No rain in Spain

Well all is well in Barcelona.  The time has gone by quickly.  We got a decent hostel that is located near the trains and all the good stuff to do.  Of course we have spent a lot of time walking La Rambla, including one stop for paella.

Highlights:
Gaudy walking tour.  His architecture is truly bizarre and fun to stare at.  Yet another cranky, eccentric architect that becomes much more revered after his death.  La Sagrada Familia is still being finished and won't be completed for another twenty-five years!  It looks like it's melting from afar but up close it's a whole narrative as you traverse the side of the building

Flamenco.  We actually just went to a half-hour show designed for tourists, but we were mesmerized.  Tonight we see a show at what is considered the best theater in town, and we can't wait!

Jazz music.  Dara found this cool club called Jamboree, and we have visited there three nights for some great jazz.  First was Eva Cortes, a smooth, tight combo with whom Dara has already made friends on Facebook.  Then we saw Xangao, playing interesting jazz/hip-hop fusion, and last night we went to the "WTF Jam Session".  All week we've been commenting that the name of the event was unnecessarily...crass.  Then we saw the show, the first part of which certainly lived up to the title.  Some great visiting musicians sat in later, including a drummer from New York who looked like Harvey Weinstein.

Olympic pool.  Up above the city, in Montjuic Park, we found the Olympic stadium and pool.  We made a commitment right then and there to come up and swim the following day.  I'm no Matt Biondi, but we had a great afternoon.

Skyride.  From that same park, we took a cable car across the coastline of Barcelona, arriving at the beach. Beautiful views were at risk of being overtaken by a British lad who like to query his father with things like "What if we were to climb up that (scaffolding) and fall off.  Wouldn't that be scary?".  Once we landed at the beautiful beach, we pledged to come back and we will shoot for that this afternoon.

As always, all good things must come to an end, but we want more time in Barcelona!