Barcelona Diary 2026

Gym closed today.

Walking the dog in late afternoon, drunk people out on the streets.

Walked the dog five times.

In the evening, someone came to our apartment door. I think this was the story: They were from an apartment above us, and had dropped their mobile phone out the window and down onto a terrace of an apartment below us. No one was home down there, so they wanted to come through our apartment and go out a window and climb down to the terrace below. We said no.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Guy wanting to climb out our window came back twice more, I guess he's desperate to retrieve his phone, but we said no. People downstairs must be on vacation or something.

Walked the dog five times.



Walked the dog five times.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Niece and father came home from North; I met them at old apartment, helped them in, etc.

Saw a lost-dog poster in the park, offering €1000 reward for return of the dog. I told our dog, if he ever gets lost, the reward will be €50.

Half-bottle of champagne popped its cork in the refrigerator and sprayed some out, so now the refrigerator smells like champagne. Could be worse, I guess.

Walked the dog five times.



Cold day, high of 7C (45F).

Around 2000, a three-kings parade going by on the street right in front of our window.

Walked the dog five times. Cold.



Dog pooped in the kitchen during the night, right next to the paper we put down for him. Easy to clean up.

Gym closed today.

Walked the dog five times. Cold.



Dog pooped a LOT in the kitchen during the night. Easy to clean up.

Cold and windy weather.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, to pay for an app on niece's computer.

Walked the dog five times. Cold.



Weather is turning warmer. But I have a cold and headache.

Repairs on the building have started, expected to take 3-4 weeks. I don't know what they're doing or how much it is costing us, because I couldn't get Dora to go to the meeting where they announced it.

Dora to physiotherapy.

Walked the dog five times.



Bad headache and cold. I'm skipping the gym today.

Windy today, so windy that son's flight back from north is cancelled. So we'll have the dog for three more days than expected.

Walked the dog five times.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Still sick.

Son's flight is delayed one more day, he'll fly on Tuesday.

Decided to cut back a little: Walked the dog four times.



Still sick.

Niece came over to use our shower (hot water still moderate in old apartment, not fixed yet), and have some dinner with us.

Walked the dog four times.



Feeling better, but still have a cough.

Walked the dog four times.



Still have a cough.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Niece and father came over, so niece could use our shower.

Walked the dog twice, then later walked him to old apartment and left him there. Son is back from the North.

In the evening, Dora off to a medical congress in Madrid. Sounds like she'll be gone at least the rest of this week.



Didn't have to check for poop on the kitchen floor this morning, since Dora is away. [Joke]

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Slept very badly, had bad sinus pain all night.



Feeling bad. Took a Nolotil. Skipping the gym today. Had breakfast and then went back to bed until noon.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Didn't sleep well.



Feeling bad again this morning. Took a Nolotil. Slept late. Still feeling bad. Vomited a little, maybe because of too much medicine on an empty stomach. Had breakfast and then went back to bed until after noon.

To health center. Had to wait almost an hour, but got examined and got prescriptions for Nolotil and Amoxicilina.

Slept fairly well.



Grey day, then rainy. Supposed to rain most of the next 5 days or so,

Started gathering tax numbers for Spain. Determined I don't have to file ETE.







Windy, rainy, cold day.

New water-heater has been installed at old apartment.



The door opens at 0815 or so, and there is Dora ! So I am married again.

Finished my course of anti-biotics and painkillers, will have to see how I feel from now on. Still have a bit of a cough. Dora gave me a couple of inhalers.

Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.



Son came over to go shopping with Dora. I supplied the money, as usual.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to medical appointment in evening.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Cold, rainy day.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment to stay with us overnight.

Walked the dog one more time.



Walked the dog twice, then later walked him to old apartment and left him there.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Very windy evening. The news said they had hurricane-force winds in the South yesterday or overnight.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Very windy evening.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came to visit. I walked the dog.

At about 9 PM, heavy rain and very windy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Windy day.

Dora out early with niece, to some kind of university open-house.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Dora's father came to visit.

