Pictures from Barcelona Day 4

Whoops, didn't put pictures on the last post as we said we did. Here they are:

(1) Alison at Buenas Migas where we ate for lunch in Barri Gotic, (2) and (3) Alison and I on objects in front of the cathedral spelling out "Barcino," the name of the Roman colony that was the first settlement in what is now Barcelona, and (4) a crazy looking street performer on Las Ramblas

Day 4: Museu d'Historia de la Cuitat, The Barri Gotic,and Las Ramblas

This blog will be a little lengthy as we accomplished a lot of sight
seeing today. The morning started, again, with the awesome breakfast
in our hotel. Kevin then left to find some eye drops for the pink eye
that we both think that we have. We then left and took the metro to
the Museu d'Historia de la Cuitat (City History Museum) which tells
Barcelona's story over the past 2000 years. This was one of our
favorite sights so far and it was helpful that we took the audio
tour. The museum was filled with the actual buildings, shops, houses,
wine making and washing techniques etc. From 2000 years ago. The
floors that we were walking on were see-through so that we could see
the fully constructed remains of Barcelona when it was founded by the
Romans and named Barcino.

We got lunch at a really great place called Buenos Migas which was
just around the corner from the museum.
We walked through the Barri Gotic to the Placa de Sant Juame which is
the main space of the Gotic and contains both the Ajuntament or Town
Hall and the Palae de la Generalitat or the seat of the Catalonia
government. We then walked to a pretty deserted street and saw the
remains of the Temple Roma d' August which was built around with
residential apartments.
I bought a sketching from a local and then we went to the Santa Maria
del Pi which houses the largest stained glass window in the world. We
walked to La Seu or the cathedral where they strictly enforce dress
code. We could not get in because the tops of my legs were not
covered. We plan to go back tomorrow morning. we then walked down Las
Ramblas which is the heart of Barcelona where street performers
perform.
Below
are pictures of 1) and 2) Kevin and I with the Barcino sign and 3) a
street performer in Las
Ramblas. Sent from my iPhone

Day 3 in Barcelona -Sagrada Family and Montjuic

Yesterday started off at 3 am when Alison woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. I woke up too and we listened to the end of the phillies game on my phone (they won) then got bck to sleep.

After breakfast, we walked to the Temple de la Sagrada Family (church of the Holy Family) designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi who is huge in Barcelona and his work is all over the place. The church won't be finished for 25 years but is still really cool. We took a lift up to the towers and had some good views of the city from there.

We walked toward the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) and I bought a shirt at the Nike store then we got pizza for lunch and ate it on the steps of a building (not sure what it was). After that, we took a metro, a funicular, and a gondola up to Montjuic (Mount of the Jews) where there was a big castle that has great views over the city and the coastline.

After that, we came home and napped then had dinner at a place called Browns on one of the main streets called Passeig de Gracia. We went back to the Sagrada Family church before going back to our hotel and saw it all lit up in the night.

Below are pictures of (1) the facade of Sagrada Family, (2) the inside of the church Gaudi designed to look like a forest, (3) Alison and I on a bridge between towers of the church and (4) Alison in the gondola going up to Montjuic.

Parc Guell Picture 2

One of the many levels of the park that you could walk through. Some
guy was playing James blunt and pearl jam on guitar in here.

Parc Guell Picture 1

This is a picture of the entrance to the Parc, the two buildings look
like gingerbread houses.

2nd Day in Barcelona

Today I woke up with what I'm pretty sure is pink eye. I'll see how it
looks tomorrow though. After that realization, we went down to the
hotel dining room to have breakfast which is included in our stay. The
food was awesome, there was prosciutto, smoked salmon, sausage and
bacon, eggs, fruit, differnt juices, pastries and smoothie shots. Were
really looking forward to day two of that tomorrow morning.

After breakfast, we took the 40 minute walk uphill to the Parc Guell,
a 30 acre piece of land in the hills at the top of the city designed
by Gaudi initially as a housing develoment but Now just a cool park.
We hung out there and walked around for a while then took the metro
back towards downtown to get lunch at this restauarant La Bodegueta. I
got a 3 course lunch plus beer for 11 euro and Alison got a tuna
sandwhich and chips. The food was pretty good and after we ate, we
went home to take a siesta nap.

After we woke up, we started walking towards the water, stopping at
the nike store and at Zara then going though the Bari Gotic area
before we got to the water. We walked around the water then took the
metro to the Placa de Espana to see this huge fountain show where
water shoots up in different colors, heights and directions to music,
some of which was sung by freddie mercury. After that, we were near
starvation so at around 11:30 got a ton of food from
Mcdonalds and ate it at our hotel. We had plans to go to a nice
restaurant but it was closed and we were about to pass out.

Busy day, but we hope to get up earlier tomorrow and see the Sagrada
Family Church. I'm hoping the eye makes a quick recovery for all our
sakes, otherwise there's about to be four pink eyes in then 987 hotel
Barcelona room 210.

Sent from my iPhone

First Night in Barcelona

Last night we ate our first tapas at a restaurant that both of our
tour books suggested, Qu Qu. The food was pretty good. We were able to
sit outside which was nice. Afterwards we walked down the ramblas to
port vell which is on the water. Kev bought some sunglasses, and then
we both had some gelato. We walked back to our hotel through a lot of
tiny alleys and called it a night.

Sent from my iPhone

Arrival in Barcelona

Our flight to Barcelona was great. Sleeping was tough but we were
impressed with the food and movie selection :) we were able to walk
around the streets a little before getting to the hotel where we
checked in early. Below is a picture of the lobby. We are really
excited that we get to stay here for six nights. We are just going to
freshen up and then go exploring. There will be more pictures of the
hotel and city to come!

We got through secuity and check in with no problems. Were in our seats on the plane and getting ready to go. Off to Barcelona!