ROAD TRIP

Time for a road trip.  We enjoyed our last trip to Spain over the new year, that we decided to go back (with mom of course!).  It took a while before we settled upon an itinerary, but the plan was to spend a few days in Barcelona, then stay in Horta de Saint Joan where our old family friends Mel and Leta have a house (two houses, actually) and then on to Ampolla for some beach time.   The first step:  get all of our stuff, including my bike and climbing gear into the car!

Unfortunately, Alex had had a reaction to the face paint from school and his face had swollen up to alarming proportions, but some antihistamine started him on the road to recovery.  It was so sad to see him so puffed up and uncomfortable though.

Next: five or six hours of driving, punctuated by terrifyingly strong rain on the autoroute.

We eventually made it though, and made it into the center of Gracia without incident.  The parking via parclick worked flawlessly again.  This was my first time using airbnb, and I found it only slightly annoying (two people would not accept our reservations because I had not rental history).  The place itself was large and wonderfully located on a quiet street not far from the metro.

After shuttling our luggage to the apartment (City Center Apartments), we wandered around and checked out the Mercado de la Llibertat

and

before it was time for dinner at La Pepita.  I loved the restaurant -- very imaginitive and delicious tweaks of normal tapas, as well as the standards like bravas.

Above we have jamon, fried calamari (with kimchi mayo), Tuna, croquettas (?) and my favorite:  Fried eggs with foie gras on potatoes.  Not shown were the two plates of grilled shrimp that Chloe inhaled!  The last is Corn ice cream with popcorn and bourbon.  The ice cream did not really taste like corn unfortunately, but it was a good idea.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal, with excellent and friendly service. Highly recommended.  Next, it was time to go to sleep.