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And that’s a wrap.

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Well the flights back home never get any better. Late flight out of Barcelona meant we only had 20 minutes from getting off the flight in Zurich to getting on the flight to Singapore . The wonderful Swiss Air had a lady waiting for us holding a sign “Singapore” . She hussled us down some stairs and into a black van as if we were CIA operatives. Straight into passport office where the “Sheila without a smile” reluctantly stamped our passports as we were leaving Europe. Then our nice lady raced us to the gate and hurried us through. Jumped into our very comfortable premium economy seats and settled in for the long leg to Singapore . Great service Swiss Air and a great plane too. Food and wine was best we’d had this trip also.  If anyone intends flying into Zurich, I’d suggest you plan to arrive at night. The mountains , the  lights, the smaller villages dotting the countryside was truly a magnificent spectacle.  Singapore airport for 6 hours was boring as batshit . Too long...
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Back to Quimet and Quimet.

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Well last night me old mate pulled a muscle so I ended up walking to Quimet and Quimet alone and arrived there at 5.45, 15 minutes before opening. Front of the queue . You f…..n beauty.  I had sea bream with oil, sweet capsicum and piquillos, then cumquats with Spanish sheep cheese, anchovies, a bit of a chutney and oil and grape juice. After that fois gras, caramelized onion, mushroom and truffle oil on a small piece of dry toast. Still not enough so then cold poached egg, mushrooms sweet potato chips and pate. 4 glasses of a very nice cold white wine. and I was complete. I stood at the bar being first in and could watch the 2      guys making everything to order. It was amazing and they go like cut cats. Before I ordered the sea bream, I asked if it was cooked and the waiter said “everything they do comes in tins or packets” (except the poached egg.) consequently all the containers of Spanish products adorning the shelves. Incredible genius . It’s given me th...
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Another day in Barthelona.

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We went back to the La Boqueria market again this morning and there was a million others there with the same idea. Took some more photos, had a fresh fruit drink and window shopped. Russell was tempted so bought some designer chocolates (about 31 euro, I was going to say worth but let’s just say they cost 31 Euro) . He also bought some jelly beans for the flights tomorrow. By now you’ve probably all worked out that Russell enjoys a sweet thing now and again.  Then we ran into Annemarie from Ireland , who I met walking the Camino last year. She’s got a Eurail pass and is going to wend her way through France and Italy. We had a couple of beers with her in one of the plazas and then Russell and I came back to our hotel.  We had such a great feed at Quimet and Quimet last night we are considering heading there again tonight. Considering but not definite. .
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Monday night in Barthelona.

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Just been to a mighty bar in Barcelona. Quimet and Quimet, where the Tapas is sensational and the wine even better. Opens at 6 in the evening and we arrived at 6.20 and waited in a line out front. Russell said he hadn’t queued any since the Thumping Tum in the late 60’s. Only time I ever queued was get to the loos at Sunbury.  ‘You can stay for an hour only and you must eat’ was the command by the polite, yet affirmative maitre de. Well both Russell and I thought the prawns were the best we’d ever had. They were sweet and his nibs told us the were in oil and grape juice. White anchovies with olives, pork cheek with sweet red capsicum was magnificent . All washed down with a bottle of Dido. So good in such a magical bar and didn’t break the bank. Mitzi Gray I reckon your godfather might have been here, as his city bar is very similar . (Except for the food). Thanks to my mate Pierre Geoffroy ex HWC, Anthony Bourdain and Kylie Rowe for their recommendation to go here. After that we w...
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