I am checking out of Hotel Arts Barcelona in the morning. It's been very pleasant returning to one of my favourite hotels in Europe. The PR lady Rosemary Trigg is a legend and the service here is just perfect ... we have been eating in "Bites" every evening and Conny & her staff have been so great to us ... we shall miss them very, very much indeed ...
So, up early again and we met with our temporary member of the team - Lucia - from the Catalunya Tourist Board. She is with us until Sunday ... translating, driving and matroning us!
First stop - 15 kms north of the city and Alella - home of Marfil (which means ivory) - an urban vineyard. Here we met with one of the master vintners Xavier Garcia who showed round this 95 hectare site. They have been making wine here for over 2000 years ... and until 1956 it was pretty dicey stuff. The area achieved DO (quality) status in 1956 and since then, Catalonian wine has much, much improved. The Romans were HUGE fans of the wine as it was strong!
At Marfil, they make every wine possible BUT I loved the fortified white (like sherry) and red - which was strong, sweet and very tasty!
After a long lunch of jamon, tomato and bread, we headed back into town and to Jamonisimo to meet with its owner Pedro Martin. His shops sell THE most expensive jamon in the world ... along wth wines & whiskies that made me VERY thirsty indeed! We tasted many hams - an art also instigated by the Romans - washed down with fine Krug! It was a bizarre but lovely afternoon.
Home for a swim and yummy dinner!
Bed.
Song of the Day: Balcony Scene (Romeo & Juliet) - Craig Armstrong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3KyWWW8pA
Weather: Changeable!
wine
drink problem!
views of Alella
Hamtastic!
Krug anyone?
A cold evening swim :)
The new Leica V-Lux ... my camera of choice for this series! Delivered today and photographed by ...
my old Sony that retires today after 3 years of service ... sleep well my friend ... 
