August 19 Mataro Spain

Relaxing breakfast and then off to get hair cut. I had to make an appointment so headed for the beach. Nice sunny day but a bit windy. Bigger waves on the water but it still felt great although the wind felt cool when you got out. I did not want to spend all day in sun so I hit one of the beach bars. First I had a coffee - 'largo' this time not americano or grande - one of these days I will figure it out! Then decided I needed to have a beer on the beach. It came with tapas. 2 olives and 3 filets of a small fish. Cervice (done in lemon juice) The fish was herring like but did not taste like it. Pretty good. Also had a tortilla patatas which is really a potato pancake. Very good!

Then into water again.

Had to leave early to get hair cut. This was the most expensive haircut I have had! She did a good job given I don't have Spanish and she did not have any English. She actually used a straight razor to shave the back of my neck and even shape the sides of my forehead! She then wanted to wash my hair, strange as she had just sheared most of it off. Oh well...


August 18 Mataro Spain

Raining fairly hard this morning, and was cool. Still did not need a jacket. Went out walking for a couple of hours. Looking for a barber and the laundromat. Found the laundromat but not the barber. I will have to keep looking.

Cleared off later in afternoon so headed to beach. Very quiet today compared to yesterday. A few people around. On way back to hotel stopped at a building designed by Gaudi. One of his first dating back to late 1800s. Very nice curved roof of wood. They had an art exhibition of 1960s Russian artists. Some of it very abstract and some of it seemed to be a bit on the morbid side (contorted skeletons). Not for me.

Japanese food for dinner! It was a bit of a mix. There was definitely a Spanish influence to the menu. Empanada type dishes. Still it was very good!


August 17 Mataro Spain

Raining pretty good this morning.
But stopped fairly soon.
The city provides a free audio guide and map to do a city tour. It takes you around different interesting buildings in the city. Roman, Gothic, Modern type structures. Even a couple that are a real mix of several styles! Overall a good tour.

It is disappointing that you can not get into some of the buildings. The old prison would be one for sure. It is a brick building that is shaped like a semi circle.

August 16 Mataro Spain

I actually slept in until 8 am! Don't know when that happened the last time....
Beautiful day here. Started out cool but clouds went away and sun came out and we headed to beach.

Great day laying in sun and swimming in the Mediterranean! Very nice!
Also beaches and streets much busier today than yesterday. Many more people around. Nice to see some activity. It will be very interesting tomorrow when the shops are open and we can really see what is here!




August 15 Mataro, Spain

Headed into the main shopping area to go to the tourist information office. Everything is closed today as it is a festival, or seems to be just a public holiday. Only a few people out close to noon. Most just having coffee at the many little restaurants that are open. Walked to the city park. It is much greener than Prague, but then there was a heavy downpour of rain early yesterday evening. Nice granite water fall and some budgie type birds (not sure of bird??) that have nested and are very noisy and loud. Quite a few of them and all over the city. Wandered around some of the small streets just having a look. There are some very nice apartments around. Then hit the beach. It is fairly cloudy and cool so I am without my hat and carrying a rain jacket. So as you know, the sun came out and got very nice. So spent the afternoon just walking along the beach. Got wet up to knees - just not prepared for nice weather.

There was a large black cloud heading my way so headed back to hotel. Took about an hour and made it back just in time, I really did not need the jacket. On the walk back spotted a water spout out on the water. Interesting.
Another downpour of rain about 6 pm. I was at hotel by this time but I was prepared!
Off to bar again for dinner. I had forgot that restaurants in Spain do not open for business until 8 pm whereas the bars are open all the time. When hungry, eat where ever you can!




August 14 Mataro, Spain

Did not do much today. Left the hotel about 8 am and caught the tram and bus to airport. Only took about 30 minutes. A day of planes, trains and automobiles! Caught a plane to Barcelona, Spain. It is only a 2 1/2 hour flight. Caught the train to Mataro which took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Then taxi to hotel. Hotel is fairly nice and not to fair from beach or main square.

Wandered down the street and had a burger and beer at the pub. It was pretty good. You can not beat a 5 euro burger and a 1.80 euro beer (about 7.50 and 2.70 Cdn). Then into grocery store to check things out. Beer on sale for .21 euro (about $.30) Wow! Cheapest bottle of wine - $2 euro ($3.00). Welcome to Spain!
An early night