Spring Break Phase 2: Barcelona

So, when I came to Italy, my first instinct was to reply to questions in American/Mexican Spanish.  Now, I only had two years of Spanish in high school and they were kind of a joke (I won't get into details...), but suddenly, the Spanish that I had learned flowed back into my mind and tried to push its way out of my mouth.  After about a week it went away, but I figured that it would be helpful in Barcelona, even though they speak Spanish Spanish (crazy, right?).

Just kidding.  

Catalan is spoken in Barcelona.  On all of the menus there was a list of fare in both Spanish and Catalan.  The first morning that we were in Barcelona, we took a trip to the Picasso Museum (which had the worst layout I have ever experienced in a museum.  I have no formal training yet, and I can already tell you it was not designed well) and all of Picasso's biographical information was printed in Catalan, Spanish, and English.  Apparently, the rest of Spain isn't as fond of Barcelona as those of us who go there for Spring Break.  They don't find the Catalan business cute.

Barcelona was a world away from Palermo.  Barcelona seemed to me breezy and-if you'll allow me-groovy.  Not in the psychedelic way, but far more relaxed and easy.  The sky seemed to be a brighter blue, the buildings were farther apart, and there were far more palm trees.

One of my favorite things about Barcelona was this huge market called La Boqueria.  It had so much beautiful fruit that I wanted to buy pounds and pounds of it and let the juices dribble down my chin as I bit into a mango or feel the sparks on my tongue as I stuffed two orange segments into my mouth at once.  There were piles and pile of almonds, cashews, and pistachios.  Heaps of fish that I could tell by the red-slashed gills and bright eyes were just caught.  Brilliant cuts of meat with swirls of white fat.  Breads stacked upon each other, bellowing starchy goodness.
 

The entrance to the market.

Why doesn't anyone say "it's the best thing since sliced fruit"?  It's far harder to slice fruit than bread...

Chocolates, nuts, and dried fruit.

I think I need a string of peppers, actually....

Barcelona also has a beautiful beach and it was a convenient 20 minute walk from our hostel and don't most kids go to a beach for Spring Break?  Either way, we lounged away two afternoons on the sandy shore of the Mediterranean eating oranges, napping, and getting a little sunburnt.  

The Mediterranean and I are becoming attached to each other...

Didn't it snow in Michigan last week?

There were so many jet streams!

One morning, Gemma and I got up a bit earlier and hiked up half a mountain to see this beautiful park (are you sensing a theme in my life abroad?  Hiking up half mountains....it's how I can eat so much gelato I suppose.)  The trail up was lush with tons of greenery and cacti and the view from the top was awesome.

Part of Barcelona and the fun-looking gondolas.

Check out the new TOMS!  I stumbled across a TOMS store in Barcelona that was having a 50% off sale.

These hanging flowers smelled delicious and I felt like honey should be dripping from them.

We met in the airport.  We were meant to be traveling partners.

Peace.  Love.  Spanish Parks.

This hotel...

...had this view.

A quick quirk of Barcelona:

Gemma and I were wandering around the city with our friend Matt and we really had to go to the bathroom, so I suggested we stop in a train station that we came across--train stations have to have bathrooms, right?  They had a large bathroom that was entirely unremarkable except for the fact that there was one roll of toilet paper and it was located outside of any of the stalls.  I'm not sure what the purpose of doing it this way is, but I hope everyone realizes it before they need the toilet paper.

Grab a piece on your way in....

Another cool aspect of Barcelona are the Gaudi structures.  We saw a church that he had spent 40 years working on.  40 years!  That's two of my lifetimes!  Not to call anyone old--that's just a really long time to work on a project.  I get bored with a sewing project after a few hours.  It still isn't finished and the scaffolding takes away from the incredibility of it a bit, but it's still one of the most unique and captivating churches that I have seen.  It's different than most that I have seen because Gaudi's inspiration for this masterpiece came from skeletons.   The spires remind me of piles of wet sand and all of the characters in the crucifixion scene are overly angular and gaunt.  My favorite thing about this church though, is the fact that while there is a crucified Christ on the front, several meters above that is a golden Christ with his arms raised, resurrected.  I wish I saw more of that.  Anyone can be crucified.  Only one can stand above it with his arms raised.  

Does it remind anyone else of sand?

It's so eerie.  Christ is on the cross and there are weeping women and centurions.

There's the golden Christ.  I'm sorry I don't have a better picture.  It was just so tall!

This was lunch on my last day--papaya, pineapple, kiwi, and strawberries.  Not listed-a waffle with dark chocolate drizzled on top.

These sandals leave fun tan lines.

Oh, and we ate some delicious paella.  When in Barcelona!  (?)

Why yes, I did pull the head off.

My mom is visiting this weekend and then the weekend after that I have a field trip to Pompeii.  The daughter in me is excited for this weekend and the history nerd in me is geeking out about next weekend.  How are things on your side of the pond?

PS-I think I fixed the comments, so anyone should be able to comment now.