MNAC (National Mus of Catalonian Art) - 19th century and Stephen eating

National Museum of Catalonian Art - Romanesque collection

During the 1920's, Barcelona moved frescoes and statues from small churches in the Pyrenees into the museum, to keep them from being stolen. (often the communities got reproductions back). Amazing collection. I especially love the last pic in here, with its Madonna & child encircled by 4 truly gruesome martyrdoms.

Half-marathon fans

There was a half marathon run on Sunday -- runners and fans from all over the world. Here are some fans we encountered on the way to the Museum of Catalan history.

Steve, of course, mesmerized by the Mus of Catalan History, and took a couple of hours to get through the 19th century part. I'd finished with the 19th century, gone through the 20th, experimenting with reading the interpretive materials in Catalan rather than Spanish (it's not that hard to decipher written Catalan. It looks like Spanish with the final o's dropped, the y's turned to i's, and the j's turn to x's). "With" is amb rather than con.

La Sagrada Familia

(I liked the older facade rather than the newer one.)

Long flight home. The book I was reading -- the emperor's children – I found kind of depressing – no character I could wholeheartedly like. Saw Anywhere but Here w a v. young Natalie Portman. Returning to work, dweebly though it is, a great relief.