We have now definitely got the pedal to the metal! With only weeks left on our ticket, we are now practising the art of ” getting it together” as quickly, efficiently and smoothly as we can. And I must say, we are doing a pretty good job.

As our next flight is from Casablanca (in Morocco) to Madrid, the idea is to do a little of the Spanish coast, before catching a ferry to Morocco from around southern Spain. We figured we could spare a week in Spain! Our flight across was fluid, and we caught a bus to La Rambla, which is Barcelona’s main drag. It was around 10.00pm and it was pumping! There were bodies, street entertainers and vendors everywhere. I wondered where the party was…..there is NO party, we were told….this is La Rambla 24/7, all year around! Looking for a place was…a little tricky….not only was it expensive, but almost everything was booked. So, we did the old traipsing door to door, and checked a few rooms. Some were frighteningly dirty, or as Alex would say, not up to Ombi’s standards. My standards are actually not that high, but they do include shower drains which are not furry, clean sheets, and air that smells, well…of air, and not stale smoke!

Persistency pays off, almost every time, and we did find a room in a hotel, although it was close to midnight. Bargain of the year it was not, yet neither was it outlandishly expensive. It had air-con and included a buffet breakfast. And….it was close to the action. After checking in, we had a quick shower, settled into our very comfortable bed, and promptly visited la-la land.

We spent the next few days exploring Barcelona, and there truly is so much to explore. This is also a place that I had visited some 12 years ago, but like many other places, it too had changed dramatically. With the advent of the euro, I found it to be much, much more expensive than I remembered. Also, Spain now to me feels much less rustic and Mediterranean-like and much more European chic. I know times and people change, but I think I liked it better before.

Bar-thelona, as it is pronounced in Spain (c’s and z’s are pronounced with a lisp in Spain), is the capital of a region called Catalunya, which also has its own regional language called Catalan. Whilst the Catalunyans are fiercely patriotic, they do also speak Spanish. There is no doubt that whilst huge, Barcelona is full of treasures, some found easily and others hidden. Although now so very cosmopolitan, with streets that would easily rival Milan’s designer avenues, it is also full of Gothic, Romanesque and modernist splashes…….welcome to this vibrant city.

No trip to Barcelona would be complete without taking a look at the works of Gaudi, a famous architect who was known for his unique style and highly individualistic designs. The most famous of all these works, is the imposing church of the Sagrada Familia. Despite the fact that Gaudi died in 1926, works are still in progress….. it could therefore be said that it is a living work of art. The views of Barcelona from the towers are unforgettable. Gaudi also left his mark in the way of a number of other exotic and eccentric buildings, such as Casa Battlo and La Pedrera, not to mention Parc Guell, a playground filled with colourful mosaics and more of those outlandish Gaudi designs( by the way, contrary to what you may have heard, the English word gaudy, does not come from Gaudi).

We do not do this often, but another day we took a “tourist” bus all over the enormous town, and I must say that due to its enormity, we were able to see much more than we would have been able to alone. This included the Barcelona Soccer Club Stadium, Poble Espanyol (let’s say the Barcelona version of Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill), the Olympic Stadium, Port Vell (Barcelona’s port area) and the Gothic part of the city (with its winding, narrow, and sometimes dead end streets, which looked as if they had been lifted directly out of medieval Europe).

Another thing we do not normally do, but did in this buzzing city, was treat ourselves to a buffet dinner and flamenco concert. The dinner was average, but the concert was phenomenal. The most intoxicating part was watching the speed at which the dancers’ feet moved……I wish!

After umm-ing and aah-ing we decided that we would go to Granada next, to see the renowned Alhambra, one of the greatest achievements of Islamic art and architecture. We ended up getting a bus, as all the trains were fully booked out. Or should I say, we had to book in advance. Advance….are you kidding, we do not know what we are doing from one day to the next. We are the king and queen of wingin’ it! July in Spain is a nightmare, it is hot and busy, and full of travellers. If I had a month’s holiday, I would NEVER choose to do it in summer. As they say, horses for courses!

Beautiful Granada….nestled at the foot of the snow-clad Nevada Mountains, on the Mediterranean Coast, close to the Strait of Gibraltar, it seems like a world away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. Here things are more tranquil, as you walk around in a place that has a distinctive bygone era feel about it. Granada is unique as it was once a haven for Muslims, after the fall of Cordoba. The result is a place that has a distinctively Islamic or Arabic feel about it. The serenity felt so normal, and I wondered at what point the two cultures began to compete instead of living together side by side.

The Alhambra is simply stunning. Sitting on a hilly promontory, about a 20 minute walk or so from the city centre, it was once the residence of the Muslim Kings of Granada.The Alcazaba, the Alhambra’s fortress, dates from the 11th and 13th centuries, and the state of preservation is excellent. It is a place full of palaces, patios, gardens and even a museum, but the piece de resistance is without a doubt the Palacio Nazaries ( Nasrid Palace). Its splendour may be attributed to its patios with outstanding mosaic work as well as the intricacy of its stuccoes and woodwork. This is the type of place you could do in an hour, or 5 or 6. We opted for the latter…scrutinising the mosaics, marvelling at the woodwork, and relaxing in the gardens. With the temperature hovering at above 40 degrees celsius, relaxing in the shade of the trees in the many gardens was virtually compulsory.

I must also add that we had some fairly decent food in Granada, including some ice-cream that rivals Italy’s. OK Italy, you are still the King of Gelati, but some of your neighbours are catching up!

Ombi

(Photos: 1.- Street artist, on a dunny break, La Rambla, Barcelona. 2.- Market fare, of La Rambla. 3.- In the winding alleys of central Barcelona. 4.- La Sagrada Familia…still under construction. 5.- The chimeneas on top of Gaudi´s Casa Batllo. 6&7.- Flamenco show. 8.- The Alhambra, as seen from one of its many gardens, Granada. 9.- An example of the Alhambra´s fine workmanship. 10.- Clothes dryer….on the bus to Algeciras. 11.- Which one´s Ombi? Still having fun after 11 months on the road.)