European Adventure - Days 1 and 2 - Barcelona

We just spent two amazing days in Barcelona. Yesterday, we had quite a hard time finding our hotel, considering we were very jet lagged, soaked from all the rain, and misled by our transportation map. We were happy to get to our hotel and find that it is pretty nice (and right on the beach). The only weird thing is that we have to leave our room key in a little box to keep the electricity on.

Yesterday, we got a two day ticket for a tourist bus. It was well worth the price. We got to see every major site along the way. Barcelona is a beautiful city. Almost every building is a work of art, even regular office buildings. There are parks and trees everywhere, and for such an old, big European city, it is very clean and nice everywhere we have been.

Last night we spent a little time near the Olympic Port. It is a newly developed area that is very tourist friendly. We ate seafood by the harbor. It was delicious. We also tried paella yesterday and loved it.

Today, we spent most of the day touring the most famous works of the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudi. We woke up at 11:30 because of our jet lag, but we have felt better today. Gaudi´s La Sagrada Familia is probably the most impressive work of art I have seen. It is an amazing temple that is only halfway finished. They have been working on it for more than 100 years. It is breathtaking, incredible, and inspiring. Words and pictures don´t do it justice, so you all must simply come to Barcelona and see it.

Next we went to Gaudi´s Park Guell, a huge public park filled with his archtecture. It has interesting viaducts, a chapel that looks like it came right out of a fairy tale, incredible houses, beautiful plants, gorgeous views of the city, creative fountains, and everything else a public park would have. It was quite a hike to get there and walk around. We were very tired afterward, but it was wonderful. I felt like a child there. It was magical, the perfect park for such a magical city.

If you never see us again, it is because we decided never to leave Barcelona.