Barcelona: Hilltop Wonderland

I absolutely loved Parc Guell. We hiked up other side of the hill and wandered back down through the park. Montmartre, Parc Guell...ever notice the prettiest places are always on hilltops?

Some colorful anarchy to the left of the messy sprawl of Barcelona. Let me never again refer to Los Angeles in the same way.

A grand boulevard showcasing the work of giant dung beetles. They take pride in their work. The juxtaposition of the sunshine struggling to break through the curtain of gloom and rain was beautiful. 

As we reached the top, the sunshine won and the skies finally cleared. I think rainbows are my favorite kinds of frowns. 

We spent a good half hour at the top, drinking surprisingly delicious cappucinos, watching pigeons, and noting other places we wanted to visit before our time in Europe was over in our notebooks and Museo Picasso maps.  

It was around this time that all the vendors suddenly wrapped up their goods and split to avoid arrest. This is also when I realized how clever it is to use an umbrella as a portable shop. I think for a moment I forgot I wasn't with my sisters and referred to the police as "po-po," and then all the other tourists around me started muttering "po-po," as well as an explanation for their sudden exodus. 

And then the sun came out in full force and I could feel its warmth on my face and shoulders. I squinted into the sky for the first time in too long.

This is the beauty of sunshine just after rain. 

One minute you're walking through endless greenery and the next you come across this monolith. 

I loved the surprise rocky peepholes and the black trees whose bark peeled away to reveal fiery skin underneath. 

I spy with my little eye a cat with a red collar slinking around the park. 

You almost expect a tiny person to peek their head out from behind that grass curtain. On the long walk back to the metro we took this narrow colorful street and stopped for churros. Parc Guell was my favorite part of the week and a wonderful ending to the trip. 

Barcelona: Hilltop Wonderland

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Barcelona: Underwater Cathedral

One of the highlights of my trip to Barcelona was seeing the Sagrada Familia. Being in Europe, I've come to know all too well the obligatory cathedral visit of each new city. In fact, the cathedral is the biggest (and arguably only) tourist attraction of the city where I live. I haven't seen all the cathedrals on this continent (and I highly doubt I ever will), but the Sagrada Familia has become my obligatory European cathedral visit. 

The church facade is covered in scenes and motifs and secret initials. I wanted to cut down on the photos of it, but in the end couldn't bring myself to do it. 

The church was unfinished at Gaudi's death and has been under construction ever since. Nevertheless, it's breathtaking. The interior looks is modeled after a forest canopy, but on a rainy day it feels like an underwater coral cathedral. Visiting defied so many of my preconceptions about cathedrals and architecture in general. There was also an inspiring exhibit on Gaudi's inspiration from nature near the entrance.

When I usually visit cathedrals, I have to dig deep in my brain to the part where clips of Pillars of the Earth reside to fully appreciate the structure. After the initial gasp from the height of the arches and the colors of the stained glass, it's the idea of the history and the communal human feat that makes cathedrals impressive. This time, the church was able to stand alone. 

Barcelona: Underwater Cathedral

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Barcelona Belongs to the Birds

This was the first indication that my trip to Barcelona would be a tad Hitchcockian. For me, Barcelona will forever be associated with birds. From the parakeets hanging out in a tree on the way to our hostel - I've never seen them outside of a zoo enclosure (you know, the ones where you pay for a cup of syrup and the chance to make yourself a target for hungry birds) to the seagulls tugging a pigeon corpse to the neckless pigeons stationed behind every pillar and tree, I had more bird encounters packed into four days than I've had in six months in Reims.

One minute he's as badass as a bald eagle, the next he's running around like the Roadrunner. I imagine he's just showered and accidentally left his clothes in the other room. 

Secret pigeon headquarters, beneath inky black trees and an ancient Roman wall. 

Barcelona Belongs to the Birds

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Barcelona: Patterns

The wall across the street from our room reminded me of certain Chinese desert jellies.

Plaça Catalunya's very own set of molars...

Tabletop at a restaurant near the Museo Picasso.

Parc Guell, mosaic paradise.

Barcelona: Patterns

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