Spain: Day 1

Once we landed in Barcelona we jumped we walked around aimlessly trying to figure out how or where to catch the subway to get into the city. Let's just say we weren't successful at finding the train. Instead we found a nice long line and waited for the bus. That's right, a bus, after traveling a few hours on a plane. Bogged down with our somewhat heavy bags we squished our way onto the uncomfortably hot bus and held on for dear life packed like sardines with other travelers. At some point we figured out what stop to get off at, Catalunya Square. Well, we got off at Catalonia Square instead. Woops! I noticed stairs down to the subway only to find out from a man sweeping the street that the subway stops service at 11pm. Across the huge traffic circle was a line of cabs. We ran over and jumped in. Just a short ride away we were dropped off right in front of our hostel, just a few hundred feet from La Rambla, the main pedestrian thoroughfare in Barcelona. After an exhausting day we made our way up the dark stairway to our floor and found our room with two sets of bunk beds and a set of lockers, a sight we would get used to. We hit the sack but not before realizing that there were hardly any springs left in my bed and when I jumped in I sank down almost to the floor. It was pretty damn hilarious. Kim has a picture of it somewhere.

The next morning we got up and decided our first outing would be to the famous cathedral, La Sagrada Familia (or The Holy Family). Construction on this basilica, pictured above, began in 1882. Famous architect Antoni Gaudí, who replaced the original architect, worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this endeavour. After Gaudí's death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes. It is a truly marvelous sight, something unlike any other. It was incredible to ascend up out of the underground from the subway to turn around and be dwarfed by these unbelievably elaborate spires soaring into the sky. The Church will have three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed) and the Passion façade to the West. The Nativity facade was built before work was interrupted in 1935 and bears the most direct Gaudí influence. The Passion façade is especially striking for its spare, gaunt, tormented characters, including emaciated figures of Christ being flogged and on the crucifix. The detail in the thousands of carvings is exsquisite. I took some incredible pictures of this masterpiece that I have since had printed and they are beautiful.

From the basillica we decided to make our way up to Mount Carmel and Park Guell. After an intense hike up the steepest hill ever we made it to the line of escalators that climbed to the top of Mount Carmel just outside of Park Guell. Atop this mountain is a monument of stone with a large cross on top. The 360 degree view was unbelievable. It was a gorgeous sunny day and after the tiring hike it was incredible to look down across such a beautiful city.

After taking in the sights we descended down the steps of the mountain into Park Guell. The initial plan for the park was to build an English-style garden city with 60 one family houses. In the end, only two of these were built, the architect himself (Gaudi) living in one until he moved to the Sagrada Familia. In this park Gaudi's creative genius achieved an architectural space in perfect communion and harmony with nature. Close to the park entrance is a wide double staircase with, at the meeting point of the ttwo sections, small spaces with waterfalls and sculptures, including a colorful mosaic-covered dragon, which has become a symbol of the park. The steps lead up to what was originally planned to be a 100-columned chamber where the market was to have been placed. The columns support spherical domes, and above the chamber is the huge circular main square surrounded by a mosaic bench. Walking around on top of this square was great. Palm trees ad flowers line the sides of the square. A bunch of kids were running around playing soccer right next to the sign that said "No soccer." We walked around the park a bit longer and saw some interesting people, crazy looking dogs and some incredible architecture before trekking back down the streetlined mountain back to the subway. On the way stopping at a few souvenir shops, one in which Kim stepped on a plate and broke it and then modeled a disgusting tydyed shirt with a giant head of a bull on it.