A Day of Riding

The plan was to sleep late today, but I guess that never really happens in a hostel. I stumbled out of the hostel around 10:30 in search of the tour bus.  I found it and a nice quick breakfast (café con leche and a chocolate croissant) and began touring.

Casa Mila. Antoni Gaudi’s last work before dedicating himself to the Sagrada Familia.

Avenue Diagonal.

aah. cruise ships.

Christopher Columbus looking out to sea. This is where Ferdinand and Isabel welcomed Columbus home from America.

a happy shrimp/crafish/lobster sculpture.

a non-objective sculpture. right, Anna? or is it abstract..

the Port Olimpic.

beaches! people were in swimsuits. I was in a coat and scarf.

one of the city parks. I feel like there were several.

the Santa Maria del Mar.

inside was burned during the Spanish Civil War – char marks are still visible on the ceiling.

a monument remembering a 300-year-old massacre (and mass grave) of Catalan patriots in this square.

After seeing a lot of the city, I headed to the Picasso Museum. It is one of the best museums I have visited. Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona from age 14 – 21. The museum chronicled these years, so that a visitor is able to see the themes of his formative years. It is amazing what he did with a brush at only 14. He was so talented. No photos allowed, sorry.

This evening I used Rick Steve’s Europe for a tapas bar recommendation. It was amazing. I had several different tapas.. I’ll try to remember them for you:

A glass of white wine.

Crab salad on toast, topped with a shrimp and pickle.

Ham on toast. But not normal ham.. I don’t know what it’s called.

Ham and cheese fried pastry type thing; the word escapes me.

Marinated shrimp on a skewer.

Four cheeses on toast – maybe brie, bleu, parmesan and .. something.

An amazing cake with cream in the center and topped with caramelized sugar.

Decaf café con leche.

I’m very full thinking about it, and I have been finished for an hour. While sitting at the tapas bar I met a fun couple from Miami. They were speaking Spanish nearly the whole time.. Is Miami even in the United States? Hah. Oh, and I’m still addicted to coffee, as you can tell. 

It was a great day. I can honestly say that I prefer riding on a bus from all of the walking I have done thus far during the trip. Also, upon arriving in Barcelona last night, I was a bit concerned of how safe of a place it was. Today, those fears were dispelled; I think I really like it here!