Barcelona for the second time around was a completely different experience than the first. Over four years ago I checked out this city for the first time fresh out of a few semesters of architecture so needless to say I spent a lot of time at Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Parque Guell & La Sagrada Familia. All beautiful and individually unique - however, there is much more to the city than JUST Gaudi works. Last time I was there I didn't even get to check out Mies Van Der Rohe's "Barcelona Pavilion" built for the Germans at the 1929 International Exhibition.
Apart from the club partying, Las Ramblas, Paseig de Gracia, and architectural sites its a great city to just wander. Simply stick a map in your pocket, get utterly lost, and then figure out where you are and how to get home.
I rented a scooter with an Aussie staying at the hostel (who had been in Barcelona for about 6 weeks) & we headed down the coast to Sitges, a small city about 40-50km from Barcelona. On the way we stopped at a beach, a buddhist monastery, and a hilltop natural park overlooking the coastline. Zipping around the country on a moped is definitely one way to feel like a local - the more I visit cities all over the world the more I enjoy seeing them from the day to day perspective versus the standard 4 day tourist trip.
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| Absinthe bar - Raval barrio, Barcelona |
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| Estoy en el sol |
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| Parc Garraf |
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| coastal road down toward Sitges |
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| Casa Batllo - Gaudi, by night |
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| Crowds cross the street on Paseig de Gracia |
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| Barcelona Pavilion - Mies Van Der Rohe |
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| La Sagrada Familia - Gaudi (130 years into construction) |
Here are some pictures!
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