Day 2, Dec 24: Get on the Bus, GusThe day broke clear and sunny, but we were caught off-guard by the chilly temperature. After a short walk and a stop by Starbuck’s (far more common in Barcelona than Paris, Rome or Florence), we boarded a double-decker tour-bus for a more structured and elucidating tour of town than the one we had given ourselves last night. The kids complained of the cold weather, pointing out what they assured us were their symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. We alternated between the views afforded by the open-air upper deck, and the warmth of the lower level of the bus.
The bus tour lasted about 3 hours, and as ever, it offered a great way to get a sense of the city and the places we wanted to visit.Given that it was Christmas Eve, we were concerned that we might not find restaurants open for the following day or two, so Ceil, Lee and I made an outing to a small grocery store.
Later, we forced the kids on long march which ended, happily enough at a terrific restaurant – we arrived at 8pm (an early dinner by Catalan standards), and although the maitre de decried our lack of a reservation, she took pity on us, and found a small table in the corner. Again, we shared several plates of tapas, a jug of wine, and two main plates ordered mainly in hopes of getting the kids to eat the side dishes.
After dinner we returned home and cuddled under the blankets. Miles was showing signs of the flu, so we resolved to stay put the following day. I went for a walk later and found a two-foot tall Christmas tree, complete we lights and decorations, for sale at a market doing a brisk trade in last minute poinsettias and wreaths. Lee was under whelmed by my purchase, but Ceil seemed pleased.
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