Gaudi Everywhere

Barcelona

August 22-25th

We were on the fast track of Eastern Spain. Just a taste is all we were going to get due to our needing to get back to the States for Roby’s dad. It was going to be several days of 8 hours of walking to try and get in as much as we could to say we did Barcelona. It was a long 8 hour train ride from Cartagena to Barcelona and we did not arrive until almost 9:00 pm. Although we had taken some food with us for the ride we neglected to realize we would be on the train for two meals so needless to say we were starving when we disembarked in Barcelona. We picked up the metro map and proceeded down the thousands of stairs and tunnels till we reached the train, suffocating due to the lack of air movement let alone any air. Had to be the least friendly metro system we have been on in Europe and it did not help that it is hot and humid in Barcelona. Thankfully the metro itself is air cooled. Our hostel was perfectly located near Catalyuna and Las Ramblas in the “rich and posh” district, but that is all it had going for it. Our room was the size of a shoebox and it was not air conditioned nor did we have a fan the first night. The second night they were able to give us a fan but the only outlet was at the head of the bed so we had the fan within inches of our faces but it was better than nothing. We should not be complaining because we had just spent 10 days in the jungle with no running water and compost toilets. I think I liked the jungle better!!!

We dropped of our bags and headed for the first restaurant we could find. Guess what we had-our favorite food of Europe falafel and doner kababs. They have become the national staple of all European countries. We called it an early evening hoping to get some quality sleep. Well this hostel was located on the second floor of an office type building so the windows opened to the staircase and all the sound from any location resonated off the walls. So, every time the outside door opened, or the buzzer was rung, or the drunk and wild Italian boys came home at all hours of the night, we heard it. The only consolation is that it got us up early so we had the full day to venture through the city. We were up and about at the earliest we had every been on our trip. First stop was coffee for Roby which has been a bit of a dilemna because he always wants a big cup of coffee and they only serve him a “Barbie sized” cup. He is learning to drink slower and has figured out that the coffee con leche gives him the best option. It usually requires us to stop for two cups along the way. Our first stop was the Sagrada Familia. A unique masterpiece started by Gaudi in 19__ but never finished and is actually still under construction to build another 10 spires on it by a private foundation. They are hopeful to have it all completed by 2025. Seems like they are on Kauai time. The day started to heat up and our sunscreen had caused an imbreathable coating on our skin from all the humidity. We marched on toward the Parc Guell another Gaudi creation. More of an architecturally gifted park than a green grass and shady nap taking park. Roby had studied Gaudi in school and had a classmate who had been to the area so he was excited to see it. The structures were typical Gaudi-non-conforming buildings with inorganic lines and trippy designs. Some of them look as if he had been on an acid trip when he designed them. Again, Roby marveled and was perplexed at the intricacies of the designs and the laborious detail wondering how the project manager was able to get this done on time and on budget.

After a three hour tour of the park with a hike to the top to get a view of the city, it was a time for a well needed break from the heat so we proceeded to the café and enjoyed a liter of sangria. This however did not motive us for our 2 mile walk to the metro station but we begrudgingly got up and made the trek. We headed to the La Rambla district for dinner at an outdoor restaurant right on the plaza and were going to have a true Spanish dinner-tapas and paella. The evening had cooled off and we were able to enjoy the street scene from our table but unfortunately the dinner was nothing to write home about. The food was only mediocre at best and the paella was too salty almost inedible. I have come to the conclusion that the restaurants along the plazas whether in France or Spain are merely tourist traps and don’t care about the food they serve you. This is the second time we have struck out with our paella so I am going to have to make it myself! Having been out for over 12 hours in the hot sun we were ready for a shower and a good night’s sleep. Thankfully we had a fan tonight!

I think all the traveling and the heat were getting to us so our last day in Barcelona was quite casual and lax. We had a leisurely morning and ventured out around midday. We had to go to the bus station to purchase our tickets for Avignon and then we headed toward the waterfront to stroll along the boardwalk. We conveniently plopped ourselves down at an outdoor café and enjoyed a few beers and a McDonalds McFlurry. We hung out for a good two hours talking and “just being still”. While heading back to our hotel we found a CarreFour store (it is a company which sponsors one of the Tour de France bike teams) and we wanted to check one out because they said they were a new concept type store-well maybe for Europe but it is like a Super Walmart for us). It was perfect because we were able to buy food for breakfast and lunch for our 8 hour journey to Avignon. With perishable food we needed to head back and put it in the fridge at the hostel. Hunger was looming so we made our quick pit stop and then headed back out to find this restaurant recommended by Let’s Go Europe. We figured we bought the book so we better try something out it highlights. It did not disappoint. Probably our best meal not only the food but the décor, and the service were incredible. If you go to Barcelona you need to eat at the Attic in Las Ramblas near the Liceu metro station. A perfect way to end our stay in the City.