Concluding

We divided our last week in Barcelona among packing, revisiting sights, and a final round of restaurant visits. We went to Casa Batlló, walked around the old city, and made a farewell visit to MNAC to see its frescos again after visiting the churches in Val de Boí from which many of them had come. We ate at favorite restaurants: Can Robert, Goliard's in Grácia, Cafe de la Académica (our 4th meal there after going for the first time in early September), and Ciutat Comtal for tapas. And each day we packed a bit more and cleared out a few more things (marveling at how much "stuff" we had accumulated in just a year).

Then, the flat was cleared out and cleaned, the bags were packed and ready for the taxi, and it was time to go.
A year in Barcelona had metamorphosed into memories. Visits of family and friends. Trips to Córdoba, Granada, and Sevilla in Andalusia; around Catalunya to hike in the Pyrenees, and visit monasteries and small churches; and to southern France for Thanksgiving with Pat's Missouri high school classmate. The trip back to the U.S. for Alan and Meredith's wedding. Visits to the Romanesque art at MNAC, and to the small chuches for which it was created. Monasteries and churches around Catalunya. Concerts at Palau de la Música Catalana. Santa Maria del Mar, the Plaça del Rei. Doménech's Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau; Gaudi's Park Guell, Casa Batlló, and Sagrada Familia; Puig's Les Punxes. Barça's Tres Copes season and games at Camp Nou. Wonderful meals at restaurants around Barcelona and wonderful fruits and vegetables. Castellers. Walks along the Passeig de Sant Joan and through Gracia.

Our year in Barcelona was over.

And so is this blog.