AN ADMIN WEEK

   

Rather a slow week in the way of blogging material but we managed to keep busy.  We found some movie theaters in Barelona that show American movies in the OV (original version) so we went to see the Imitation Game.  It was showing at a theater on the Fontana stop on the subway.  This area had been recommended to us by the guide on our Tapa's Tour.  It was a neat area but most restaurants were closed as it was Sunday and it was also way to early for them to be open when we were walking around.  Most restaurants don't open until 8:00 or 8:30 in Barcelonia.  Many of the Tapa's places are open earlier - 7:00 or so.  Good place to go back to.

When we first came to Barcelona I had found a very nice little spa to get a massage so I thought it was about time to go back for another one.  The spa is brand new and it is managed by a lovely Thai woman.  I got a great massage , facial and pedicure.  

Love the ceiling!

Nice steam room and 

Sauna.  Had the place to myself.  

A couple of times we caught the subway and went down to walk around the Gothic and El Born areas.  On one of our earlier visits to that area we had coffee at a restaurant and this day we decided to find it and have lunch.  We were not disappointed.  

We both decided to have a Spanish Omelet ( potatoes and onions with eggs - so good!)

We stopped and listened to some great music after lunch.  This was on our way to find a typical Catalan dessert or treat - churros con chocolate.  

Yup!  That's Sharon enjoying dipping her four greasy churros into a pudding-thick cup of hot chocoolate.  That should probably satisfy our chocolate cravings for awhile!  Sharon could only eat three of her four but I managed to eat all four of mine.  I am a proud member of the clean plate club!

We also stopped at a little shop, Casa Colomina, founded in 1908 which specializes  in homemade torro ) or turron in Spanish  - a variation of nougat made with almond, honey and sugar, bought to Spain by the Moors 1,200 years ago.  Three different knds are sold - blando, duro, and yema - soft, hard and yolk. We purchased soft, hard and chocolate.  

After eating all those sweets we thought we should see if we could get our teeth cleaned here in Barcelona.  We had seen a number of dental clinics so we stopped in one and had no problem getting appointments so we accomplished that task.  Forty Euro's to have our teeth cleaned.  

The rest of the week was spent making plans for our trip to Madrid, emailing doctors and dentists  in the states to set up appointments now that we have a return date.  (Time for the 70,000 mile check up. ) I also had to request an extension of my drivers license since it expires 9 April of this year. I'm  hoping to rent a car for a bit when I return and I believe they might require a valid drivers license.  I 'm getting excited about driving again.  It will be over a year since I've been behind the wheel of a car. I'll send out an alert when I first get behind the wheel so you can stay off the streets until I get the hang of it :-)!

More books that I've read:

The Sandlewood Tree : A Novel   Elle Newmark

A Week in Winter   Maeve Binchy

A Girl on the Train   Paula Hawkind

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace  Jeff Hobbs

The Orchid House : A Novel    Lucinda Riley

A mystery series by Deborah Combie:

A Share in Death

All Shall be Well

Leave the Grave Green

Mourn Not Your Dead

Dreaming of Bones

Kissed a Sad Goodbye

A Finer End