Barcelona Tuesday: Gaudi, Beach, Gothic, and of course more food!

Today was a day of both big accomplishing and big wandering.  We had heard that Barcelona is a city that you really need to just meander through.  However, first we started off the day with a Gaudi Tour of the city on a bus/walking.  It was a great choice.  Our tour guide was fantastic, just the right combination of witty and informative.  We would never have gotten as much out of just wandering around my ourselves, and I am really glad we decided to do the tour.

Excited to go on our tour!

We started off going down Passeig de Gracia, where the two most famous Gaudi houses are.  They were really cool to look at, so neat in fact, that we are headed back tomorrow to go inside one of them.  There were also just some great examples of modern architecture on the street, and in general in Barcelona.

Then we went to Parc Guell, which was #1 on my list of things to do.  And it was just what I was expecting.  The park was designed entirely by Gaudi for 60 families to live in, with a market facility and everything.  However, at the time, nobody liked or understood Gaudi's work.  They were disgusted, and only one family actually lives in the park (and their descendants are so very glad)!  Now of course, the Parc is one of the major landmarks in Barcelona, and it was really stunning to wander around.

The market from above

Us at the market

The architecture was revolutionary.  We now know that this is the strongest way to reinforce things, but at the time everyone was nervous about it falling down.  A hundred years later, and it is still going strong!

Just in case though, mom and I were there to hold it up!

Mom and I with the famous Salamander fountain, the symbol of Barcelona

Underneath the market.  The tiles are completely recycled materials.  You can see teacups, champagne bottles, just about everything. 

On the market section again.  The benches are ergonomically designed.  And very hard to want to get out of!

The guardhouse, and something else, but the one on the left imitates Hansel and Gretel, the story. 

Next, we headed over to La Sagrada Familia, the landmark of Barcelona, hands down.  It was completely designed by Gaudi, and he worked on it for I think around 40 years until his death in 1926, and ever since then it has been under construction.  Gaudi wanted that the new architects, who would take over the project, to stick with his designs, but use their own artistic license, so you can clearly tell what Gaudi did and didn't do.  But the whole structure is just fascinating.

Gaudi's side...

The other architects side.  Such different styles, yet they have the same feeling.

The inside, much simpler, but HUGE.

The pope is coming in November, so they are working hard to finish the inside in time for him to bless it as a real church.

After that, we returned home, but still learned about the architecture and history of the city on the way.  Then it was lunch and siesta time for all.  We found a great restaurant and had our three(ish) course meal.  I had the best one (I would say) with smoked salmon to start, and steak with potatoes and vegetables, followed by fruit salad, but Dad's paella and chicken wings were pretty tasty, as well as Mom's tortilla and mozzarella salad.

After siesta, we headed out to the beach, where Mom put her feet in the Mediterranean Sea.  That was her one goal for the trip, so I guess they might as well head home now! Haha.  The beach was nice, but it was a very windy day, and none of us really felt like getting too sandy and wet, so we wandered around until we found the Gothic Section of the city.

Dad at the beach

Mom pleased as punch to have her feet in the Mediterranean Sea!

It was REALLY windy and sunny.

The Gothic Cathedral was on Dad's list to see, and I am really glad we made it to it.  It is a HUGE looming Cathedral, with just stunning architecture that seems to stretch for miles.  I had also just learned about Gothic architecture in my art history class here in Spain, which made it extra fun for me to see everything in real life.

Mom and I being cute, in the Gothic Quarter

Finally we dragged our tired butts over to an outdoor Tapas place and enjoyed some tasty treats and a pitcher of Sangria.  It was very grown up and fun, and was followed by some delicious gelatto and a nighttime walk up to our apartment.  All in all, a perfect day in Barcelona :)

Barcelona Monday: Rambles on La Rambla

So we really began our adventure in Barcelona today.  My parents have valiantly conquered their jet-lag, and we pushed through to enjoy the walks that our are of Barcelona has to offer.  We started off at La Rambla, a mile long passageway which is very popular with tourists.  It was way crowded, but it was fun to see the street performers, flower markets, and stalls full of tourist items.  We were specifically aiming for La Boqueria, a food market that came highly recommended by our good friend Marie :) 

The flower section of La Rambla.

The bird section of La Rambla.

The market is exactly what I have always wanted.  It is rows upon rows of stalls with fresh fish, fresh fruit, fresh meat, fresh...well you get the idea.  There was every kind of food you could imagine and want, and the prices were not all that bad!  We started out with vegetarian food for lunch (again, recommended) with some delicious (and cheap) fresh fruit for desert.

First we needed coffee...but where did we get it?  That's right, Dunkin Donuts!  The real reason is though, that not many places have coffee to go, only coffee to sit and drink.  Plus it was apparently delicious!

The entrance to La Boqueria.  Can you spot Dad in the crowd?

One of the stalls of meat in La Boqueria.  It was REALLY crowded, so I could not snap too many.  Actually, just this one haha. 

Dad and I with our chorrizo on a stick with cheese. SO yummy :)

Before lunch though, we headed to the end of La Rambla, and checked out the port.  It was just very picturesque, for being as much of an international hub as it is.  So we meandered up and down the boardwalk, taking in the different angles of the city.

Mom was loving the palm trees, which were everywhere!

The port.

Action shot. Are they just about the cutest, my parents?

A boat in the port. Ok that was self explanatory.

My lovely parents in front of the port.

Finally we needed a teensy siesta, so the parents fought off their jet-lag some more (with eyes closed) and I researched where we should go after.  I finally settled on the Chocolate Museum, followed by the Parc de la Ciutadella.

The Chocolate Museum was much smaller than we expected,  but still pretty fun!  It was a combination of how chocolate was made, and statues of chocolate figures (very impressively made).  There were religious figures, and then animated Disney figures as well.  Such an interesting mix.  PLUS, our admission ticket was a bar of chocolate! How great is that!

Holding our tasty entrance "tickets"

Don Quixote, but in chocolate!

The house from UP!  That is a funny movie, rent it if you have not seen it.

Next we wandered over to the Parc, which turned out to be a great little find.  It was a neat park, perfect for a picnic on a day with better weather, and filled with statues, fountains, and buildings.  It was very leisurely, but with so many nooks and crannies that it kept it interesting.

I am in love with this fountain :)

We then headed back to La Rambla to gather some things for dinner, but what we really had for dinner was Churros con Chocolate.  They are my favorite Spanish treat (which you may know if you have been reading my blog avidly haha), and I was desperate to share them with everyone.  I think they were the perfect treat after a long day of walking!

First churros! Yay!

Finally we collapsed back at the apartment, until Dad got a second wind, and he and I headed out to explore our neighborhood at night.  We found a great tiny little plaza with a tapas bar, and sat outside (but under a heat lamp) and had fried shrimp and then a tapa of eggs potatoes and sausage.  Both tapas were delicious and totally tided over our hunger, and our constant search for fun types of meat.

Celebrating our nice tapa find.

Then we really settled in with some wine and cheese and crackers, and headed to bed (well me not so much yet, but soon!)  Tomorrow we have a big day ahead of us, with a Gaudi tour in the morning, and more fun to ensue after that I am sure!  Hasta luego :)