Barcelona. Barcelona. Where do I start? With only four days, we'd knew we'd only have a glimpse of this historic city that goes back over a millennial. There would be no way to see it all; to experience more than a taste and some glances but we were going to try. We planned it over Havana's birthday so we could celebrate in a special place. Some of our Argentine family live there and others were visiting, so we were delighted to see them and with Paula's guidance (she'd been there before), she suggested we do the touristy hop on/off bus to get a overview and then go back to places that piqued our interest.
The city as a whole is quite extraordinary. You don't have to see it all the feel it. It had a city vibe but it did not feel chaotic. That was refreshing to me, as my childhood city of New York can feel overwhelming and quite chaotic at all hours of the day and night. The historic buildings that were throughout the city were breathtaking and sparked my vivid imagination. Who had lived in those apartments a hundred years ago? Two hundred years ago? Was there happiness, sorry, passion, loss, hurt? Those buildings held so many stories, it would take another millennia to tell them all. I think the girls got a bit weary of me pointing out all those building and those doors! Those doors. Gosh, I love the doors! Their wooden construction, with elegant designs and their shapes; they were not just beautifully constructed, they were symbolic as well.
We did a lot of walking in Barcelona. Up day we clocked in 16,000 steps! But there was so much to see! We went to the Parc Quell (twice, the first time tickets had just sold out so the girls and I went back the next day after Don left), we went to an ancient castle via the gondola above the city, we found an English bookstore where the girls stocked up on books (they had already devoured the ones they brought with them), we briefly walked Las Ramblas and we shopped near Catayluna and had delicious lunch at an organic restaurant. We drove through the Gothic quarter, which took my breath away. I think the girls were impressed but they had their two year old cousin in the backseat and he was a bit more fun for them! The tour bus allowed us to see the city from a birds eye view. We got to see residential areas, schools, churches, parks and more. That allowed us to get a feel for the more local life as well. La Sagrada Famila, was just behind our hotel, so we could see it from the pool and terrace. We had the most dazzling view of the super full moon and the church from there. We also had some great meals with our family and we swam in the tiny rooftop pool. So while we barely touched the service, we saw alot.
I can't finish this post without mentioning the highspeed train. The trains are a great way to get around in Spain. We'd taken one from Madrid and were greatly impressed that first time as well. Quiet, clean and going upwards of 150 miles an hour, without it seeming to be so fast, was quite exciting. It was wonderful to get to further distances so quickly but also being able to take in the land and seascapes outside the window. The train to and from the city was definitely part of the wonderful experience. We'd been warned to be safe in Barcelona so we took great care of our personal belongings. Thankfully we were safe. But to be honest, I felt generally safe in that huge, historic city, with it's well planned grids and kind and helpful people. Sadly, Don had to leave on our third day. It was time for him to return home to work. We were all pretty bummed out him leaving. It would not be the same with him gone. We'd had a mostly great trip overall and we wanted to be together as we continued our explorations. We all agreed we'd like to return one day and see a bit more together.
Here are some scenes from our short time in Barcelona.
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| I was so delighted to see the Cuban flag, I did a little dance in the street!!! Viva la Cuba! |
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