Three Amigos

We're pleased to report that the eagle has landed!

It's been a beautiful day, starting with a wander down through 
El Gotic to Barceloneta where we shared some tapas for lunch.
We went to the same restaurant on the sand 
where we enjoyed our meal a few days ago.

We're not 100% sure what every dish was but we did have warm goats cheese with honey (it's in the metal dish), small croquettes, patatas bravas, a small, deep, Spanish tortilla ( more like an omelette), Spanish ham, crusty bread & chopped tomato...everything was delicious. 
We also shared a small jug of Sangria.

Today was also full of romance...

April 23^rd is St Jordi's Day (Saint George's Day)
 in Barcelona and Catalunya, it is the most romantic day of the year.

The day commemorates the death of St George, the patron saint of Barcelona, on this date in the year 303 AD. The legend is that he slew a dragon to save a princess and then plucked a red rose for the princess from the rose bush, which had sprouted on the exact spot, where the dragon's red blood had spilled.

On St Jordi's day the men in Barcelona and Catalunya give their sweetheart (or princess & often beloved family members too) a red rose with a sprig of wheat, in recent years a new Sant Jordi tradition is that the ladies give the men a book. There are flower sellers and bookstalls all over Barcelona on St Jordi's day especially on Las Ramblas.

Most St Jordi's day roses are long stemmed red roses decorated with a sprig of wheat and a little red and yellow 'senyera,' the symbol of four red stripes on a golden background, which is the Catalonian flag. Many roses have the message 't'estimo,' - 'I love you' in Catalan.

Many of the flowers and books for sale were fundraisers for different charities. Some of the offerings were simple, some stallholders sang and a wide variety of very elaborate options were available.

There were cakes and knitted toys too...

can you spot the Minion & Princess Leia!

Before heading back to the apartment Peta and I decided to be brave and take the lift inside the Columbus Monument column to the viewing gallery at the top, 60 metres above the ground!

This major landmark was built in 1888 as a tribute to Christopher Columbus...there was a photo of it in the blog a few days ago.

Inside the column, a lift raises you 51meters high to the viewing gallery, made of cast iron and Corinthian in style. It was quite an experience! We spotted Andrew sitting just outside the maritime museum and waved to him...he spotted us and took this photo! You'll see my hand waving if you look carefully.

This is the view of the tree lined La Rambla from on high!

We walked 12.6 k's today.