Anseth Family Adventures: This is not the Sidecar is signed up for.

Sunday, March 27th started slow for most of the team. However, I was up and at it early. A little workout in a little gym and then off for a walk around the Gothic quarter near the hotel.

It was a bright and sunny morning in Barcelona. Here are a few images from the walk.

Street art on Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas in the morning. The traffic is much less.

The Gothic streets

Cathedral of Barcelona. You are now in the presence of God and possibly Samsung 5G. The word of the Lord without delay.

One more of the Cathedral because. That what this blog does when it is in Europe

Sometimes you dress up to go out in the morning

Random monument

The Bank of Spain

Monuments around Cantalonia Square

The were vendors setting up. I still have no idea what these guys were doing.

After my walk, I enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. Hot Chocolate and salted meats is always a great breakfast. Finally the rest of the crew was awake and ready to participate. After breakfast we all went for a little walk. Some of these images may look familiar.

The girls love the Gothic Quarter

In front of the Cathedral of Barcelona

On more for good measure

After these photos Kari said it was time for our Sidecar adventure. I was stoked. I think the Sidecar is a very interesting drink.

Sidecar

Ingredients

1 1/2 parts Basil Hayden® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
1 part orange liqueur
1/2 part lemon juice
Lemon twist

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a rocks glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

This was the sidecar I was hoping for but we were scheduled for a motorcycle and sidecar tour of Barcelona. I was unsure if I had enough tibial nails for all of us if something happened but I was pretty sure I could figure it out.

We meet our guide near the hotel. Joe the sociology major in the past and Guini the wood worker/table maker. Immediately you could tell these were 2 good dudes and that an adventure awaited us.

We had a brief intro and safety discussion we were off to cruise Barcelona.

Easy Rider. Not sure how Peter Fonda made it look so cool.

This motorcycle sidecar tour as a great way to see Barcelona. We saw the Arc de Triomphe here which celebrates the worlds fair. Citadel park was full of people enjoying a warm Sunday afternoon.

The girls next to Ashley and I at the stop light.

This was an old bullfighting arena now turned into a venue for concerts.

These flags and this section of town mark the old industrial center which was populated with many large warehouses and buildings during the Industrial Revolution which was a significant event in the history of Barcelona.

Sagrada Família more tomorrow.

The girls and the guides at Sagrada Família

Anseth family is alway standing in front of churches

Casa Milá or Quarry House another creation from the Barcelona legend, Gaudí. A world UNESCO sight it was the last private resident he did and its continuously undulating walls a tribute to the Mediterranean.

This house, Casa Llewelyn Morera was completed by a friend/competitor of Antoni Gaudí. This house was done by Lluís Domènech to design this house. If you notice larger balconies on the second floor, smaller an the 3rd floor and none on the 4th. That happens because when there is no elevator the poorer families live higher up.

Just down from that house you will find 2 more house one on the left center, Casa Amatller, was designed by Joseph Puig. Inspired by Netherlands homes it is a mix of Gothic and Neo-Gothic style. However, next to it right center is Casa Batlló, which was designed by Antoní Gaudí. Like his other works he takes nature and it’s inclusion to the extreme. It is a tribute to St. George the patron saint of Barcelona. The house has the symbolism of the dragon St. George was famous for slaying. The exterior looks like scales the columns like bone and the iron terraces look like the dragons nostrils. It is a thing of wonder and beauty.

This block is often called the Block of Discord because the 3 preeminent architects of the time each created a very distinctive home right next to each other.

Riding around Barcelona

Another old Bullfighting ring turned into a mall. Not sure which is a crueler place.

The Venetian Towers

This where to magic fountain would be however the drought in Spain will not allow us to see it during this visit. This is the National Art Museum of Cantalonia. It is really a beautiful building. I am very sad there is no magic fountain show in my future.