Easter break: Barcelona

This year for my Easter break, I did some traveling outside of Asia. I've never been to Europe before, and so I went to Spain with my sister and our friend Sara. I finally have the time and money to go, so I should do it before I move back to the US! Flights from here to London are relatively inexpensive anyway.

We spent about a week in Barcelona, taking a couple of day trips around the area. People keep asking me what my favorite part was, and I guess the best thing was just walking around the city itself and exploring. Barcelona is very modern, trendy, hip, and full of art and culture. It's a beautiful place. We saw the Antoni Guadi works (La Segrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Batll0) and took a day trip to see the Salvador Dali museum. We went to the Picasso museum on our first day and noticed the feel of the unique art in Spain as we just walked around. The Salvador Dali museum was one of the most interesting places I've been...Dali himself converted an old theater into a museum, so every space was designed by him.

We also went to a Flamenco dancing show, wandered around the ports of the Meditteranean, and spent a lot of time exploring the city, the cafes, the tapas restaurants, and drinking sangria. On Good Friday, we went to a parade in the old, Catholic tradition. The pictures below will show why this was one of the highlights of the trip...so interesting! We ended up having front row seats to it as well.

It was interesting for me to consider Europe after living and traveling in Asia for a few years now. For one, I expected Spain to feel different somehow, but it felt more like the US than I thought it would. There were more tourists than other times I've traveled. I guess Barcelona is a developed, Western city, and even though I live in a developed, semi-Westernized city, it still had a really different feel to it. We had a great time together and I really enjoyed my trip, but I feel like I got my fill of Western Europe for a little while, at least. I'm not sure where I'll end up next, but I'd rather explore the farther corners of the Earth if I have the opportunity.

Barcelona pics

Laura, me, and Sara at Parc Guell

'The Cathedral". I'm sure there are hundreds similar all across Western Europe, but this was the most famous one to sight-see in Barcelona, and the one where Columbus brought back some slaves from the West Indies to have baptized.

There were street musicians everywhere. These guys looked the most professional.

Dragon statue at Parc Guell. Apparently this is really famous, because the image of this is sold on every keychain and t-shirt and poster across the entire city.

Parc Guell, the work of Antoni Guadi

Old City streets

in front of Parc Guell...wearing my jacket this week in Spain was the most that I've had to do all year long!

fruit and vegetable markets always make for great pictures

Laura "drinks" chocolate at the chocolate museum. It was not nearly like hot chocolate...more like a melted hershey's bar.

Laura and I by the Meditteranean Sea

The details of La Segrada Familia

Inside La Segrada Familia

And in front of the passion facade at La Segrada Familia

Strange float at the Good Friday parade

Good Friday parade

And more Good Friday parade...we had an excellent view

Flamenco Dancing show

El Mos. We ate our first (and I had my last) of Spanish tapas here.

Spanish tapas meal...sangria, stuffed olives, board of cured meat and "volcano" of grilled vegetables. The bread on the side is spread with raw garlic and tomatoes.

In front of the Salvador Dali museum.

Ceiling of the Salvador Dali museum.

A sculpture/statue at the Dali museum...every corner was interesting.

Casa Batllo: designed by Antoni Guadi

Barcelona Port