Cat and I flew into Barca from London Luton on EasyJet. Easy peasy. We took the train this time instead of hiring a car service because our flights were at normal human times, not 6 am. We arrived in Barcelona in time to see the sun set over the Tarmac.
We took the train into the city and popped up RIGHT in front of Gaudi's Casa Batllo. It's gorgeous and eerie, and it wasn't crowded with tourists because it was late at night!
We took the train into the city and popped up RIGHT in front of Gaudi's Casa Batllo. It's gorgeous and eerie, and it wasn't crowded with tourists because it was late at night!
We hadn't eaten in many hours, so we dashed into a restaurant called Samoa. (((Nowwww, I know this is bad, but I'll just be honest about it...I didn't keep Passover this year. Usually, it's something that I do - not a choice I have to make - but they didn't even sell matzah at my grocery store in London. It was just too difficult to be in a foreign country, in class for as many hours as I was and still pull off this holiday correctly. That said, I did FaceTime into Seder with my family, so if I can be satisfied with my Pesach this year, I hope you can be too.))) So, we grabbed dessert at Samoa. I got cheesecake. It looked like this.
Our hostel was on Casa Gracia, a long commercial street full of lots of designer shops. The hostel was started by travelers to be a respite for other travelers. It felt like a big beach bungalow, full of spacious rooms with comfy areas for hanging out and getting to know the other people at the hostel.
The next morning we were anxious to get to the beach.
The next morning we were anxious to get to the beach.
The beautiful food market on La Rambla. We were in here on Saturday but didn't buy anything, planning to come back the next day. Buuuut, it closed for Easter and the day after, so we missed our chance to sample all this beautiful chocolate. The market was really amazing - I saw SEVERAL fruits I had never seen before!
So, Saturday, we went to the beach, then wandered around La Rambla before heading back to the beach. By that point, we were really tired and went back to the hostel for a tapas dinner. We sat with Janet, an Irish woman from my room at the hostel, and befriended her for the rest of our trip. After dinner, Cat, Janet, and I went out for gelato!
The next morning was chilly, overcast, and rainy, so we decided to go see Sagrada Familia instead of going to the beach.
The next morning was chilly, overcast, and rainy, so we decided to go see Sagrada Familia instead of going to the beach.
Janet told us that she was going back to the art museum to see a fountain/lights show and asked if we wanted to come with her. We didn't have any plans for the evening and decided to go.
We waited and waited for the sun and for the show to start. Beginning with "Circle of Life," they played a variety of Disney songs (in Spanish!) accompanied by a choreography of water and lights.
On our last morning, we went on a free walking tour of the gothic area of Barcelona.
St. Jordi's day (April 23) is a big deal in Catalunya, like Valentine's Day. It is based on a myth that a dragon guarded the only water source of a town, and citizens had to pay the dragon in gold and silver for water. When the town ran out of money, the dragon began demanded sacrificial virgins. They were chosen by lottery. The princess was chosen, but her love, St. Jordi, decided that he would rather kill the dragon than have his girlfriend sacrificed. He killed the dragon and where the dragon's blood fell, flowers sprouted. Jordi gave the flowers to the princess. To celebrate St. Jordi's now, men give flowers to their girlfriends/wives, and the women give their men books. I have no idea where the book thing came from, but I think the men get the better end of this deal!!!