Wednesday - Nationwide Union strike

Nothing like sirens, cherry bombs, police and demonstrators to ruin a day planned to explore more of Barcelona!  Extra security at the hotel and a letter from the General Manager warning us not to walk far from the hotel.  Transportation shut down and the major telephone company closed.  All of the shops on Las Ramblas and Placa Catalunya ( the main square) closed.  Many restaurants either closed or opened for just a few hours.  So our plans gone astray made us doubly glad that we had ziti a and Tim close by.  Art ventured out and found a restaurant ( with good reviews from the hotel staff) open and just across the street.  The four of us went to lunch and discovered an 11€ 3 course +drink lunch that was excellent. The owner Christian was originally from Spain but had lived in Chicago for 20 years AND loved to talk!  We knew his life history before we were seated.  And we were seated in an elegant rear dining room with white tablecloths, lovely table settings and, as we were the only customers, it was all ours :). Fabulous lunch with a main course of individual grilled small Sea Bass and the included beers that Art and Tim had were huge and included.  What a find - I've already written the first Trip Advisor review that 336 Restaurant had ever received.  After lunch we walked around a bit, took some pictures of the barricades and police and chatted in the lobby of Tina and Tim's hotel.  Then back to our hotel until the opening of the Italian Restaurant we went to for dinner...seems like our trend this trip is to eat, eat, drink, eat and walk when we can!

The evening restaurant opened at 8:15 and there were actually other people who had ventured out and were  there  before us.  We had been told that the main demonstrations would be from 6-9.  We did see lots of people demonstrating on TV but little damage or violence.  Saw films of rubbish burning and of a Starbucks set on fire, but that was all.  Wondering what they had accomplished ( strike was against austere plans and for a separate Catalonian state).   Much ado about what loomed like no gains and some sad tourists who had their vacation day spoiled.  We did meet a very nice couple from Ft Lauderdale at breakfast.  They will be sailing with us tomorrow!