We stayed in the hotel room until noon, I was just resting. I wasnt feeling great at all. Something I ate wasn't in agreement with me.
Sim was very patient. We eventually headed out for a walk down to the marina area. It was another gorgeous day of weather. We wandered down La Rambla to the Cristoforo Colombo colom monument and along water.
We walked through Barceloneta, an interesting area between the city and the beach. Seemed quite new this part of the city. We strolled along the beachfront. It was very crowded. Had a Californian beach vibe to it with people doing lots of different activities. That is with the exception of all the Brits around. So many red roar skinny blonde dudes out and about. It was quite windy however and sand was blowing everywhere so we opted not to go in the water.
We strolled north along the beachfront walkway until we reached the casino with the ugly and rather useless Gehry structure near it.
Wandering somewhat aimlessly we headed back into town, walking some rather ugly streets until we got back into the gothic quarter. It's nice here. There's a character to this area.
We stopped for lunch I ordered something bland as my stomach wasnt great, a ham and cheese crepe, while sim ordered a salad, which when it arrived was huge.
We head back through the gothic quarter before hitting La Rambla. The streets near all the pubs and bars are crowded with people spilling out watching the England v Wales match. So many English!
I head back for a proper siesta and a good rest. Sim heads out for some shopping.
It's not a bad hotel room to be whiled up in not feeling well. The fresh air from the balcony is a plus and the view out looks directly onto Gaudis Palau Guell. It's nice just to rest, that is until all the English walk past in the street below chanting and carrying on after their teams late win.
Sim returns back just before 6. We get ready to head out for dinner. Whilst I'm not feeling 100% a little rest has helped and I'm really keen to eat at where were going tonight. Tickets bar, by one of the Adria brothers of el bulli fame. I pop a few gastro stops and we head out. No gastro go stop me. And if it does, well it will give the culinary gastronomy world a different perspective.
We head out to metro stop Poble Sec and up the road to Tickets Bar. It's quite unassuming from the outside. Upon entering though it's a playful and exciting space, with lots of lighting and waiters and staff dressed in theatre steward informs. Were seated at our table which overlooks the kitchen. We get see the chefs preparing and plating all the dishes. Our waiter advises us on the options for food. It's either we select lots of small delicate little tapas dishes, ordering as much or as little as we like, or we can order the surprise menu, which is basically them deciding what dishes and we just sit back and eat. We go for the surprise.
First up is are some amazing olives, but they sent olives as such, they are little soft skins filled with olive gel that burst in your mouth when you eat them. The serving of them to us alone was amazing, as our waiter ladles them out into a small round dish that we then pick up to eat the olive like you would an oyster.
Next up was a take on sardines on toast, very tasty and salty. Sim gets her vegetarian options throughout which I must say tended to be better most of the time. Good restaurants do vegetarian well.
After 10 small tapas dishes we are sever dessert. Our waiter tells us this will be the first of 6. Wow. We strap ourselves in. The first one is a take on strawberrys and cream. It's a raspberry cake that is like foam with a base of cream. Amazing.
Next is a baklava, it comes out under a glass lid that has a cloud of smoke trapped inside. Our waiter pulls off he kid and the smokey Pistacchio smoke fills the air and our senses. Yum. They love the theatre of food here.
Next is a small ice cream only it's not exactly an ice cream. It's a baked pastry cone filled with apple pie and cream on top with dolce de Luce.
We keep eating until our waiter asks if we've had enough. I look at sim, and I'm pretty full. Happy just to have got this far.
The food was amazing and the wines we had too, delicious.
One of the best restaurant experiences we've had.
It's now nearing 10 and we hop back on the metro back to Drassanes. Wandering back through La Rambla there's still many trashed English supporters roaming the streets.
Back the hotel we head up to the roof deck to check out the city lights. It's not as lit up as I would have expected. Still quite spectacular though.
It's been an interesting day.
Not my best but dinner tonight made up for it. Was a special meal.
Last night in Barcelona then it's adiós.
mat + sim
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