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| Barcelona, Spain |
| Art & Architecture |
| Aside from Las Ramblas, Barcelona is also famous for its crazy "Gaudi" art. I am not sure if this is where the word "gaudy" comes from but it wouldn't surprise me. Yes it's gaudy alright but it also somehow manages to be tacky and beautiful at the same time. Weird I know. The three pics above are primse examples. It's just so far out there but in a cool way...refreshingly different. Say what you will but it certainly catches the eye and breaks the monotony. The pictures on the left and right are of two of the most famous Gaudi buildings which are right in the middle of downtown Barcelona. The picture in the center is the Sagrada Famiglia which is this enormous cathedral/"gumdrop" casle that juts out into the sky. It borders on an eye sore but manages to pull it off with class. |
| This was the highlight of the trip for us. Park Gruell is devoted and created to the art and architecture of Gaudi. It is designed in such a way that the monuments just seem to grow out of the soil in an organic way. We spent the better part of a morning there picnicking and just chilling out listening to a band playing in the shade of the beautifully designed grottos. Great day. |
| On a completely different vein from the park yet equally interesting, we spent our last afternoon amidst an enormous anti-war rally we stumbled upon near Las Ramblas. It was amazing. Obviously Spain is in a fragile transition right now and there is a mobilization of the general public with regards to politics and foreign affairs that is tangible everywhere. Regardless of your opinion regarding the war, there is something hopeful in the congregation of thousands of people who are talking about the issues. Although we were aware of our position in the middle of all this, the rally was in no way anti-American. It was focused on peace and remembering all the soldiers that are currently abroad. We were glad to be there and inspired to educate ourselves more on the issues. |
| If you've heard of Barcelona, you have probably heard of Las Ramblas. It is a huge promenade complete with cafes, a flower market and vendors selling birds and pets of all things. The real attraction, however, is the crazy group of street performers that make their living showing off weird skills on the side of the promenade. From standing completely still statue-like to the man who screams from you from the center of a plate of paella to the man who sits on a toilet and pretends to do a #2 when you give a few coins, we couldn't get enough which explains why we were there at least once a day to ogle the "street freaks". I guess they make a respectable living too. Super fun and definitely something you have to see for yourself. Just don't stop at one of the cafes...although the view was great we payed 12 euros for one beer. I mean it was big but for 12 euros it should have come in a bucket! |
| Our trip to Barcelona was the best yet. I swear Barcelona has to be our favorite city we have seen but then we kind of have a tendency to feel that way every time. Regardless it was undeniably spectacular and we are already dreaming of ways to go back...another adventure maybe? The city itself just gives off this great buzz. Surrounded by avant garde art and architecture as well as the high energy of the friendly population, it is easy to see why Picasso found a home in Barcelona. A great mix of the layed-back attitude of the meditteranean combined with the forward-moving visions that you would except from a metropolis, Barcelona seems to be on the up-swing. In a surprising twist our hostel double-booked us and so we found ourselves staying with three Spanish students in their spare bedroom. At first a bit nerve-wracking (especially when we found ourselves knocking on a complete stranger's door hoping we had understood correctly between the Spanish-French), it turned out to be the best travel arrangements we have had to date. Super accomodating, our three temporary "roommates" were a great resource for advice about the city which saved us a lot of wandering and misadventures. Surrounding the recent political events of their country and ours (this was two weeks from the bombings in Madrid and a week after the controversial elections) conversation was never boring and I think we learned a lot from each other. All in all, Barcelona was a hit. I predict we'll be back sooner than later. |
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