It's great you were able to keep your wits about you. I know so many people that would resign themselves to sit at the airport until the return flight or hope to find someone else they might follow.

Driving by the water, I saw that the various teams have set up bases for the America's Cup yacht racing competition. The main event is this weekend, which helps to explain the high hotel rates this week. Too bad we are leaving tomorrow morning.

Many years ago I flew RyanAir to Oslo, or so I thought. Torp airport, exactly the same experience as yourself, 120km from Oslo!

Yikes, I hope it wasn't in the winter!

Summer, thank heavens. I think it was something like 3 hours on the train to actually get to Oslo. It was a morning flight, I cannot imagine what I would have done had it been a late night one.

Lunch is at Restaurant La Font de Prades in the Poble Espanyol. This was built in 1929 for the Barcelona Universal Exposition. There are a mix of tourists and school groups present. The idea appears to be to present the entirety of Spanish architecture and culture. I don't have any interest in touring the whole place (although the art museum looks good), but the architecture is impressive.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...85d7d38fb3.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bfecbcd998.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...90e89ac4ab.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...085cfb8a33.jpg
While this spot is in a tourist trap, the food is very good, particularly the oxtail paella. I am also glad to have the chance to converse in Spanish. While my responses are nearly monosyllabic, I understand it.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...61344b68f5.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9923585da8.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e20786019c.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...34914ea764.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...231e5cd1b4.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5d76e267d0.jpg

My wife needs to do some work, so I am back on the Edition's roof. Different view this time.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5fc827e6ac.jpg
The melon highball is outstanding.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9561eaad23.jpg

How have I never heard of this before?
At least I have a goal now if/when I ever go back to Barcelona.

It is worth a visit. If you have a restaurant reservation, the entry fee is waived.

We struck out at Paradiso. The bar maintains a virtual queue, starting at 3:30 PM, and it was completely booked for the day by the time that I scanned the QR code around 4:45. We meandered down a network of really cool alleys full of restaurants, bars, and shops to reach Dr. Stravinsky.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8842f43527.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9b4ff293e6.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...47db6fb724.jpg
The cocktails here currently have one of three foundational ingredients (butter, vinegar, or goat cheese), and the constellation map situates them based on their flavor profiles. There are also classic cocktails from past menus.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7815ac4058.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...904983885b.jpg

Our assay at Sips was swiftly rebuffed: they are also fully booked. My mention of my canceled reservation the night before was met with polite indifference.

We went up the street to the nearest bar, the Hemingway Gin and Cocktail Bar. The name pulled me in as a lover of literature. This is a weird spot located in the basement of a multilevel commercial space sitting below an apartment building, next to a fitness center and spa. We sat at the one table outside because of the formidable steps and the stool seating. The menu features a bunch of drinks in whimsical containers, which fits incongruously with the 20-seat space.

I first ordered the appropriately named Fitzgerald Swizzle. Slightly more saccharine than the author, but with a cornucopia of fruit as big as the Ritz on top.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c0290eb969.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...53f3a5f13b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9cf0f24d1c.jpg
The cocktails are fun, but the flavors aren't great. This is a one-and-done for me.

We had dinner at Cocina Hermanos Torres. I finished the meal thinking about the difference between a two and three Michelin star restaurant, which I realize is something only incredibly privileged people have the opportunity to try to discern. Based on a sample size of one, I would say that it comes down to the synchronization of service. A platoon of identically-attired servers (blue blazers, red three-star-branded sneakers) stood ready to satisfy our every desire. Was the food better than any other restaurant I've been to? That's a matter of taste. But it certainly pushed the limits of what gastronomy can achieve. Every dish was a wonder. And the culinary ballet that unfolded before us in the open kitchen was a sight to behold.

To the extent there was a failing, it was, per usual, on the dismount. We declined coffee and had to proactively seek our check 20 minutes later. Should we have asked for it earlier? Yes. But for a place that had anticipated our wants to that point, it was a bit unfortunate. It is a very minor criticism, though. And upon viewing the check, the complimentary pre-dinner champagne offset the sting of the most expensive old fashioned of my life.

Barcelona has to be one of the best food and beverage cities in the world right now, and Cocina Hermanos Torres is a crown jewel. It is worth a visit.


The hotel cannot let you check in if the previous guests have not left ! Also they may have late check out privileges . How can the hotel estimate the check in time if the guest dont have a hard committed check out?

Of course they can't. My point was that if the prior guests hadn't vacated the room yet (and had late check-out privileges), they should have told us that the room likely wouldn't be ready until 4 pm or later instead of suggesting that we wait upstairs. I liked the hotel a lot more the following day when I was less tired.

How would they know if it was likely or not ? They know as much as you, if they say they expect the room to be ready at 3 and it cannot be, then some people would complain. I dont see they did anything wrong