It seems walking long distances and overeating is my new way of life. Yesterday, along with half of the other business program students, I took a very long up-hill walk to a restaurant hidden in the mountain.
It was a very long walk up to our destination. Mostly on a dusty trail surrounded by forest, it was the closest to nature that one can get to in Barcelona, I believe. We were constantly being passed by joggers and cyclists, who made us all feel very much out of shape.
The restaurant where we stopped, "Can Marti," was made up by a pair of buildings and the patio between them.
The wine was served in these oddly shaped pitchers, that remind me of tea kettles. They are meant to be drank from in the manner demonstrated here. It is a messy process that can lead to a sticky face and messy shirt if you're not careful.
Here I do my best to drink without spilling. But, like flying, the "landing" is the hardest part. But the friend taking the video seems to think I did well.
In addition to the wine, we had a lot of delicious foods to try. Including, of course, the Calcotadas. Barbecued green onion. It is a challenge to eat them without getting messy, too.
We also had following course of salads and meat. Tuna salad is quite common in Barcelona. And always ornately colorful in contrast to the meat and potato dishes served along with it.
Our meal was concluded with tiramisu dessert and coffee or tea. All and all, the lunch was quite delectable and worth the hike up.
After lunch, we parted from the others and continued up the mountain to Tibidabo by way of fernicular. The sights were amazing on the way up. We caught a bus to the top, where we enjoyed a magnificent view and the beauty of a church.
As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words," and these views speak for themselves. Barcelona, just before sunset, on the top of a mountain, is a lot like a giant mosaic, with every building and tree in the distance being a chip of tile embedded in the picture.
Inside the small Cathedral, the sunset light gave an eerie line of light through stained glass windows.
The ceilings of churches and other places of worship forever fascinate me. Perhaps it is the simple shapes with complex adornments, or the great distance that they manage to achieve with arches. Whatever it is, it keeps me contemplating quite a while when I am inside of one.
It is a peaceful thing to visit a Cathedral every couple of weeks. The beautiful structures and quiet atmosphere give me a chance to think in ways I don't normally take the time to. Much like staring up in a forest, the canopy of a church is a very positive and uplifting experience.
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