Day 7 - Thank Goodness for Gaudi

 Day 7

We have been away for one full week, can you believe it? It's been so busy it feels like we just got here, and yet, I can’t really remember Paris like we have been here for a month. Thank goodness for this blog… am I right? ;)  Today was our first full day in Spain. Breakfast at the hotel was good. Comparing the spread between France and Spain, the pastries aren't quite as good, but the salty meat game is solid. It seemed like just about everyone slept well last night and had a good meal before we left.

We ventured out to the streets of Barcelona around 9 am. Daniele took us on a walk throughout the city. We first saw some historical buildings that were converted into more modern businesses. Then we walked to Plaza Real, which was once a convent but has since been torn down and is now a nice little square market/ plaza. These plazas are honestly one of my favorite parts about Spain… the vibe is always fun, people are out enjoying the weather, and eating good food from the local joints around the area. The plaza we visited today had a bunch of vendors who were selling and trading old, rare coins, stamps, bottlecaps, and postcards from all over Europe. It was actually kind of neat to see the locals sifting through the bins and books for their new prized possession. 

After the market, we stopped by the government offices of Barcelona and Catalonia. They were just across the street from each other. The story of Catalonia is interesting. It's a region in this area of Spain that has its own language (Catalonian), flag, and a desire to be independent from the rest of Spain. We saw a lot the flags proudly flying on our walk today. 

Can you guess which kid noticed that the seagulls here eat more meat than her? I didn’t even know they were birds of prey. 

We walked near the Cathedral of Barcelona, which is about 800 years old and one of the most well-known in Spain. It was a beautiful Gothic-style church. Those of us dressed appropriately were able to go inside the convent areas and see the history of the cathedral. The architecture and fountain, home to 13 white geese, were a pretty sight. The 13 geese have lived in that convent for 500+ years and represent a 13-year-old Eulalia who suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Romans. With it being a Sunday morning, the front of the Cathedral was quite busy.

After spending some time around the area (and actually popping into the pharmacy to tend to some needs of a few kiddos), we walked to La Rambla. This is a very busy main street that runs through the city of Barcelona. Daniele spotted a shady character and reminded us all of pickpockets. So we stopped right then and went over a few of the points from the meetings. He also gave us a heads up about the gypsies (yes, gypsies are real) who will trick you into buying junk. It was a great opportunity to refocus and remind the kids. It was right around now when I overheard this interaction…  can you guess the kids? “With these sunglasses, I’ve got so much aura… yeah, bro… we can smell your aura from over here” LOL!

We all had lunch in the area. Switching over to Spanish actually wasn’t too difficult. And most kids were able to find and eat a good meal. I had pintxos…loved them! We had a guided tour of Barcelona scheduled after lunch, so we met up and jumped onto the bus. Our local guide was a sweet little Spanish lady named Montserrat. She showed us a few different parts of Barcelona, including the shift from the old, Gothic town to the more modern area. Did you know that most buildings in the city center don’t have corners? This was for the tram (which was the main transportation around the city in the 1800s). It provided a larger view to see around the buildings. Did you know that Garcia Ave in Barcelona is the most expensive neighborhood in the city? The stores are comparable to shopping on the Champs-Élysées or Rodeo Drive. 

The bus and our guide took us up the hill to a famous public park called Park Güell. It was designed by the artist and architect Antonio Gaudí. Gaudí is an important figure who redesigned or built several areas around Barcelona, as he invented a new style and techniques that supported his unique artwork. I’m really into art, but Gaudí’s work is truly amazing… it's like something out of a fairytale. One of his main principles was to mix architecture and nature together. Everything is functional and beautiful. Trust me, it's nothing like that little pathway and fairy house you put in the rose garden last summer. His work is breathtaking. We walked through the park with our guide and Daniele, trying to learn as much as possible. We took plenty of “tuff flicks” (translation: great pictures) too. 

After about an hour at the park, we were able to board the bus and head towards Sagrada Familia. Unfortunately, we were only able to see it from the outside, but it was quite the sight. The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and is supposed to be completed in 2026. It is the tallest building in the city, and it simply pierces the skyline with overwhelming beauty. We did hit up a gift shop nearby... I am starting to realize that this group of 18 kiddos is keeping some of these shops in business. From the flavored Pringles to the collapsible fans to the random trinkets, these kids are spending those Euros. They must have mowed a bunch of lawns last summer, or some of you are getting some great gifts; either way, parents keep an eye on those bank accounts, because these kids are going to shop until they drop. 

We then visited 2 more of Gaudí’s masterpieces, Casa Mila and Casa Batlló. Casa Milà had a striking stone façade and a rooftop filled with twisted chimneys that felt like walking through a surreal sculpture garden. Casa Batlló looked like something out of a dream, with its colorful tiles, curved balconies, and dragon-like roof. It was like being sucked into a Dr Suess experience with whimsical characters hiding just around the corner. Honestly, I can’t do it justice… check out the pictures. 

So it appears gelato can be eaten any time of the day in Europe. As a few of us got some (for like the 14th time on this trip) as a nice little cool-down appetizer before dinner during our free time. We had dinner near the city center and again feasted tapas-style, with the main dish being rotisserie chicken and fries. 

We had a fairly calm metro experience getting back to the hotel (which was a relief) and then did early bed check-ins. We will be leaving BEFORE 7 am tomorrow! Our early departure will take us to Madrid. 

As Daniele would say… Andiamo!