Last Day in Barcelona

(There's one new post below this one, so make sure you take a look at both! I'm going to put Madrid up tomorrow, so check back then!)

We woke up early in the morning on our last day in Barcelona, and all felt a small ache in our hearts because we'd have to be leaving soon. While Sara decided to pack and have a relaxing morning, Laurie and I wanted to check out the Barcelonan market.



The first thing we saw? A beautiful display of chocolate! I've been to the markets in Rome, but this one was different because I felt that the vendors took a special pride in their displays, because everything looked really pristine. Also, Italian markets just have healthy things, so I was wide-eyed at this chocolate display!



Come on, you have to admit that that's the cutest egg display you've seen in your life. Laurie and I wondered what would happen if someone pulled an egg out from the bottom... (don't worry - we didn't try it out!).



The vendors were constantly primping their displays, and the entire market was just like one big eye-candy feast. Unfortunately, our original goal of getting some fruit for breakfast was slashed when a (somewhat cranky) vendor told us that we couldn't buy a single orange. However, fear not!

All throughout the market, we saw these large displays with to-go cups of juices of every color. Exotic flavors lined the shelves, and I just couldn't resist getting one. I purchased a cup of Banana Coconut juice, and it was the most amazing juice I've had in my life. In all honesty, I loved Barcelona, but I'd go back there just for the juice if nothing else.



On our way back to the hostel, we passed this display of really morbid and bizarre statues, so obviously we had to go check it out. It turns out that they were historic statues for Barcelonan carneval. It was a great piece of Barcelona culture to stumble upon during our stay!



The last thing we did in Barcelona was visit a new part of town (we saw the soccer stadium!). They were having some sort of international convention though, and given the large amounts of construction going on, we didn't get a chance to thoroughly explore.



Still pretty, though!



We finally dragged our feet to the airport, and all felt sad to be leaving. I also felt tired, so I began my search for caffeine. Since it was a hot day, I asked the barista for an iced coffee... she looked at me like I was crazy. The man behind me in line helped me say it in Spanish, and she finally understood.

What did I end up getting? A cup of ice. And a cup of coffee. Ohhh Spain, you're a funny one.



I also ate my chocolate-covered candied orange that I had purchased at the chocolate stand (how could I pass something like that up?). I felt wide awake, and then we began the next part of our adventure - Madrid, here we come!

Barcelona Part 3: Picasso, Gaudi, Hot Chocolate, and Paella

I'm finally posting about the rest of my trip! (Sorry for the long delays - life here is just always so busy!)



In the morning, we planned on going to the Picasso museum because it was free, but it didn't open until 10, so we decided to leave our hostel a little early and go explore. Our goal? Two of Gaudi's buildings (Casa Batllo). We didn't go inside because it was so pricey, but the outside was spectacular.



The outside was covered with intricate mosaics, and there wasn't a straight edge in sight. What made it all the more beautiful for me was that this whimsical building was unassumingly sitting in the middle of downtown Barcelona, surrounded by dozens of traditional city buildings.



Next, we headed to the (free!) Picasso museum. It was SUCH a cool museum, because each gallery was from a different period of his artistic life, and they went chronologically so that you could really see the difference in his style over the years.



We weren't really supposed to take pictures, but there was no way I was walking out of the museum without snapping a shot of a Picasso signature, especially when signature after signature was staring vback at me! I quickly took my (rather blurry) picture and hastily moved on to the next room (I felt like a photography ninja).



Near this central courtyard was my favorite gallery. They had a large room dedicated to Picasso's interpretations of Las Meninas, the famous painting featuring a young girl and her attendants. Picasso did dozens and dozens of sketches in order to study how different colors and lightings would affect the overall painting. It was fascinating to see how such a classical piece could be viewed from a cubist's perspective.



After we had had our fill of Picasso, we went just down the street to poke our heads in the Chocolate museum (how could we not?). While we didn't feel like paying the entrance fees, we could see glimpses of many sculptures made entirely out of chocolate. We also purchased a bar of cheese honey chocolate just for fun. Not my favorite, but hey, how many times can you say you've had cheesy chocolate?



Next, we took the metro to Park Guell! Designed by Gaudi, this park was originally supposed to be a luxury neighborhood for the incredibly wealthy. It was abandoned, and I can see why - who would want to climb this hill every day?? (Yeah, we had to walk all the way to the very top of this!)



The view was spectacular, though!



By the time we got into the park, we were hungry for lunch from climbing that steep incline. During out lunch spot search, we came across these beautiful columns: spiraled, stone mosaics were like nothing I'd ever seen before! Gaudi will never cease to surprise me.



We also saw a steampunk photo-shoot going on. It made me really excited. (Steampunk, for those who don't know, is a type of fashion that combines Victorian-era dress with mechanics and factory-ish elements - think about Wells' Time Machine, sort of.)





Finally, we came upon this large central space with lots of people and vendors. It was surrounded by one long continuous mosaic bench. The bench was so beautiful, because every section was different, but it all worked together.

