41 26.0 N 002 14.6 E Badalona, nr Barcelona
Sun 29th August 2010

Time to go. We have had a good few days in Badalona. I have to say, Badalona itself is much as it sounds - pretty bad. The marina is great, clean, good facilities and secure, and there are excellent beaches within a stone's throw, but we are surrounded by industrial estates, falling down bits and graffiti. Fine to leave the boat, but to stay a long time?? That said, the transport links are superb, there is an enormous hypermarket on said industrial estate (Al Campo) and it has given us the opportunity to explore Barcelona.

So that we did, and there is just too much to describe it all. But we loved it, it is a vibrant city with a well-done blend of the old, the new and the surreal. Saturday we took the tram, metro then funicular to the north of the city, up to Tibidabo. This sits high above the city, a 1300 hectare park topped by an ornate cathedral and bizarrely an amusement park (terrific for kids, on 6 terraced levels). The views over the town and out to sea were amazing and gave us the overall impression of the city.

Sunday, we went all out and explored the Ribera, the Born, the Gothic and the Rambla parts of the city. These are all mainly the old parts. We started out just north of the Ribera at the Arc de Triomf, near a superb park with Trevi-type (but bigger) fountains and the natural science museum. The Ribera is a maze of medieval streets, narrow and tall with part of the old city wall, the Picasso Museum and old squares and interesting shops. The Born too is narrow streets, but has a hip reputation so added to the atmosphere are cafes, and interesting street traders and is the place to be seen. The Gothic is what it sound like!

The Rambla is an area stretching from Plaza Catalunya to the seafront and is a wide avenue with small sidestreets. The avenue itself is covered with cafes and is the showplace for dozens of living statues. You are probably familiar with these, people who dress up and paint their bodies and strike a pose, unblinking and unmoving for hours. And this for money. Here, as befits the city of Picasso, it is elevated to a surreal art form, living art and theatre. The imaginative and the weird and wonderful come together here.

And finally we found the market, and what a market - still busy in the afternoon, the fish, vegetables, chillis, fruit (added sale opportunity in the form of iced smoothies) and meat (complete with tripe, diaphragms and pigs heads). Joy!
Now Sunday morning, weather looks ok for a crossing, if anything wind too light but at least in the right direction. So do this, pre prepare a meal for tonight, tuck up loose items, top up water and we will head off after lunch for the 100nm down to Mallorca - should arrive tomorrow morning sometime. Til then….xx