I took down the Christmas tree.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. When I arrived, all the bikes I wanted were full of old people. Even older than me, I mean. But soon there were free bikes.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Surprisingly warm day.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Another warm day. But a storm is coming late tonight.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Son and dog came over in evening, to visit, but mostly to pick up some cash I forgot to deliver to them this afternoon.



Very windy day, in morning with gusts near hurricane-force at times. Niece's school is cancelled, as are a lot of other things.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Raining, so I didn't walk the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog. Saw a kid's Carnaval parade.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



Very windy day.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



In late afternoon, Dora and me to old apartment. Family from North and South have arrived, so we had a reunion with everyone. I walked the dog twice.

Later, sisters and husband came to our place to see it.

Forgot to join the USA Zoom call tonight.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

In mid-afternoon, Dora and me to old apartment. Dinner with everyone. I walked the dog three times, two short and one long. Also set up a new printer for them.



Six of us out to dinner at a Peruvian restaurant. Second time we've been there, second time they've forgotten to bring my food.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment to stay with us overnight.

Walked the dog twice more. Dora went to visit her sister.



Walked the dog twice, then later walked him to old apartment and left him there.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. Raining a lot when I came out.

Son came over to have dinner with us. Dog stayed home because of the rain.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Online, filed Spanish tax form 720 (foreign assets declaration).

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Online, filed US FBAR tax form.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Apartment's main breaker tripped several times during the night, I had to keep resetting it. I think it's too sensitive, just ripples in the power are enough to trip it.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



Apartment's main breaker tripped again, somewhere around 0800.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.

Dora to physiotherapy.

In the evening, Dora and me to a building association meeting at the finca. Lots of discussion I didn't understand, apparently about doing work on the elevator.

I had whipped up four sentences of Spanish to ask a question about the electricity, but then Dora got up and asked my question ! [The answer seems to be that breakers trip sometimes in at least several of the apartments, not just ours, so it sounds like a building or neighborhood power problem. Or maybe our breaker is too sensitive.]

It was our apartment's turn in a rotation, so Dora got named vice-president for a year. We think she won't have to do much. Some alarming news that a couple of people were staying illegally in a utility room in the attic. And news that a couple of apartments have lots of people living in them, more than is legal. I find that hard to believe, I haven't seen tons of people in the hallways, or heard lots of noise.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. Forgot my lock in the locker room, had to go back to get it.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy.

Online, submitted my US 1040 tax return. Not sure it will be accepted, because this year they've changed rules about requiring spouse's SSN, and my spouse doesn't have an SSN.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



Never received an email from the tax site, but found my tax return was rejected for a trivial reason. Fixed it and re-submitted.

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

US 1040 tax return accepted by the IRS.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.

Dora to physiotherapy.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.

Late for the Zoom call with USA because I didn't account for Daylight Savings, but I got in on the end of the call.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Had a chance to try out my Spanish on a neighbor lady I know a bit, asking her if her apartment has the same electrical problem we've had. She said no.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. Achilles tendon hurting.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment to stay with us overnight.

Walked the dog twice more.



Walked the dog twice, then later walked him to old apartment and left him there.

Dora to physiotherapy.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog. Achilles tendon still hurting.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.



Son came over and left the dog with us for most of the day. I walked the dog twice.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Son came over and left the dog with us for most of the day. I walked the dog twice.

Dora to physiotherapy.



Didn't walk the dog today; my leg is hurting too much. Son and dog came to visit us and liberate some cash from me.



Skipping the gym today, to rest my leg.

Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I didn't walk the dog, and felt guilty about it.



To old apartment, walked the dog. Some leg pain, not too bad. I'm trying new shoes.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Some people requested to know what we're eating, so:
leftover ribs and rice, plus broccoli and avocado-lettuce-redpepper salad for dinner. I do most of the cooking here.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Dora not feeling so well today, so she made a fruit-smoothie for herself, and I cooked chorizo and pasta for myself.

To old apartment, walked the dog. Leg hurting a bit.

