 |
| I totally found Caga Tio. |
La Ramble
 |
| Even the sidewalks are pretty. |
 |
| "Don't cry for me Argentina!" |
Park Guell
 |
| Escalators up to Park Guell |
La Sagrada Familia
 |
| The line to get into La Sagrada Familia was literally the longest line I have ever seen. But surprisingly it only took us about 2 hours to get in. |
 |
| It seems so congested outside, but when you walk in you get this feeling of space and freshness - like its the first deep breath you've taken in a long time. |
 |
| Gaudi designed it to look like a forest. |
 |
| He designed the building by putting weights on strings and observing the curves they created. This is literally the cathedral upside down. |
 |
| HELL YES WE RODE THE ELEVATOR TO THE TOP! ... Sarah couldn't move from that spot once she got there ;] |
 |
| Barcelona! |
 |
| We ate at this amazing place, right by our apartment on the last night. It was the best meal I think I have ever had. (Baked apples, Pan y Tomate, grilled and marinated veggies, orange chocolate cake and sweet wine) |
Soooo, I've been a lazy ass about making this last post. I think I'm still clinging to my glory days of adventure in my studies abroad. But thats enough lamenting, it's time to share Barcelona with the world! Basically this christmas we got snowed in, which is still quite the novelty for this born and bread california girl. Our flight to Barcelona was cancelled, and only after waiting on hold for 2 hours and bawling my eyes out to a saleswoman at aerlingus on christmas eve, did we actually come to our defeat. The rest of christmas eve was spent Mc Givering decorations and some christmas dinner...and walking to the midnight mass which didn't actually even exist. And on christmas day, if you're hungry and roaming the streets of Dublin you are shit outta luck because NOTHING is open and hotels can only "serve" their guests on christmas day. Messed up right? We felt like preggers Mary, Joseph and the Donkey. Just wandering with starved looks in our eyes and cold feet. Finally, after bunk attempts to get downtown or into the 4 seasons, we found refuge at Bewleys Hotel. We even got some free mulled wine, along side our stow away buffet dinner. The rest of Christmas was spent watching Mad Men and drinking martinis. Which, all in all, isn't a bad Christmas day.
Then we went to Barcelona, the greatest city on earth. Its like Los Angeles (specifically Santa Monica), Paris and some Italian city had a love child that speaks spanish and catalan. From tapas, to public art, to siestas I'm pretty damn sure the spaniards have figured out the best way to enjoy life.
I made it my mission to find cagarito and caga tio...because well Spaniards are obsessed with poop, and Christmas. No, they don't have Santa squeezing down a chimney. They have Caga Tio, a log that squeezes out presents and then once he's finished his bowel movement they roast him in the fire on Christmas Eve. Oh, and Cagarito means "The Little Crapper." He is a cute little figure, squatting, with his pants down, poopin. He gets to hide in the Nativity Scene - right by the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Culturally he represents prosperity in the new year... but he is also lots of fun.
Oh and did I even mention Gaudi! GAUDI GAUDI GAUDI!! This man was an architectural genius. His work is literally the craziest most awesome organic thing I have ever seen. We all know I'm a sucker for Art Nouveau but from the apartments, to Park Guell, to La Sagrada Familia I was floored by the detail, line, use of color, composition... I pretty much could have just curled up in one of those places and lived the rest of my live in happiness.
I think that everyone should see A. Park Guell and climb all the way to the top and look out over the city, and B. go to La Sagrada Familia, be inspired that some one some where is still taking 100 years to build a beyond words beautiful cathedral, and ride the elevator up the tower (Which Sarah and I did, although we both basically peed our pants in fear at the top and promptly rode down again. But it's all good because we still did it!!!)
Barcelona reminded me that people somewhere still appreciate beautiful things, just because they are beautiful. That cities need art because art makes people happy. Sure, without Gaudi Barcelona would still exist and be relaxed and have delicious food, but would people pilgrimage there to see, in my opinion, the most beautiful architectural marvel in the 20th and 21st century? I don't think so.
