At the Beach

• Prior to the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona was known for the industrial wasteland along its waterfront. Inspired by those games to clean up its image, the city fathers had the industrial buildings removed and miles of sandy beaches created in their place:
  

  

  Today, this playground seems to go on forever. The boardwalks that accompany it are well-used for biking and for strolling.
  
  Aside from watching the action on the beach --- not unlike beaches everywhere --- there are some unconventional sights nearby. This flashy structure, for example, is one of the most highly decorated water towers we’ve seen:
  

  

  At the former Olympic Village is this glittering fish sculpture, the work of architect Frank Gehry:
  

  

  

  Letting it all hang out, this tower at the Barcelona Casino bares its exoskeleton:
  

  

  The W Hotel, near the cruise line terminal, has a striking resemblance to a giant sail:
  

  

  
  On our last afternoon in Barcelona, what better place to say goodbye to this winsome city than the beach:
  

  

  ... but even the sand dragons looked forlorn at our imminent departure. Sigh.
  

  

  
  And, so, our time in Catalunya came to an end, happily followed by a safe return home the next day. This narrative, however, continues with descriptions of the three excursions we made while staying in Barcelona.