Some people requested to know what we pay for food, so:
At fruit/veg shop, bought 2 avocados, 6 bananas, zucchini, 1/2 papaya, large red pepper, for €10.80 total.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. Achilles tendon hurting. 3 minutes from finishing, and the electricity went out in the whole shopping center, maybe at 11:50 or so. I did some more pedaling without power, then went down to the somewhat-dark and very crowded locker room. Then the power came back on, after about 5 minutes off.

But maybe the shopping center has its own generator, because the power is off at least in several blocks around our apartment. Old apartment has power.

Power came back on in a little less than 2 hours.

Dora cooked a big pot of soup (broccoli, egg, meat, pasta) and I made an avocado-lettuce-redpepper salad for dinner.

Not going to walk the dog today.

Son and dog came over to deliver something, and dog wanted me to walk him, but I didn't, and soon they left.

Main breaker in the apartment tripped around 7:45, and this time it seems to be just our apartment, there's building power in the outside hallway. As we get halfway through turning breakers back on, the main trips again. No pattern to what sub-breaker makes the main trip, so I don't think we have a short anywhere.

Finally before 9 we were able to get all but two breakers going, and all the important stuff is on (fridge, lights, outlets) so we don't want to flip the final breakers that are off. We'll see how long the power lasts.



Was able to turn on the two breakers that were off.

Dora had soup with egg, I had a hamburger and rice, plus salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog. Ankle/tendon hurting very badly by the end, flashes of strong pain. I'm going to have to rest it for several days. Limped to stores and home.

At supermarket, bought 2 packs of gnocchi, 3 packs of snacks, 2 packs of sliced cheese, 2 cups of soft cheese, for about €13.

At fruit/veg shop, bought 2 avocados, 4 bananas, broccoli, 2 lemons, 6 carrots, large red pepper, for €11.50 total.

At 2335, building power went out for about 15 seconds.



Dora had hamburger and rice and broccoli, I had a chorizo and broccoli, plus salad, for dinner.



Was going to do an errand. Put on shoes, and had pain in my Achilles tendon. Decided not to go, and while taking off my shoe, had a bad flash of pain. Not good.

Headachey all day, taking ibuprofen.

Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I didn't walk the dog, and felt guilty about it. Had ribs and rice and tuna-salad for dinner. The ribs cost about €10/kilo at a butcher's shop. There are cheaper shops, but not nearby.

In late evening, feeling headachey and a little feverish, took a Nolotil.



Leftover ribs and rice, and broccoli and salad, for dinner.

Was able to put on shoes and walk around without pain. Out to fruteria to buy fruit and veg, walking carefully, no pain.

Later, out to supermarket. Tendon ached a few times, but not much. Encouraging.



Beef and zucchini and leftover rice, and salad, for dinner.

Walked about 5 blocks to ATM. Tendon aching a bit by the time I got back.



Weather suddenly grey and cool.

Tendon still hurting and aching at various times.

Out to nearby Peruvian restaurant, 5 of us for dinner to celebrate a couple of birthdays. I had a nice ceviche.



Went out to do recycling and buy ribs. Tendon aching a little.

Son and father and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice. Had ribs and rice for dinner.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice, and managed to hurt my tendon again. Had leftover ribs and rice, and salad, for dinner.



Dora cooked hamburger-carrot-broccoli, and leftover rice, and I made a salad, for dinner.

Out to recycling, supermarket, and fruteria, walking carefully.

Building power went out at midnight-thirty, and our main breaker flipped. Dora was up and I was asleep, and she didn't tell me about it, I found out at 5 AM.



Out to fetch roast chicken and potatoes (€11.60 for a whole chicken) for dinner. Had some pasta and salad too.

Son and dog came over to visit. I walked the dog once, felt okay. Saw a fairly serious motorcycle-car accident in the traffic circle near our apartment; police were swarming all over it in a minute or so, ambulance came in about 5 minutes.

Dora out to meet her sister, who is in town for a congress.



I had a cheeseburger, and we had banana-and-egg and salad, for dinner.

