Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Barcelona, Spain


Thursday April 22- Saturday April 23, 2011

The Thursday after my American Embassy presentation, Calan and I set off to explore Barcelona.  Luckily our Fulbright friends, Jack and Sharon, had let us stay at their flat in Prague so we could catch our morning flight.  At 10:40 we were off on our plane to our new adventure.
We arrived around 1pm and dropped our baggage off at at our hostel, BCN:  Hello.  The hotel was a little outside the city center, but the hostel itself was very nice.  We walked into town and got lunch on the famous street, La Rambla.  It was bustling with people and the sun was out.  Perfect day.  After lunch we took the metro to see Sagrada Famila, which was designed by the artist Gaudi.  The church was absolutely breathtaking with its unique artist style.


Sagrada Famila is a little outside city center so since we didn't know exactly which direction to go, we spur of the moment decided to join the Hop on Hop off bus tour.  I have never done one of these double decker bus tours before so it was something new.  We immediately went to the open air top and had a perfect view of the city.   We rode the bus for about 1.5 hours until we were COMPLETELY frozen from the wind.  We "hopped" off and found the nearest Starbucks to warm up.

From there we walked around the tourist shops area and ended up shopping in the renowned shopping stores.  Barcelona is definitely a city famous for its fashion.

Gaudi Design
Friday is Good Friday, and luckily we shopped on Thursday because everything was closed for the holiday.  Since we had paid for a two day bus tour, we "hopped" back on the bus and toured the complete city.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating and sitting on top of the bus wasn't as much of fun.  The plastic roof was closed but there were no windows so it didn't stop the wind or sideways rain from coming in.  At one point, I had my umbrella open, even under the cover.
    After 2 hours on the bus, we walked to the mall at the marina, which is open every day, no matter the holiday.  A little shopping always brings the spirits up, even on a cold rainy day.  After lunch, we got back on the tour bus and finished our sight seeing tour of Barcelona...this time, we viewed it from INSIDE the bus.

The metal sculpture is designed to look like waves










Gothic Church in the middle of the Gothic Quarter















Sculpture in the middle of the main square












Designed by Gaudi










Later that afternoon/early evening, we witnessed a Good Friday parade.  People where throwing roses from flats and crowds were surrounding the parade route.

 


  Friday night was my last night in Barcelona.  On Saturday I was flying back to Prague because at 4:30 Sunday morning, I was leaving with 60 students, and 4 teachers on a 15 hour bus ride to Brussels.  Calan and I found a quaint rooftop restaurant and enjoyed a great meal.  Loosing weight was not on the agenda in Barcelona.
    Barcelona is a great city, with a lot of culture.  The only thing I wish was that the weather was better.  I am sure I would have enjoyed it if the sun had been out a little more.  It is a city I recommend people to visit and someday I hope I can go back and enjoy more of the beaches along the Mediterranean Sea.

La Rambla...packed with people

Calan and I at the Marina

me at Marina
Calan and I self portrait on the tour bus


26 comments:

  1. cute blog here. seems like you had a great time in Barca too. I loved the city a lot; we've found ourselves a great spot too through holiday apartments Barcelona clean and not to pricey either!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers!
    more information visit: Luxury Flats Barcelona

    ReplyDelete
  4. Would you be fascinated by exchanging

    hyperlinks?
    My site ; uni.Me

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Neat post. There's a problem with your website in internet explorer, would check

    this… IE still is the market leader and a good portion of people will miss your wonderful writing because of this problem.
    my website :: www.diysolarheatingspain.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think other web-site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean

    and great user friendly style and design, as well as the

    content. You are an expert in this topic!
    Here is my weblog ... first moors in spain

    ReplyDelete
  7. I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of space .

    Exploring in Yahoo I

    ultimately stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am

    satisfied to exhibit that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered just what
    I needed. I such a lot

    certainly will

    make certain to do not put out of your mind this
    website and provides it a look on a relentless basis.
    my site :: Germany Spain Highlights Fifa

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article

    like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
    In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good
    content as you did, the internet will be a

    lot more useful than ever before.
    Take a look at my blog - anthem bcbs colorado

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend
    your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site?
    The account helped me a

    acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted
    of this your broadcast provided bright clear

    idea
    Feel free to surf my page :: www.fishingspain.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have not checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the

    last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to
    my daily bloglist.

