Tuesday 2nd July Forecast is for hot day- so set off early for Museo National del Prado - one of the biggest and most beautiful in Spain. And cool!!!! Established 1819 - having the 200 year celebration- big crowds but being early missed the hordes. So many amazing collections - spent many hours here- time for coffee- and lunch at the restaurant inside. Loved the painting by Hieronymus ( what a name!! Bosch called “Garden of Earthly Delights” - and wasn’t ...

Monday 1st July Headed to station to catch train to Madrid- country very dry - can understand how fires took on so easily. Quite hot - lovely on train. Met B&B owner - Again on 4th floor with dodgy lift!! Apartment great - a/c which is good. Went to Plaza Mayor, booked tickets for Flaminco show and trip to Toledo - had dinner at Plaza Mayor and back to apt. Woke around 3 to screaming/babbling guy in street below - happily police arrived quickly and took poo...

Sunday 30th June Long walk to find the beach - walk was lovely as a bit cooler today - beach was underwhelming. Despite walking an average of at least 12 kms a day - ( give or take) I am not losing weight- must be all the coffee and patisseries!! Then back to the city area - checked niece Kate’s recommendation of Irati Tavernna - the tapas were incredible- almost too pretty to eat. Bought a mosaic ( cheap glass ) bull for my cows at home to play with. A san...

Saturday 29th June Very hot day loomed- headed down to main centre - then decided to catch taxi to Museu National D’Art de Catalunya housed in the Palace National de Montjuic. Amazing views of Barcelona- incredible art collection, and the Palace itself was amazing.

Friday 28th June Set off to catch bus to Montserrat- bit of a concern re bushfires as extremely hot. 1236 metres above valley. Beautiful view - tho hazy. Monastery incredible - dating back to 888 AD. Built by hermit monks. Now a Benedictine Abbey..Has a wonderful art gallery - and as it was quite hot we stayed in their air conditioning for quite some time Back in Barcelona - we headed for La Rambla - a tourists street with markets- checked out Christopher Colum...