This week I’ve been very world weary. There is just too much going on in the world that seems like it shouldn’t. So as a distraction, I returned to my pile of SD cards and finally tackled going through more of my photos.
This set is from my first vacation holiday since living and working in London. And by holiday, I really just mean an extended weekend. At the same time, it was my first ever trip to ‘the continent’.
It didn’t disappoint. Barcelona was the most beautiful city I’ve seen. Like really, really beautiful. I’m ashamed my photos really are crap at showing it, but I loved this city.
My favorite things about Barcelona were that all the taxis looked the same and weren’t plastered with advertising; all the main roads are wide and have hexagonal intersections; and they drive on the same side of the road as the US. I’m not sure why when I wrote that sentence everything had to do with their transport.
The architecture was incredible, too—tall beautifully presented buildings about 5 or 6 floors tall—nearly every window with a small balcony. It was really lovely. And I had proper tapas for the first time in my life and they were the best thing since the knock-off brand chocolate hazelnut cereal I discovered 5 months ago. I relish in the moment when I find good food. Don’t tell anyone here, but the British haven’t figured good food out quite yet. Except for shepherd’s pie. They’ve done that well.
The only thing I knew Barcelona for before I went was the The Sagrada Familia—the massive yet-to-be-finished basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí. My trip to Barcelona really helped me connect some major missing dots in my life regarding Gaudi. I had always referred to messy and cluttered decoration as Gobby. Turns out it was supposed to be Gaudi. I’m learning.
The Basilica was really interesting. So bizarre. Kind of indescribable. We even made it up into the bell towers of the Nativity facade (the side you see below).
We also made it to the Casa Batlló—also by Gaudi—a whimsical nautical inspired house from which you’ll see a few photos. Lots of time was spent lost in the Gothic quarter with it’s web of narrow roads and walkways.
Quick trips to the Montjuïc Castle above the city via a cable car and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya made for a few good photos, too.
The last day was a day at the beach where I got a right royal sunburn on my legs—which nearly crippled me. No photos of that. You would thank me.
//Blake
