Juliacentralicious

Spain, Part 1: Barcelona

So Kayce had some days off after coming back, so we decided to do a whirlwind tour of Spain.
First stop was Barcelona. After a wise investment in some lockers at the station and a ten-use Metro pass, we were on our way to Parc Güell-- the one designed by Gaudi. Well, after walking about an extra mile from signs that wanted us to go in a big circle, and asking for directions, we made it to the park. Well, it was pretty, but there wasn't much to it. We climbed to the top of the hill, and were treated with an expansive, if foggy, view of the whole city. Also a rock bench that strangely resembled railroad spike. While we rested, an old man came up to us, offered to take our picture, and rambled on a bit about how he'd grown up in Barcelona and loved it so much. Then he told us to be sure not to miss the park designed by Gaudi-- on the other side of the hill. Of course. So we were on our way again. The first thing you can see of the park from above is the plaza-- home of the world's longest park bench, according to some other Americans we met there. It's full of tourists, artists, pickpockets (we were warned by one of the vendors, though we didn't have any problems), and even a saxophonist halfheartedly playing some old jazz standards. If you walk around a bit, you can see Gaudi's house. There are side tunnels and walkways that look like they've been created by dragons or volcanoes. Below the main plaza is a space with pillars and a sort of undersea feeling-- tentacles coming out of the ceiling, and all that. Then there's the front entrance, with the dragon, and a church that looks like it belongs in Candyland. It was packed with people. Gaudi was a genius, but it was like being in a completely different world.
After that, we went to the Church de Sagrada Familia, which Gaudi worked on for the last 40 years of his life, giving up everything else. It's been "in progress" for over 100 years now. There's no way to describe it: we walked out of the Metro station, disoriented in the light, turned around, and there it is. It's massive. Every inch is decorated. Inside, there's scaffolding everywhere, the whole center filled with workers listening to hip-hop. The pillars are designed like trees, are bright white. Out front, you could waste hours finding details in the stone. And it's full of tourists. But pretty impressive.
We walked the Gothic Quarter, down Las Ramblas, the main avenue. Lots of booths with souvenirs and postcards, and every type of street performer imaginable: magician with white bunny, silver Medusa, copper lady, zombie, Samurai in black paint who attacked passers-by, invisible man, skull in a box that barked at passing dogs, a couple Indians. It was pretty crazy.
Our last stop in the city was Labyrinth Park-- the oldest in Barcelona. And home to a hedge maze! So we got sufficiently lost, found the center. The park also has a fake cemetery-- something about balancing the beauty of the neoclassical with mortality. But a cool stop.
And then we got on our train-- ooh, a sleeper! Perhaps the smallest bed I've been on-- and headed down to Granada.

Pictures here.

posted by Julia @ 3:21 AM