It's been a really enjoyable couple of days in Barcelona. We were only briefly here about five years ago at the end of a very hectic week so we never really had an opportunity to explore the city and surrounding areas. We're staying at the Crystal Hotel, which is really well situated a block from the famous Las Ramblas Boulevard and has easy access to the Metro. I guess since it's low season, they very nicely put us in a room with a terrace, which we didn't even ask for. The terrace is huge, about 13X18!
This visit has certainly satisfied our senses and more. Much like Madrid, Barcelona has lovely, broad tree lined boulevards and is a very walkable city. It has an excellent Metro system, like Madrid, and it's such an easy way to get around the city. One thing that is different is that often the middle of the streets are blocked off for pedestrians and the cars just drive on either side of these islands and in the middle are all these outdoor sitting areas for the restaurants that line the street. Since it's a little chilly this time of year, we have really appreciated the outdoors heaters when we've sat down for tapas!! Don't get me started on the Spanish wines either.......yummy........
We've had the opportunity to visit Antoni Gaudi's famous works here, such as the Familia Sagrada Cathedral and Casa Mila. Today we'll be visiting Park Guell as well which I'm really looking forward to. The Familia Sagrada is an absolutely overwhelming sight and one of those must see things to do (in my humble opinion :-)) He started it in 1882 knowing he would not live to see it finished and, in fact, it's still under construction today. Estimates are that it might be finished in 25 years! Guess we'll have to come back and see the finished product!
Casa Mila is an apartment complex that he designed which many refer to as "the melting ice cream building". He also lived there for many years and we were able to tour his apartment as well as the rooftop terrace.
Yesterday, we took the train to Figueres, which is where the Salvador Dali museum is. It's about a 2 hour train ride north of here and it was SO worth it. I had had a passing familiarity with his work and always thought it was very creative, but so much of it in one place really blew me away. I think both Jim and I are huge fans of surrealist art now! His works are just so wild and whimsical - right up my alley. It was impressive how many different mediums he worked with - pencil sketches, water color, acrylic, and sculpture as well. He also made jewelry which was absolutely spectacular to see.
I'll do a separate posting with pictures from the Familia Sagrada as well as the Dali museum so this posting won't be a mile long!
Tomorrow we fly to Amsterdam in the morning and we'll be there for a few days. Then we're trying out couchsufing for the first time in Berlin with a very nice couple who offered to let us stay with them so that will be an adventure I'm sure!
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