Bits of Bremen: The Barcelona Escapades: Dia Uno

The Barcelona Escapades began very early in the morning. I was up at 3:30 and caught the 4:25 train that took me to the strassenbahn that took me to the airplane that took me to the bus that took me to the metro (subway) that took me to wandering around the Plaça de Catalunya until I asked taxi drivers who spoke no English where my hostel was (the amazing part of this was that I could understand them enough to get the jist of where my hostel was).

The hostel people were very nice. I couldn’t be checked in yet so I left my suitcase with them and got some lunch (a classic ham & cheese sandwich toasted, fruit salad, and a coke) then checked in and took a short rest.

I had done a little bit of research into Barcelona before I went and learned that because Spain hadn’t fought in World War I, there had be an arts explosion resulting in Modernisme. Antoni Guadi was the golden child of the Modernisme movement. I had seen pictures of some of the things he had designed and was anxious to see them so they became my first sightseeing adventures.

I started with the Casa Batlló, an incredible home that Gaudi designed for the Batlló with a nautical theme. It’s so gorgeous there – check out the album for pictures of it! No straight lines, lots of mosaic work. The roof is particularly amazing since it has been designed to look like a dragon’s scaly back.

From there I moved onto Park Güell that is hailed deservedly as one of Gaudi’s greatest creations. It’s a park that has a few show homes all designed by Gaudi, one that has been turned into the Gaudi Museum. The park long curved benches covered with mosaics, this area that has columns and mosaics set into the roof, fountains with giant lizard things, covered walkways. It’s so difficult to describe. It was absolutely beautiful. I loved sitting in the sunshine, eating a manzana verde gelato (green apple gelato), listening to musicians who played in the park, just watching all the tourists.

After the great Park Güell experience I decided to try to find Gaudi’s Sagrada Família Catedral, but couldn’t. I ended up getting lost for the second time that day. Instead I headed to dinner at Origens, a place that had been recommended by my hostel for it’s good, authentic Catalan food.

I ordered escalivada, bread with roasted peppers, onion, and artichoke with some sort of saunce on top, as a starter and canalone, round noodles stuffed with some kind of meat, covered in cheese, and baked, for the main course. For dessert I wrapped it up with goat cheese, walnuts, and honey. It was absolutely delicious! Plus anyone willing to trust me with a giant pot of honey and a dipper just brave. (I did get honey everywhere.)

Back home to the hostel to fall into a dead sleep and recharge for día dios.