Bike tour more pictures

The 24th of September is also a holiday in Barcelona. It is the Festival of Merce, or the Virgin of Grace. She saved Barcelona from a plague of locusts in the 17th C.

It is a major, multi day event, celebrating the religious aspects, but also the culture of the Catalan people.

In some areas, we were hard pressed even to move in the throngs of people watching parades, listening to concerts, and just out and about enjoying street performers and other special events. An amazing experience!

When the tour finished, we had lunch at the Olympic wharf. I had moules et frites, John a burger and fries.

We then went on the Hop on Hop off to do the 2nd route. Again, we were amazed at the history of this city. So many artists, in addition to the famous architects, made Barcelona their home for a period of time. There is a restaurant opened in the mid 1800's, that is still in business. Picasso had his first public exhibition there in 1899. It was the artistic hangout of its day.Read more