Barcelona

Catalan flag in El Raval

We left sun in Marseille for rain in Barcelona. What we had hoped would be a few days in the Spanish sun, maybe even an afternoon at the beach was a rather disappointingly cold and stormy stay. Nevertheless, we saw a beautiful city and definitely made some memories. 

So Barcelona. Catalan capital. We got in on the train rather late Wednesday night and made our way to our hostel in El Raval. Thursday morning we took a walking tour around town. It was nice to get our bearings. Highlight was seeing the shitting figurines used in Catalan nativity scenes. They make no sense and I love them.

Catalan Caganers 

The next day I visited the Sagrada Familia with two friends. It's such an amazing cathedral, like nothing I've ever seen before. It was really interesting to think about how it's still be built and has about another 20 years to go, and that someday this will be for others what cathedrals like Notre Dame are for us. 

Sagrada Familia

Inside was so incredible. Gaudi managed to create this space that feels very unreal and almost insubstantial. I agree with my friend who said it looked like folded paper. And it was surprisingly white inside, but you forget that quickly as the vibrant stained glass windows light and color the white stone interior. 

The massive inside

Incredible

Most of our time in Barcelona was either spent eating or looking for Gaudi's work. We ventured out to Parc Guel on Saturday in the rain. The man working the front desk of our hostel looked so sad when I asked for directions. "In the rain? That's no way to see the park!" But it was our last day there, so we had no other options. 

Gaudi's Parc Guel

I really wish we could have seen Barcelona in the sun, but I enjoyed it anyway. Though, I was quite happy to return to a country where I understand the language (even if it's still raining here).