Barcelona. I got up early to have breakfast in the View buffet, they’re not very generous with honey for the porridge more like they’re making patterns on top. I need new thinner socks, three days running now the socks I’ve put on have had holes in them and a pair tore before. If I had realised I would have had more for breakfast - my group didn’t get back from the Gaudi tour until after 2pm and we only got one drink in the 6 hours we were out on the tour in a Tapas bar near Casa Batlló.

We all got stickers in the Neptune Lounge then headed off to the coach. We were driven close to Casa Milà then walked to Casa Batlló. Hordes of people. We were shepherded round Casa Batlló which is organic and beautiful, at times reminding me of the hobbit holes in Hobbiton. A very light place, blue tiles getting darker towards the top in a stairwell so illumination from the sky constant. Hard here and at Park Güell to find good shots as there were so many people. A touch of Japanese architecting with metal undulating curtains, and a light show in a special room which was nicely done (could have used sound perhaps).

The refreshments promised turned out to be just a drink at a Tapas bar then off to join the millions at Park Güell. I followed a similar path to that Virginia and I did in 2016 but the numbers of people meant hard to shoot the mosaic benches or the water dragon. A slow journey back as us on the coach panicked about being back in time for lunch in the View. I had not a great lunch but it was food. We did the afternoon quiz in the presence of Pauline, a very friendly soul and Edward, then attended the cookery demonstration of a Catalan variant of creme brulee. I’m finding the chatter from the chefs and that you get a taster a tasty reward for going.

We dined in the Colours and Tastes Asian fusion speciality restaurant - happily the menu still included Peking Duck so we had an approximation to one of our special meals we used to have at the Phoenix in Histon. Very long knives and forks and spoons, stylish. Few diners to begin with but it filled up after we left.