And yesterday we did 11,100 steps, 4.1 miles, 9 floors.

It’s the last day of the Strabo trip. Only Pam, Bruce, and I are extending a few days. This was a free day for us to do whatever we wanted. After breakfast, most of us assembled at 10:00 and took two taxis up to Gaudi Casa Batllo. Huge line out front. All we really wanted to do is to shoot pictures of the façade, which we did.

Then we walked to the Sagrada Familia so that we could go on all sides and take exterior shots, something we had no time to do yesterday. It’s fascinating to see all the details. There are words all over various sides of the façade. And small towers are adorned with fruits and vegetables. You have to keep looking and you see more and more details and words.

By then, there were six of us (had started out with eight). Took taxi back to hotel since it was after 1:00 already. Met on the terrace for some lunch and at 3:00 headed out walking again. Went to the Boqueria, the huge covered market and series of places to eat right off La Rambla. All the meat, fish, produce, nuts, mushrooms, candy you can imagine. It was extremely crowded and, after awhile, both the smell and the crush of people were too much and we left.

We wandered around the narrow streets, many of which we had been on a few times already. Stopped for espresso and a huge cookie at Petritxol Xocoa and continued wandering. Got back to hotel just before 5:00.

At 6:00 we got into three taxis and went up to the Hotel Miramar outside restaurant overlooking the city for a sunset/blue hour shoot. Good stuff, but we were disappointed that none of the churches including the Sagrada Familia were lit. Left there about 8:30 and took taxis back to the hotel where we met on the terrace for lovely tapas and wine and a farewell to those leaving. Got back to the room at 11:00 to start downloading, shower/shave, get “packed” for our road trip tomorrow, etc.

11,300 steps, 4.2 miles today. Been a good day and good trip with wonderful companions who are friends.

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