A bikini, the beach and some Barcelona history

For anyone who knows me, it´s not what you think....

Went down to the waterfront today, the beaches here are awesome, though I have yet to visit to just bask.... This is a view of some of the fantastic public furniture that is everywhere. I will return to take a view from sitting in one of those chairs!

There are some really interesting bars down by the beach, pricey but probabl worth the fun once... This is one of several that have benches, couches and, yes, even beds, in their lounges overlooking the sea. Rather exotic, I must say....

OK, this is a Bikini! It´s a fav breakfast treat, like a grilled cheese sandwich but with some type of yellow cheese and ham. ¨Hola, bikini, cafe leche, gracias¨ is all I have to say to start my day....

I saw these girls up on the boardwalk with all their luggage, and thought, gee I am glad that is not me.... Then I saw them head down the stairs to the beach, and was giggling... way to go girls! One last trip to the beach on the way to the airport, I guess.

I´ll bet this bar gets really busy on a hot afternoon or a steamy Barcelona evening!!

So.... what I ended up doing afterwards was visiting the Museu d´Historia de Catalunya. It was a wonderful building and a wonderful exhibit. And it gave me a good understanding of the history of Catalonia and it´s people. At the Tour de France the other day (which I´ll blog about soon) there were protests somewhere along the route, ¨Catalunya is not Spain¨ - so I wanted to understand that history and struggles of the Catalan people, and why they have such a proud heritage. Now I understand...

I usually walk by the blood and gore exhibits, but the next 2 pics show why this exhibit was important...

This exhibit is from the time of the Civil War (I think that´s the one, they had so many wars and much turmoil here, it was hard to keep straight).... and was a reconstruction of one of the bomb refuges the people of Barcelona built, you could go right inside.

Another exhibit showing how the Roman architecture in the region changed. Everything was really well done.

Lots of interactive exhibits. This was a blast, watching this girl dress her boyfriend in a full suit of armour (that´s him inside):

I loved the building and the work the architects created the museum. There were these immense red walls, and all sorts of pipes and things. This is me trying to be a real photographer, heh...

Another view looking up....

This was cool. The exhibit began with the most ancient artifacts found in Catalunya, and this had the various stages of the human.... with mirror in the 4th spot, so moi!

Ah, another reflection... a habit I have while travelling alone...

Up, up, up....

That was today. I have been having a marvelous time, it´s hard to believe I have been here 13 days already. There is much I haven´t blogged about yet, but will try and capture more of my adventures soon. I am enjoying living like a local, I am sharing an apartment with a marvelous woman (Mabel) and her cat (Mickey, also marvelous!). She rents out another room as well, and I had some enjoyable time with Janet, an American just on her way home from a year abroad in Rome.... how interesting that as I embark on a year-long trip I get to met a woman at the end of hers. I had fun asking about her adventures, and how her travels have changed her (Hola Janet, if you are reading this, and I found the no cara paella today :0) .

In other words, all is well. I love the flat and the terrace. I am actually getting used to the 68 stairs now! All 4 now....