We found a nice ledge to hang our feet off of, and had our adorable lunch of homemade sandwiches and Paprika Pringles. It was so nice to just eat, chat, and people watch. There were Barcelonan families picnicing below us and dads playing soccer with their kids. The 7 year old kids would have owned us in soccer.



After lunch, we get up to continue exploring. We found this large, columned awning that was trimmed with more mosaic, and because it was a rather hot day we wanted to go underneath it to get a break from the sun.



The underneath was very cool, but we were in for a surprise: the entire ceiling was decorated with more mosaics! Each arch had a differently designed "plate" like this one, and we spent a lot of time looking at the differences between them. There was also a guy playing classical guitar, so Laurie commented that it felt like a moment out of a PBS special. I couldn't agree more.



Then we finally found the lizard! It's the most famous symbol from the park, and we were happy we got to see it. Channeling our inner-Romans, we elbowed people out of the way in order to take a few pictures (there was quite a crowd waiting for their turn with the reptile).



Say cheese! (Or "Gaudi!" - that seems more appropriate for the occasion.)



So funny story: it turns out that we saw Park Guell completely backwards. We came in the back entrance, and then ended at the front! Oh well. It actually worked out better that way, because we got the hill out of the way first!



It turns out that Gaudi's Park Guell is just the tip of the iceberg though, and we spent a great afternoon wandering around the rest of the Park's greenery. I thought my brothers would get a laugh about how explicitly Barcelona reminds people to pick up after their pets.





Walking under seemingly perilous cobblestone ceilings and up steep hills, we eventually found ourselves at the top of a huge mountain. It was the highest point for miles around, and it was SO beautiful. We could see the whole city, and enjoyed pointing out the areas that we had visted.





After hiking back down the mountain, we found the exit to the park and said our goodbyes to the mosaics. We were all a little tired from all of the walking, so we started heading in the direction of home.



Although we ended up walking instead of taking the metro, it was a happy decision because we got Spanish hot chocolate! Sara found another Gaudi building that she wanted to explore, but Laurie and I were content just seeing the outside, so we went to get hot chocolate. It was amazing. So thick and creamy, we had to use a spoon to drink/eat it!

Afterward, we went back to our hostel to recuperate a little bit before going out to find an authentic Spanish dinner. (I took a much needed nap!)



Our taxi-driver in to Barcelona had recommended Port Olympico for good food and a nice atmosphere, so we decided to go there for some Paella. When we arrived, however, no one was there! It felt oddly like a ghost town, and we were a little unsure where everyone was, but then we realized it was a Sunday, and most regular Barcelonans were probably at home! We did find an open restaurant though, and the host was so eager to have us eat with them that he offered us free Sangria with our meal.

While I had never had sangria before traveling to Spain, it's my belief that Spanish sangria is absolutely amazing. Fruity and slightly tangy from the wine, it's a drink that I enjoyed with my dinner. I had chicken paella, and it was really good! Honestly, I don't think I understand all of the hype about paella, but it was nice to try it nevertheless. (It was good, but I'd much prefer a bean and cheese burrito.)

And so ended our second full day in Barcelona!

Barcelona Part 2

Finally getting around to posting more of my trip. It's taking so long, but I just need to set some time aside for it before I forget everything!



After we checked into our new hostel (our new roommates were from Poland and Taiwan), we decided to wander around our new part of town. Our hostel was located right next to Las Ramblas street, which is a very large (touristy) shopping street with lots of outrageous street performers. It was a lot of fun to see the creativity displayed (we saw invisible men, golden statue figures, and a guy covered in socks) as well as window shop for souvenirs.



Soon, we stumbled upon the harbor, and it was so beautiful! The weather was amazing, and there was this really pretty bridge connecting both sides of the inlet. The vibe was very mellow and relaxed (especially compared to Rome), and we all welcomed the change of pace. For a moment, the seaside and the low-key vibe made me nostalgic for San Diego, but as soon as we began walking and seeing the sights, I forgot about my momentary lapse and just enjoyed the world around me.



We decided to walk along the sea's edge, hoping to circle around and approach the bridge from the other side. Also, I wanted coffee. My GOODNESS I missed Italian coffee. Of course, the moment I was in need of caffeine, we couldn't find a single espresso to save our tired lives.



Despite my sleep-deprived state, we continued to walk and just happened to come upon the Barcelonan Chinese New Year festival. It was such an interesting blend of cultures for me, and while I was thoroughly intrigued by the sights and smells of Chinese foods and goods, I was also amused to think that cultural blendings happen no matter where you are, be it America or Spain.



We continued around the inlet, and finally found coffee (YES!). Upon my first sip, my heart missed Italian coffee even more - it just didn't compare. I have no idea what I'm going to do about the coffee situation upon returning to the States. Here's to hoping that Cafe Milano in Berkeley can do a cappuccino as good as a cafe IN Milano.



The bridge was called the Rambla de Mar, and before we reached it, we encountered a huge two story shopping mall. We all had an intense moment of reverse culture shock, because it was almost like being back in America - shopping malls don't exist in Rome. It was a weird experience, and we left quickly (after Laurie and Sara bought some delicious European candy though - so much better than candy shops in Californian malls!).

