Feb 10, 2009: Mention Barcelona and one of the first things that springs to mind is Gaudí. Mention Gaudí and most people will immediately get a mental image of bizarre church spires.

The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) cathedral was, of course, near the top of our list of things to see, but it is only a fraction of the incredible influence Antoni Gaudi had on Barcelona before his untimely demise when he was run over by a streetcar.

In an age where shopping for daily necessities has become a sterile chore in cloned hypermarkets filled with trolley-pushing zombies, it’s always refreshing to pay a visit to markets that feel like the beating heart of a living, breathing community (there’s a word I miss). If you find yourself on a short visit to Barcelona, and want an all-round taste of what makes the city special, put a trip to the Mercat de la Boqueria at the top of your list.

Feb 8, 2009: A few days before leaving Dublin, we realised Barça would be playing at home while we were there. We checked the website and found there were still tickets available.
The site is very well organised. You can book specific seats, and even check photos that show you the view from the seat before you book.

Feb 8, 2009: We had been slightly worried about our flight getting off the ground at all, given the weather and the 7am departure. But it was fine. A quick check on Aertel before we left showed that the only cancelled departures were to still-snowbound English airports.

On the plane were a large number of understandably (given the loss in Dublin the previous evening) morose-looking Frenchmen with rugby hats and scarves.

We’re far from ready yet, but this weekend’s jaunt to Barcelona seems as good a time as any to get the blog under way before we hit the road for our more extended trip.