Barcelona....day 2

After a quiet breakfast at the hotel, we found the Hop on-hop off bus and went on a two hour tour of the city. Today is St. George's day in Spain. Sort of like our Valentine's Day. The men give the women one rose, and the women give the men (or perfectly acceptable to exchange between friends) a book. There's a long story behind the tradition, but suffice it to say it's a HUGE festive day and people are out everywhere.  

I don't know how I can explain the masses upon masses of people gathered on the streets.  We were on the top of a double decker bus and I was getting claustrophobic just looking down.

Then our own mob of thirty-one gathered at the Restaurante Salamanca for a welcome lunch hosted on by the Kennedys.  Lunch lasted about four hours and they just kept bring out platter after platter of food and too many bottles of wine to count.  Amazing food, mostly seafood and paella.  Since neither Mother nor I eat seafood, they brought us a half of a cow, each. At least it seemed that big!!

We then walked around that area a bit and I was able to walk on the beach and step into the Mediterranean Sea.  The water felt refreshing but not even the hardiest of souls were all the way in the water.

We had quite a time finding cabs to get back to the hotel, so when the kids flagged down one, we jumped at the chance to be the first ones in.  Age has it's privileges.  We are now back at the hotel, waiting for the others, on soft chairs with a glass of cava (Spanish champagne) so if it takes them a while to get back....