in various forms - kings, queens, fire breathing dragons, lions "danced" around the centre of the square, accompanied by traditional music played by a large band on a stage. After each of the giants had done their little dance, there was a small fireworks display. The main parade is on Saturday night, unfortunately we will have left Barcelona by then.

Day 215 - The last day of K's course and time to get packed up and move on once again, we have a very early start in the morning to get the plane to Tenerife. Because we feel we have been working so hard lately, we are heading off to the Canary Islands for a holiday (actually K continues with her Spanish course).