As I write this we are on the train waiting the start of our 38-minute trip to Girona and the conclusion of our three-week European trip. Yesterday we were greeted with the happy news that the US was ending the pre-entry COVID testing requirement effective at Midnight EDT tonight. We weren’t concerned about passing, but it is one less hassle. It will make our last day in Spain more relaxed for sure.

I’m happy to have finally been able to visit Barcelona, and I join my many fellow Americans who find it a beautiful and engaging city. For those who haven’t been here, it has the beauty and culture of Paris, but better weather and, with all due respect to the French, friendlier people, and I’m not a French basher. We have had several very enjoyable trips to France, and its people are generally wonderful, but Parisians are more likely to come off as haughty. Barcelonans not as much.

This will be a brief update with lots of pictures because we tried to take it fairly easy. It’s relative because we did hike up Montjuic, which is one of the highest points in the city. An old fort offers commanding views of the port and the city. The area is also home the site of Barcelona’s 1992 Olympics. We were very glad we got to the old Gothic Quarter early in our trip because there were three massive cruise ships docked yesterday, and that was a guarantee the old part of the city would be absolutely jammed.

Later that day we toured the inside of La Pedrera and finished by attending a jazz concert with a touch of flamenco on the roof of Gaudi’s masterpiece. It was a magical way to end the trip. As any visitor to Barcelona knows, rooftop bars are a big thing and this was certainly unique.