Hola! I was able to visit the great city of Barcelona this past weekend, and encountered a different mindset in the people we met, tried to learn a few words in a new language, and enjoyed a warmer climate! I’d have to say one of the highlights of the trip was aboard our rented bikes as we wove in and out of Vespas, and avoided taxi cabs on our excursion through the city. With a trusty city map, Robin (my friend/travel partner/Spanish language translator) and I set out to see the sights of this metropolis, from the shores of the Mediterranean and yachts of Port Vell, to the parks and wide-sweeping boulevards lined with beautiful Gothic churches, modernistic buildings, and specially marked bike lanes (with our own stoplights and crosswalks). 
In this waterfront city situated in Catalonia, Spain, we beheld the architectural masterpieces of Alberti Gaudi, and enjoyed the wonderful and colorful mosaics that adorned several of his buildings, artfully scattered throughout the city (creating a fun little treasure hunt for us on our bikes and in our walks around town).
One thing that we did have to adapt to was the difference in the layout of the day. The Spanish time schedule is much more laid back than the typical Swiss day, and although we failed to participate in the daily siesta during our stay there, we did manage to adhere to the correct meal times and opted to indulge in the seafood specialties of the region. Our first culinary encounter was at a restaurant about two blocks from the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s famous, but not yet finished, sandcastle-like church), where we decided to order the “menu del dia” and try whatever came to the table. My little barat fish was really tasty, and the spinach/onion/potato casserole first course wasn’t bad either. With Barcelona’s proximity to the Mediterranean, the seafood was awesome.
That night, although we also wanted to try tapas, various appetizers popular in several of the local eateries, we thoroughly enjoyed the Paella Marisco (a seafood & seasoned rice dish, that, if I even attempted to describe it, would fall so far short, that it’s just better to recommend that you go to Spain and get a pan of it for yourself).
Anyway, Barcelona was an interesting town to uncover, and I really would like to return to Spain sometime soon. Adios for now!
More pictures can be found in my photo album link in the right-hand column.
In this waterfront city situated in Catalonia, Spain, we beheld the architectural masterpieces of Alberti Gaudi, and enjoyed the wonderful and colorful mosaics that adorned several of his buildings, artfully scattered throughout the city (creating a fun little treasure hunt for us on our bikes and in our walks around town).
One thing that we did have to adapt to was the difference in the layout of the day. The Spanish time schedule is much more laid back than the typical Swiss day, and although we failed to participate in the daily siesta during our stay there, we did manage to adhere to the correct meal times and opted to indulge in the seafood specialties of the region. Our first culinary encounter was at a restaurant about two blocks from the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s famous, but not yet finished, sandcastle-like church), where we decided to order the “menu del dia” and try whatever came to the table. My little barat fish was really tasty, and the spinach/onion/potato casserole first course wasn’t bad either. With Barcelona’s proximity to the Mediterranean, the seafood was awesome.
That night, although we also wanted to try tapas, various appetizers popular in several of the local eateries, we thoroughly enjoyed the Paella Marisco (a seafood & seasoned rice dish, that, if I even attempted to describe it, would fall so far short, that it’s just better to recommend that you go to Spain and get a pan of it for yourself).Anyway, Barcelona was an interesting town to uncover, and I really would like to return to Spain sometime soon. Adios for now!
More pictures can be found in my photo album link in the right-hand column.
Approaching the Arc de Triumf
360 of Port Vell
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