When in Barcelona, the last thing on my mind is taking photos of the sunset. However, if one presents itself, I'm more than happy to oblige. This photo is another that I took from atop the Fira Renaissance. The hotel is outside the main tourist area, so most of the people here were attending conferences. They would come up to the rooftop pool to socialize during happy hour. It still amazes me how structurally sound these buildings must be to support a pool on the top floor - water is so heavy. There is also an indoor pool on the floor below. I guess there is no limit to what people can dream and build.
Here are some people in the gothic quarter of Barcelona sitting outside at a tapas bar, talking late into the night. Scenes like this occur over and over, and I think, are typical of Catalonian culture. Not that I'm an expert, but it seems quite friendly and puts a lot of value on spending time with family and friends. It's not difficult to see the appeal, especially in places like Barcelona. Sure, every area has its problems, but it's fun to see different lifestyles and wonder what it would be like to live there, if only for a spell.
I'm aiming straight up at Phare de la méditerranée, which translates "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." Despite the name, it's not a lighthouse. The top of the tower is a revolving restaurant with views of, you guessed it, the Mediterranean. There are a few touristy places like this because Palavas-les-Flots is a French vacation town. But it's not over-the-top commercialized as you might find in other areas. There is a casino, but it's low-key, not overly flashy. One thing you will find a lot of though is ice cream. For whatever reason, they are crazy about ice cream, and in tourist towns, you'll find it on every corner.