Finally, we crossed the bridge, and silently contemplated our mellow yet completely satisfying afternoon. Although the coffee only helped slightly with my exhaustion, I was so content at the moment that the dark circles under my eyes couldn't bring me down.



In the evening, we decided to go out and explore a little more as well as pick up groceries for a picnic lunch the next day. Las Ramblas had become even more lively, and while we wandered, we were amused at many things that we saw, such as this sign - last time I checked, taxis are small vehicles - not buses.



We also went into a Barcelona bookshop. Part of me was sad that I was surrounded by so many fascinating stories that I couldn't understand, but then I came to this shelf with several versions of Harry Potter. I was giddy. Catalan Deathly Hallows? Awesome! I was also interested in seeing the differing cover art (okay okay, I promise to stop boring you with my obsession now).



Finally after purchasing some bread and cheese for sandwiches, we plopped down on a bench in Plaza Cataluña, a large square in the middle of the city. It was lively with activity, and we were so happy just to sit, talk, and people watch the evening away. We saw families with adorable children, bicycles speeding by, and vendors selling glow in the dark rockets. The air was chilly as we huddled under our scarves to stay warm, and eventually we wandered back toward our hostel to turn in early for the evening and prepare for our second full day in Barcelona!

Barcelona Part 1 (Or, as they say in Spain: Barsthelona)

Well, this Sunday I returned from my fantastic 9 day trip to Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon. It was my first time planning, paying for, and executing my own vacation, and even though it was very stressful at times, it was so much fun!

Over the next few days, I'm going to be posting about each of the locations I visited, so stay tuned! First up: the whimsical city of Barcelona.

Our plane left late Friday night after we finished our Italian finals, and after a delayed flight, we arrived bleary-eyed in the Barcelona airport at 1am. Wanting to brush up on some Spanish, I tried to talk to our taxi driver on the way to our hostel. Mixed success: he was very patient with my efforts to separate Spanish from Italian and he was able to tell us of some places to visit, but there was a lot lost in translation.



We arrived at our hostel and climbed under the covers as quickly as our beds were made. In the morning, we woke up to the beautiful view above, and headed down to eat a filling breakfast (this was one of the nicer hostels, so they provided us with cereal, toast, cappuccino, and even fruit!) and prepared for our first day in Spain.



We decided to visit the Sagrada Familia, which is Gaudi's infamous unfinished cathedral for the Sagrada family. It has been under construction since the 1882, and still isn't close to being finished!

We had a hard time finding it at first, trying to orient ourselves in a completely new city, but then we saw the four enormous towers in the distance, and started heading that way.



Right away, we saw the amazing details of Gaudi, as well as the everlasting presence of construction equipment (it's estimated to be completed in 2023).





The building looked like it was melting, and as we circled it to try and find the entrance, we were enchanted by the incredible amount of detail on every visible surface as well as how different each side of the cathedral looked from one another.



After paying the ridiculous entrance fees (13 euro for the cathedral and audiotour), we walked up the ramp and immediately saw that the exterior details got even finer than what we had already seen - the doors were entirely covered with small carvings, each being different. I wish I had had pencil and paper so I could do a rubbing. Next time I go, I suppose.



Then we went inside. I think my heart stopped for a moment from the shock of something so incredibly beautiful.



I felt transported to Oz - the colors were so vivid in the windows, and the crisp columns and buttresses were such a contrast from one another that I had a hard time believing everything was real.





Guadi designed the building in a naturistic style - the columns and ceiling are supposed to imitate trees and the canopy that forests create. I definitely felt like I was in the center of some strange, crisp white forest. I also felt incredibly lucky to be visiting the cathedral now, because they just recently finished the roof - until 2010 the roof was mostly open.



There were signs of the building's incompleteness, though, such as the stained glass windows. The architects are trying to follow Gaudi's plans perfectly, which has resulted in very slow work. They have a glass specialist who makes every window in an exact manner, and with all of those lines and colors, it's no wonder that only about 1/3 of the windows are complete.



We also got a closer look at the outside, and because of the audiotour, we got more detailed information about what the scenes were depicting. This scene shows Jesus' birth on the bottom, and Mary's coronation on top. Gaudi also continued his nature theme with lots of foliage and many many hidden animals amongst the greenery. We had a fun time trying to play statue I-spy.



One repeated motif throughout the cathedral was this square with numbers in it. We were curious as to what it meant, and we finally found a description. It was a cryptogram created by Josep Subirachs in which the numbers always add up to 33, the age of Jesus when he died. It seemed like a pretty cool thing to include in a church, because it was sort of like a secret code (National Treasure, anyone?).



After we had had our fill of Gaudi for the afternoon, we wandered around Barcelona and had lunch (I had my first Spanish Tortilla - so good!). We all pondered what exactly this building was supposed to represent (it's a Barcelonan landmark), but gave up and called it a bullet for the next 3 days.

We had to switch to a different hostel, so we went to drop our stuff off and explore our new neighborhood. What we found: a beautiful bayside, a bridge that looked like water, Spanish-Chinese New Year, and a great plaza for people watching. I'll post about that tomorrow!