Out to reycling bins. Out to supermarket. Leg feeling tolerable

Son brought dog to our apartment to stay with us overnight, while son goes to a concert.

Out to fruteria.

I walked the dog twice.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Walked the dog for an hour and felt reasonable. Then after eating breakfast, moved my foot in a certain direction and had sharp pain.

Son came over and fetched the dog.

Out to nearby Peruvian restaurant, 5 of us for dinner to celebrate a couple of birthdays. I had breaded fish and calamare etc.

Four of us back to our apartment for a little birthday cake. Dora's father is 94 years old.



Beef, egg, broccoli, rice, salad for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Dora had beef, I had leftover chicken, leftover rice, and salad, for dinner.

Son and dog came to visit. I walked the dog. Lots of pollen.



Worker came and installed videophone for opening the building front door.

Dora had leftover chicken potato rice, I had a chorizo, we had broccoli and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike. Tendon slightly sore, not bad.

Ribs, rice, and salad for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.

Dora went to physiotherapy, but their machine was broken.



Leftover ribs and rice, and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog. Lots of pollen. It's Dia San Jordi, lots of people out at tables selling books and roses.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Leftover ribs and rice, and zucchini and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice. Chicken, rice, salad for dinner.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Leftover chicken and rice, and broccoli and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Power went out twice during the night, the first time just for seconds, the second time I'm not sure. Breakers didn't flip.



Online, filed Spanish wealth tax return (form 714).

Leftover chicken and rice, and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Beef and broccoli and leftover rice, and salad, for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Out to fetch roast chicken and potatoes for dinner. Had some salad too.

To old apartment, walked the dog.

Dora to physiotherapy. Now she's finished with it, I think.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Leftover chicken, and potato-pesto-gnocchi, and salad for dinner.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice. Later, walked him back to old apartment and left him there.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog, brought him to our apartment for an hour or two, took him home.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To Chinese restaurant, four of us for dinner, in celebration of a birthday.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Dora out early with niece, so niece can go take a medical school entrance exam.

Rain started in midafternoon and kept going, so I didn't walk the dog today.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



To old apartment, walked the dog.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog once, and then a short walk because they were going home early ahead of the rain. Bug thunderstorm and lots of rain and wind around 6.



To old apartment, walked the dog.

Out at 6:30, metro into the center, met someone at the Picasso Museum. A guy who has been reading my web site for ages, and is passing through Barcelona now on a trip. We wandered through old town, stopping at Born CC and St Maria del Mar church. Found somewhere to eat. Interesting conversation, he's travelled a lot (Egypt, Malaysia, VietNam, France, etc), and he uses AI a lot to get suggestions for what to see or do. Wandered along the harbor and up La Rambla; there's a lot of construction everywhere. Into metro and home before 10:45.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

To old apartment, walked the dog.



Son brought the dog over. Dog is going to stay with us for several days, while son goes on a trip.

Walked the dog three times.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

In the evening, a parade went past right under our window. Had gegantes, some dancers, more.

Walked the dog four times.



After 9, a running race going past right under our window.

Walked the dog four times.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

The sink drain in my bathroom has come apart, is leaking. I told Dora to call a plumber.

Later, I took the sink drain out, and my sailor's eye sees that they put a copper nut onto a steel bolt, and galvanic action has eaten away at both of them, it's irreparable.

In the evening, I wanted to take the sink drain to the local hardware store, but Dora says a plumber is coming instead.

Niece and sister came to visit. Niece has a graduation ceremony tomorrow, although we don't yet know if she passed her tests for the year.

Plumber came around 8:30. Worked for about half an hour and asked for €450 ! Dora talked him down to €400. I had to go out to ATM to get it.

Walked the dog four times. I'm tired.



Walked the dog four times. I'm tired.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Walked the dog twice, and the second time I took him to old apartment and left him there.



Son and dog came over to have dinner with us. I walked the dog twice.

 

To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Came back from the gym, and there's a doggie in the apartment ! Son is going on another trip, I have to take care of the dog.

Walked the dog three times.