This morning we slept in late and relaxed at the apartment. Despite being on a very busy street, the apartment is completely quiet with sound proof windows and room darkening shades (that the kids enjoyed raising and lowering by wall switch.)

After a short subway ride, we arrived at the beach….Playa Bogatell on the Mediterranean. We rented an umbrella and three lounge chairs for the day, the sand was soft, the water warm and crystal clear, there was a nice breeze…absolutely perfect.
Everything moves at a slow pace around here…we were seated next to a couple of rugby fans from South Wales for more than 2 hours before anyone came by to take our money for the rental, or food/drink order. This is exactly the pace we needed for today to rest and recharge. 

D can’t sit still for long though: he went back and forth from our chairs, to the water, then elliptical machines on the beach, to the spider web style climbing structure. Not a lot of children on the beach, but a fair amount of topless women. He eventually befriended a Dutch boy with a soccer ball. 

The waitstaff brought our lunch and sangria to our chairs, complete with wine glasses, plates and silverware — no plastic!

We were so comfortable on the beach, that we ordered another round of food and drink late afternoon. Nothing to rush back to the apartment for ….we can get used to this.