[alleyways]

[Slogans]

[Cats bask]

We decide to take it a bit easier today, as yesterday was quite lengthy. We have a lie-in, make coffee in our room, then walk to the Barri Gòtic area where we buy pancakes for breakfast in a Spanish fast-food chain - unfortunately they're less than inspiring, which serves us right for passing several bakeries then running out of shops when we got hungry.

The morning is spent wandering randomly around the alleyways of this old quarter, vaguely following a map. We find the Placa de la Vila de Madrid, a square where cats bask in the sunny excavated Roman stuff, and walk on towards the cathedral, where crowds of people are watching traditional dancers in the Plaça Nova.

The Sardana folk dance is apparently mocked outside the local area, as its not exactly energetic - more of a sedate circular walk. The simplicity, however, means that anyone can join in, and they do. Groups circle around their bags, which are placed in the centre, representing It's a lovely scene, and we feel as though we've stumbled across something genuine rather than laid on for the tourists. We head for the Museu Frederic Mares, which has an exhibition of crucifixes. It isn't as interesting as the Lonely Planet seems to think. Leading onto to the Plaça de Sant Jaume and Town Hall, we find a protest of some description, and a heavy police presence.

[Plaça Reial]

After walking through the Plaça Reial, we have a hunt round for postcards, gifts and small supermarkets selling food we can take back as presents, then cross over La Rambla to take a look at our first Gaudi creation, the Palace Güell. His architecture is fantastic, not really describable, you'll have to look at the photos.

Back on La Rambla, we're getting hungry. Iain finds a pizza, but I am struggling for decent vegetarian food, ideally with protein. I happily spot a "Veggie Pitta", where I buy an over-stuffed pitta and accidentally order chips. The pitta is full of falafel and there's a fantastic help-yourself salad bar, bargain.

[Escaped Fast Show sketch with gurner]

We're decidedly on holiday rather than the usual exhausting treks we make, so we head back to the room to read (Iain) and siesta (me) for the afternoon. When we get hungry, we fancy a walk, and find a restaurant on the Passeig de Gràcia, where we opt for non-Spanish food, but our first taste of Sangria. It's refreshing but I tire of it after a while.

[Um?]

[Casa Batlló]

[La Pedrera]

We head up the street to see two of Antoni Gaudi's buildings; Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. It's a warm evening, and a nice way to burn off a little dinner. The buildings are incredible, and his work is firmly amongst some of the favourite I've seen. On the way back we pause at an Easy Internet Café to check the news, and email. It's quite impressively equipped, and priced.

Back at our room we sleep around 10pm. I can't quite believe we have to go home tomorrow, I really like this city.