Barcelona- Park Guell

After our lovely first night in Barcelona we made it up the next morning, had some lovely chocolate chip muffins Jess and I purchased at the grocery and started out on our adventure. We went looking for Internet which we never found and instead found subway sandwiches...

We took the metro toward Park Guell and then proceeded to hike up to the park. After trekking up a very steep hill there were escalators in the middle of the street which took you up farther. The boys decided to climb over a stair rail where there was caution tape and explore. Of course we followed... and of course Jess had a dress on, luckily with leggings because it was a little chilly. We explored and found that they were doing construction and we couldn't go any further, but it gave us a good view of the city. We hiked back down and ventured on to the main park. There was a large open area surrounded with mosaic benches and lots of people were hanging  out and kids playing with soccer balls. There were also artists selling handmade things and then "Gaudi inspired" earrings and pendants on umbrellas. 

We went to the Gaudi house/museum which is within the park. There was furniture and household items that Gaudi had designed. My favorite was the upholstered furniture, the fabric was very elaborate with many different textures. The outside of the house looked like a version of candy land with  many curved lines and all kinds of colors. After visiting we continued to wander around the park which was gorgeous and never ending. At this point my camera died, which I was slightly devastated but everyone else took good pictures and offered to share.  I could have spend the entire day there just hanging out, people watching, and enjoying the green. 

Next was La Sagrada Familia, the unfinished cathedral designed by Gaudi. It is huge and is barely half way done. I want to return in 30 years to see the expansion and everything added on. The architecture was very unique and interesting to look at. Gaudi took inspiration from nature and it was very apparent in his architecture. The columns were like tree trunks and then the ceiling was designed like the canopy of all of the trees together. There was a museum in the basement explaining where the inspiration came from and also information about other artists that contributed to La Sagarada Familia. The sculptors of people surrounding the whole cathedral were in the cubist style and we awesome. they might have been my favorite part. 

We tried to go to the Picasso museum but the line was ridiculous. We later found out from our German friends at our apartment that it was free to get in because it was the first Sunday of the month.  

We found Internet at a restaurant 5 steps from the apartment and had a glass of wine and tapas while informing everyone that we were alive and had made it to Barcelona. 

For a late Spanish dinner we went down to the water and had delicious paella and sangria at Toc de Mar. We enjoyed the sangria thoroughly and called it a night after dinner.