Spring visitors - part 1

Our first spring visitor, Karen Shaffer, Pat's classmate at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, arrived last week. The weather varied from rainy to gorgeous, but it bettered the end of winter in Minneapolis, which Karen was happy to escape.

We took in many of the standard sights, including Park Guell and nearby Sagrada Familia.

Stalls on the Rambla Catalunya (and elsewhere) were selling fresh palms and palm ornaments in anticipation of Palm Sunday.
And of course we found time for tapas outside at Ciutat Contal, on the Rambla Catalunya (on the left: escalivada -- grilled eggplant and red peppers -- topped with goat cheese run under the broiler; and on the right: crabmeat salad and jamon montaditos).