    You deserve it friend :)
    Here is my weblog ... cantabriaproperty.tumblr.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
    My website :: http://www.alboxproperty.com/link-exchange.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. We're a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site

    provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job

    and our whole community will be thankful to you.
    Also visit my blog ... Http://Websiteforsoccer.Blogspot.Co.Uk/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks a lot for providing individuals with a very
    pleasant opportunity to read from this blog.

    It is usually so enjoyable plus packed with a good time for me personally and my office

    mates to search the blog at least three times every week to read
    through the latest items you will have. And of course,

    we're always

    satisfied concerning the unbelievable knowledge you serve. Some 1

    points on this page are

    truly the finest I've ever had.
    Look at my webpage - www.jobsinspain.org

    ReplyDelete
  14. I’d should test with you here. Which is not something I often do!
    I take pleasure in studying a post that can make folks think.
    Also, thanks for

    allowing me to remark!
    Check out my page ; pensomniac.blogspot.ru

    ReplyDelete
  15. My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was
    totally right. This post

    truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this

    info! Thanks!
    Also see my site :: turquoise

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not sure
    whether this post is written

    by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem.
    You are

    wonderful! Thanks!
    my web site - Marbella,

    ReplyDelete
  17. I do like the manner in which you have framed this specific situation and it
    does indeed give me personally some fodder for consideration.
    Nevertheless, from what precisely I

    have seen, I only

    wish as the reviews pack on that folks continue to be

    on issue and don't embark on a soap box of some other news du jour. Still, thank you for this

    outstanding piece and though I do not really concur with the idea in totality, I value

    your viewpoint.
    Also see my web site - palestinianpundit.blogspot.ru

    ReplyDelete
  18. What i don't realize is actually how you're not really much more well-liked than

    you may be right now. You're very intelligent. You realize thus

    significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren't fascinated unless it
    is one thing to

    accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great.
    Always maintain it up!
    Also visit my webpage - long beach rental property

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm still learning from you, while I'm making my way to the top as well.

    I certainly enjoy reading all

    that is written on your blog.Keep the aarticles coming.

    I loved it!
    Also visit my web page - http://psi-im.org

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice weblog right here! Also your website lots up very fast!
    What host are you using? Can

    I get your affiliate hyperlink in your host? I desire my site
    loaded up as fast as yours lol

    Also visit my blog: http://essentialweb.asia
    Check out my site - windows terminal services

    ReplyDelete
  21. I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting!
    Carry on the

    excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
    I think it will improve the value

    of my web site :)

    my website ... 161710.webhosting63.1blu.de
    My page official language of spain dialect

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey! I could have sworn I've been to this website

    before but after checking through some of the post I realized it's new to me.
    Anyways, I'm definitely glad I found it and I'll be bookmarking and checking back often!


    Also visit my web site; binzib.net
    Feel free to surf my blog ; Pucol

    ReplyDelete
  23. Appreciating the dedication you put into your

    website and in depth information you provide. It's nice to come

    across a blog every once in a while that isn't the
    same out of date rehashed material. Wonderful read!
    I've bookmarked your site and I'm adding your

    RSS feeds to my Google account.

    Here is my web site :: pl.sistemacommons.org
    Review my web-site ... ebro carp fishing

    ReplyDelete
  24. Definitely imagine that which you said. Your

    favorite reason seemed to be on the web the

    simplest factor to be mindful of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed at

    the same time as people consider concerns that they just do not understand about.
    You

    managed to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the


    whole thing with no need side-effects , folks can take a signal.
    Will likely be again to get more. Thank you
    my web site: stock-options-picks.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us
    you actually recognize what you are speaking about! Bookmarked.

    Please

    also visit my site =). We

    will have a link alternate

    arrangement among us!
    Also see my web page: www.phpday.vn

    ReplyDelete
  26. The majority of Successful Television Manufacturers Presently

    Also visit my web page - Panasonic PT-AE7000

    ReplyDelete