Meandering With Murphy

Getting Money with a PIN That Did Not Work, La Boqueria, Picasso, How Do You Say Washing Machine Instructions in Spanish and Packing

Before we left for the market I decided to try the washing machine first. There were no written instructions. Simple enough or so I thought. The panel was in Spanish. I got out my phone for translation. Then, turn the knob, set the temperature and press start. Nothing happened. I tried again and still nothing. I sent a text to Victoria to help. She got right back to me and said she’d send over a repair person. Our laundry would have to wait.

We set off for the La Boqueria Market, one of the most central and most crowded markets. It is just off of La Rambla. We walked by it on Saturday when we were with Rosa our guide. As you know from my trip to Bordeaux I love markets so I was really excited to see this one.

Since as far back as 1200, Barcelonan’s have bought their animal parts here. Taxes made it more costly to trade within the city walls, so the market, as were many in medieval times, was originally located just outside the city. It later expanded into the colonnaded courtyard of a now-gone monastery before being covered with a colorful arcade in 1850.

One of the first places you notice is the Pinotxo Bar. It is just inside the market, under the sign and a snap of a photo of animated Juan. He and his family are always busy feeding shoppers. Getting Juan to crack a huge smile and thumbs-up for your camera makes a great shot and he loves it. Unfortunately he was not there the morning we visited.

Stands show off seasonal fruits and vegetables. The focus is on Spanish specialties like olives and saffron. There are tubs of little green peppers that look like Jalapeños that are lightly fried for a dish called pimientos de Padron. Eating these, like we did at Bodega La Puntual on Saturday, is a bit risky because although most are mild sometimes they are hot. Just ask Mary!

Certain food items are associated with a particular town like anchovies fro L’Escala or shrimp from Palamos.

Full legs of jamon (ham) abound. The many varieties of jamon Serrano are distinguished by the type of pig they come from and what the pig ate. Top quality are iberico (Iberian) and bellows (acorn eaters).

Two ham stalls.

The fishmonger stalls abound with whole fish, different types of prawns, razor clams, oysters and calamari.

There were also multiple olive oils from all over Spain.

After the market, we set off to find Tom’s hotel so he could check in and then we wanted to get some money. Tom checked in (nice hotel) and we headed to the ATM. Tom tried first but he forgot his PIN so he could not get any money! He had several more days so he needed the money. I used my debit card and I was able to get the money.

Now it was time to leave to head toward the Musee Picasso and find a place to eat lunch. We used my phone to map our way. Unfortunately, we wandered around but found this beautiful plaza which was in the wrong direction from where we wanted to go!

We finally found the Musee Picasso and discovered out one of our favorite restaurants, Bodega La Puntual was right around the corner. The perfect place for lunch.

Now it was off to the Musee Picasso.

This museum has the best collection in Spain of the work of Pablo Picasso and the best collection anywhere of his earliest works. The Spaniard Picasso spent his formative years (from 14 to 23) in Barcelona. By experiencing his youthful, realistic art, you can better understand his later, more challenging art and more fully appreciate his genius.

The museum is arranged by the stages of his life and art. The strength of the 4,200 piece collections, which includes sketches, paintings, sculptures and ceramics, is Picasso’s early works. These show how, even at the ages of 15 and 16, he had prodigious talent, while the haunting paintings of his Blue Period evoke the misery and hopelessness of beggars and prostitutes he encountered on Barcelona’s streets.

It was a remarkable experience. I especially loved his portraits and his painting of the doctor and the sick woman. It was very realistic and showed his compassion. I did not take any pictures. I believe people need to experience the art themselves.

Well, it was back to the apartment to try to do laundry again, pack and have a dinner of ham, cheese and bread. Victoria sent a text saying nothing was wrong with the machine and to use the Rapido setting. I tried and still nothing so I sent another text. Tom decided to use the laundry across the street so off he went. She sent the text and said just put your clothes in, turn the knob to Rapido and press start. Do NOT mess with the temperature. Well it finally worked. Unfortunately there was NOT a dryer setting so I hung my clothes around the apartment. This was crazy.

Tom came back and said he really needed to resolve his PIN issue. He called Susie and with a little he was able to reset his PIN. Remarkable, just ask him.

I was packing and decided I wanted a glass of wine. We had purchased a bottle of wine the afternoon before and since it was warm I had decided to put it in the FREEZER!!!! Ykes, it was still there. Glass all over the freezer drawer. No wine for me.

It was off to buy our dinner at our favorite meat and cheese shop, Sarda. They had wine so we picked up another bottle of wine that was chilled! And of course we got some delicious dessert.

Time to pack and then to bed. Tom’s laundry was drying and he was getting his things in order. He was off to going his group and then leave for the bike trip on Friday. He was excited to get started.

My driver was coming at 8. I couldn’t check in on my phone so had to plan to do that at the airport but I had plenty of time.