Lesley took me off to Barcelona for a short mini break………….we loved it…………Tapas, Pinot, Gaudi, Rooftop Terrace Bar, Olympic Village, History of Catalonia and local culture, famous Cathedral, bus tours, Columbus, more Tapas, more Pinot………….walking up Las Ramblas pedestrian motorway…………….wow!!!

Weather was terrific…………..views were stunning………….Tapas were great and Pinot to die for!!

Sunset after a dip on the hotel rooftop terrace plunge pool………magic!!

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Gaudi’s famous Gingerbread House………………..never heard of him before…………BUT I HAVE NOW!!!!

Fancy designing and building a Cathedral in 1913 and not finishing it ………… builders must be Brits!!

…….but then again it’s quite amasing and his input, influence and lasting footprint on the style and architecture in the City is awesome……………..and reminded me of Brunel’s efforts but all in one city rather than spread throughout the Nation.

We took several bus tours and here’s Columbus’s statue……….apparently he didn’t do the Catelonians any favours initially when discovering The Americas after heading West and not East thereby favouring Atlantic trade moving elsewhere other than Barcelona……………but they still built a wonderful column similar to Nelson’s all the same!!

Lesley having been there several times before was a fantastic Tour Guide………………..!! But she lost the book (well left it on a bar)……!!!

and had to do a spell of Guard Duty as a ‘consequence’…………!!

which was thirsty work standing in that hot hut for 24 hours she says!! What ever happened to stamina I say!!

…..take it all back……………she managed 2.5 pints down in one inside 25 seconds, not bad I say!! Barcelona……………in sum………..we’ll be back that’s for sure.

Maria from Romania (left) and her 2 Chech friends both called Martina admire the local Alpaca’s en route to Mortonhampstead Carnival on Dartmoor

Whilst the short ride was mostly uphill we were overtaken by 4 different John-o-Groats to Lands-end parties of clearly much fitter cyclists…………….anyway, whilst dwelling a pause to catch our breath and to admire the local Alpaca’s I took this pic for fun.

We then got to The White Horse for a couple of well deserved pints of Otter Ale and I left the girls to tour around thereafter as I pedaled back to greet new guests. The pub was welcoming and in walked 4 Statue Players in their silver spray finery all gagging for a pint………….but were willing to pose for the camera nonetheless!!

Maria celebrated her 32 Birthday with a BBQ and some 9 friends from the Dunsford Mill complex and a lovely elderly lady she met whilst lost walking in the local woods shortly after arriving………and a jolly time was had by all as we sampled her Romanian dips and delicacies which accompanied the grilled bean-feast. She’s off back to Barcelona tomorrow after a wonderful stay having toured many of Dartmoor’s beauty spots both on foot and by bike and sampled many an ale in the local pubs. She’s been a fun guest and a pleasure to have at Orchard Barn.

Mortonhampstead Carnival Silver Statues pose at The White Horse Inn