This weekend my Hollins girlfriends and I hit the streets of Barcelona. Not exactly Cheetah Girl Style, but we rocked it. The first night we arrived around 11pm. So we dropped our things off at Kabul -our hostel in Plaza Real right off Las Ramblas – before hitting up some long awaited tapas. Then we located the closest Dunkin’ Coffee (Dunkin’ Donuts Spanish Style) for future reference and took to bed.
The following morning we rushed out to make our 11am tickets for La Sagrada Familia and the church left nothing to disappoint. The gothic style building peaks higher than almost anything in the city and it still amazes me how original and intricate the architecture is. When we walked inside, we were taken back by the pillars that mirror Red Wood trees. They seemed to turn the church into a stone forest.
There were four pillars that had glowing circlets of a lion, angle, and other animals. They would have looked so out of place in any church, but in Gaudi’s, they just made his style more robust. I have no idea what they represent and unfortunaly wiki doesn't comment on them. Before leaving we checked out Antoni Gaudí's crypt and took the lift up into the towers too see the top of the towers and the work still in process. After we grabbed pizzas by a nearby bar and took the metro over to Parque Guell.
The plaza of Parque Güell made me feel like I was a play piece on Candy Land (If you all remember that childhood board game). The houses looked like they were made out of gingerbread and the curvy staircase transported you to a different world with the famous mosaic lizard. The rest of the park I was slightly disappointed with.
The viewing area had the beautiful mosaicked seats, but the center was a giant dust bowl. I wish they had an input box so I could recommend grass; however, there was this man in the middle jamming out on plastic tubs. Usually street performers can pull this off, but this guy was literally beating to a whole new drum with NO rhythm in a magician’s cape and Heinekens hat. I thought at first he was pulling a prank until I saw him the following day down at the beach. When we hiked around the uppermost part of the park we eventually found cute grassy patches and park-like areas. Off to the left of the park are stone steps that curve into a platform laden with stone crosses. Gaudí’s faith in the Catholic Church seems to always artfully show itself in all of his work. From that point we could see almost the entire city including La Sagrada Familia and the beach. That night we wandered the city till we found the Barcelona Cathedral. After walking by it about 4 times, we found it. It was beautiful, but because it was under construction, we weren’t able to see it all lit up. So along with a guide book and our imaginations, we imagined it lit up before scampering off to more tapas for dinner.
Speaking of the Beach, we spent the majority of the next day sunbathing in the sands of Barcelona’s coast. While Kelsey and I gradually turned darker shades of brown, our friend Emma just seemed to turn pink, then eventually red. So we packed up our stuff and meandered down the walkway for 30 minutes stopping to play with cute dogs and find good benches for people watching and conversation. Just a heads up for any beach goers, if you walked down towards all the restaurants, you’ll find an outdoor exercise park, filled with toned athletes. Conveniently, the city placed numerous stone benches in front of this park and so, this area doesn’t just provide the ocean as a great view. After our beach adventure we grabbed some gelato then went back to the room for a siesta and shower before heading out for dinner. It was a casual evening spent with friends and we didn’t head out to any big clubs like most of the jovenes; but I suppose that’s because we were rather content with good sangria, good tapas and good friends.
The following morning was our last in Barcelona so while my friends headed down to the beach for some extra sun I took the tram up to the top of the Montjuïc fortress. It has an intense past as many people were imprisoned, tortured and executed here; however its gardens were perfectly laid out and from the very top was the BEST view of Barcelona.The fortress gives you a panoramic view of the city, mountains, portside/industrial section and ocean. I made peace walking the grounds, posing for pictures with ginormous guns and enjoying the breeze and pretty views. It was the perfect ending to my Barcelona trip with the whole city laid out before me.
If there was one thing I had to gripe about its my failed attempt to take my suntan lotion through airport security. I bought water-resistant, UVA, UVB 50SPF for 11 euros, which is a bargain in Alicante (At the pharmacies in Alicante 30SPF non water-resistant is 18 euro). So instead of trying to smuggle it through airport security like me, pack a giant bottle when you come over from the States and a little travel container for trips. Your skin will thank you later.
Next week Emma and I are heading out to Venice, Naples, Capri and Pompeii for Semanta Santa; so until then, Beso Beso!
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