Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the capital of the region called Catalonia. Some Catalonians feel the region should split from Spain, to better preserve their heritage and identity.
On Our Own
Some of our favorite photos from Dali's Theatre-Museum in Figueres.
Travel Tips
We find it helpful to arrive a day or two before a tour begins, in order to adjust to the new time zone. During this extra day, we had the opportunity to get a first impression of the city of Barcelona, and also to take a recommended side trip to Figueres. Some of us also squeezed in a short nap!
Early Arrival in Barcelona
Rain pounded Barcelona on the day of our arrival. Our first stop was the umbrella store. Our ponchos just weren't enough protection. Soggy shoes did not stop us from exploring! We straddled puddles as we excitedly got our first glimpse of the city. We felt the energy of the Ramblas and admired the beautiful architecture of the buildings. Fortunately, the weather for the rest of the trip was gorgeous. The photo above shows our first tapas dinner. Just like the locals, we enjoyed our dinner late in the evening. Since the main meal is eaten in the afternoon, the evening meal consists of a variety of smaller portions that we would consider "appetizers". Ordering was a bit of a challenge, since our Spanish was limited. The waiter was very patient with us and everything we were served was delicious, especially the wine!
Side Trip to Figueres - Home of Salvador Dali
We had some time on the first day to explore on our own. We took a train to the town of Figueres to visit the museum that Salvador Dali designed to showcase his art. Who would expect to see a portrait of our 16th President in a museum in Spain? But there was Lincoln, the centerpiece of the courtyard. We were astonished to recognize the "cheeks" of Dali's beloved wife Gala in one of Lincoln's cheeks! He was certainly creative!