Barcelona is just how I (fondly) remember it and we are staying in an Apartment/hotel right near Centric Point Hostel (where I stayed my first time in Barcelona). The city is big and bustly but clean and full of energy. Ancient building sprout up all around you with undulating Gaudi masterpieces mixed in. The sidewalks are wide and there are many pedestrian-only streets. Today was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was bright but not too hot, there was a light breeze and it was just great to be out on this lovely Spring day.
Today was also dia del Sant Jordi (Saint George) the patron saint of Barcelona and all of Catalonia. It seemed like EVERYONE in Barcelona and the greater area had the day off and were walking the streets. They celebrated by selling roses (in a sort of Valentine-like/give-to-your-loved-one tradition). They also had thousands of stands selling books complete with people lining up to get their books signed by the author right there in person.
We started the day in Placa Catalunya at the top of the Ramblas. It was so crowded on that pedestrian street we decided to meander our way through Bari Gotic...the old part of town where streets are so narrow that cars cannot go through. We stumbled across a chocolate shop and shared a cup of THICK warm hot chocolate. So rich and delicious I
almost got a chocolate headache (don't worry it was more than well worth it). We also got to go inside the Palau de la Generalitat. This is essentially the White House equivalent of the Barcelonian government and is only open to the public one day a year (today)! It was super cool with frescos and a nice orange tree court yard. Statues and tapestries of Saint George abounded and we even got to write him a little prayer/wish. We rambled some more on the ramblas, gazed up at the huge monument to Cristobal Colon, snacked on an apple down by the Mediterranean, stared at at cow tongue (blech) and huge stands of fruit (wow) at La Boquerat Market, and even clapped our hands to a few Capoeira performers. We had a late lunch at Maoz a FABULOUS vegetarian pita place. Then we hopped a bus over to Park Guell. This is is a whimsical garden/housing complex that
Gaudi built, but no one ever lived in. There, mosaics abound and straight lines are eliminated. Large columns tilt sideways and the roofs of buildings look sort of like ice cream. It was still light though already passed 7pm when we realized we should probably get home and see poor hard-working Abba. Overall it was a great day, and a great way to start the trip off. Unfortunately the one downside was some amazingly skilled pick-pockets did away with mom's camera.
Pictures to come...
3 comments:
yeah!! you made it!! i hadn't heard from any of you, but I am glad you are all safe. I cannot believe mom's camera is gone...How ironic that it would happen in Spain rather than CR (points for Costa Rica!!)
Sounds like you had a wonderful first day other than that though. I am so jealous!!
Yeah, bummer about the camera. They must have been good because I remember in Russia how your mom caught an attempted pick pocketeer trying their luck with her. But beyond that I just watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and it makes me completely jealous of you, I want to go there so bad. Continue to live out one of my current fantasies.
Happy to hear you all arrived and have started your adventurous journey, immediately.....it is terrible that mom's camera got stolen....
Looking forward to photographs!
Love to all!
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