Tuesday 16 February

The spectacular nave of the Gothic cathedral

I had a very bad night but got up as usual for breakfast in the hotel. I ordered bacon and eggs but they weren't hot.

Afterwards we met David, Cheri and Joan and walked to the Gothic Quarter or Barri Gotic. It was free to enter the beautiful cathedral, built in 1298. We took the lift to the roof and enjoyed the view of the spires and the city. We also saw the vaulted interior and the many side chapels, the organ and choirstalls, and the tomb of Santa Eulalia in the crypt.

In the Gothic quarter

Outside  we visited the cloisters where a group of geese live. We went for coffee in the sun in the square outside. Then we strolled through the old Roman streets and had lunch at Gran Cafe. I tried Xatonata, a salad with salt cod and anchovies, and Soprasada, chopped sausage with honey and croutons. We had a red Catalunya wine, L'Equibrista 2013. All delicious!

Xatonata salad

Then we walked on to Placa Reial and La Rambla, with its market stalls. We went into the Mercat de la Boqueria, a colourful food market. We rested at Placa Catalunya and watched the pigeons before walking back along Gran Via to our hotel for a rest.

The food market with its colourful stalls

I had a short siesta and did a crossword on my tablet. Then got ready to meet the others in the bar. After a dry sherry, we decided to return to Restaurant Rene for dinner. We each chose starters and a main dish, and shared some of them. I had tortilla omelette and salmon with spinach. We had two bottles of Alborinho white wine. I risked another Crema Catalana which was the best so far.

At the hotel we watched CSI in German and then Richard helped me put lotion on my very dry skin. My left ankle is very swollen tonight.