Forca Barcelona!

Experiencing yet more warm and sunny weather and after 1500 gruelling miles sat on our noble steeds you'd think we would spend our 'day off' relaxing, maybe getting a massage for our weary bodies, taking a meandering stroll down La Rambla perhaps to browse the flower stalls or sit and sip a cappucino... but no, we went for a bike ride. And to prove to the doubters that this trip is not just about bikes, beer and (getting ever larger) bellies, we scooted over to take in the Sagrada Familia, otherwise known as Gaudi's cathedral which he started work on in 1883 and when he kicked the bucket in 1926 the job was only a quarter done. And it's still not finished! I've heard of 'manana, manana' but that is ridiculous. It is certainly an astonishing building but is not enhanced by the tower cranes, scaffolding and corrugated sheeting. Gaudi, however, certainly did not get the job of designing the Camp Nou, another cathedral but that of the footballing kind. FC Barcelona's 98000 capacity stadium is, to put it politely, butt ugly and was built when the concrete look was a la mode. However, on the day of the Champions League final it was fitting to pay it a visit.

The bikes safely stashed, we decamped to a bar a mere four hours before the footy started... well, we wanted to ensure a good seat and anyway, it was Saturday afternoon. Being true patriots we donned our newly purchased Barcelona shirts and joined in with the locals as they went loony as Rooney & co failed to match the might of the boys in puce and blue. Later that evening, oddly enough, there were riots and a lot of argey bargy... didn't they realise that they'd won?!

We say 'adios' to Spain tomorrow in search of Nice


Andy finds the next bike of his dreams...