Barcelona

Gotta love Ryanair... I had a nice little walk in the sun from the plane to the airport. I figured this would be a new concept to some of those following my blog. 

Traveling to Barcelona was quite the adventure - to put it in positive light. I bought tickets to the wrong airport: Reus, not El Prat, which turned out to be about an hour train ride from Barcelona. Not too bad, I guess. The hassel was that my friend was picking me up before going into work, so I was in a HUGE rush, paid like 7 euros for a taxi, made friends with some girls on the train so I could barrow their cell phone and call my friend to tell him where I was going to be (because I lost my cell phone in Sevilla the night before), and then ran around like a wild goose chase at the train station looking for my friend once I got there. Ugh. But I got there. 

This used to be the Plaza de los Toros, but bull fights just recently became illegal in Catalunya.

My first day, I went to my friends place and slept a few hours (because I had only slept a few hours the night before) and then went out with a group of people to eat dinner. We ended up at this outdoor rap concert. It was pretty cool. It was a lot of "against the system" type stuff, and a lot of it had to be translated for me by my new friends because there was a lot in Catalan, which to my surprise, I could understand less than Italian. I saw a lot of Catalunya flags, and heard about their desire for independence. It was very interesting.

This was from the top of some fortress or castle or something. I don't even know where I was at. Marc took me on his little mo-ped (which are everywhere there). I'm pretty sure it was in the Montjuic neighborhood though. I'll look it up.

The Olympics Stadium

The Plaza during the day

Montjuic

I can't remember if this is Gaudi or not... but crazy Barcelona architecture none the less.

Gaudi's Pedrero

Marc told me something significant about this place, I swear.... I just can't remember...

El Mercat Boqueria

Checking my hair after putting that helmet on and off so many times... I was on my own for the rest of the day from here on out, so I also took advantage of this stopping point to whip out my map. I live by those things.

Catedral de Barcelona... with a little construction. Seattle isn't the only one apparently.

I think this was a roman wall.... I really shouldn't wait so long to post my pictures...

Ayuntamiento below. This plaza is where protests usually start, and other things too I'm sure.

Inside the cathedral - I went back an hour later so that I could get in for free.

Another church. Santa Maria or something like that. Santa Maria is a pretty safe bet.

This was another market, but I didn't get to go in. It was closed. I thought it looked cool though; kind of reminded me of the EMP in Seattle. Maybe that's why I liked it.

The traditional dance in barcelona isn't Flamenco like most of Spain, it's called la danza Sardana. All these people get together outside the Cathedral at a certain time on Saturday and Sunday to dance, and there is a band playing outside. They all put their belongings in the middle of the circle, which symbolizes community. Its kind of a delicate dance, on tip toes with small steps and not too fast. It was interesting. Mostly older people were here, which makes me think the tradition may be getting lost. sad.

There is an Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, too!

I saw a protest march: people are getting upset that the government is obsessing about the economy and the global crisis, but not doing anything for the actual citizens. I watched a show about how people are becoming homeless. Banks are taking away homes left and right here too, the difference is that people have to keep paying on their no-longer homes here. Its really sad to see how normal people who are working and have kids and are just like me or any other person end up living in a little tent outside. they're working their butts off to get their lives back, and these kinds of things are what the people are fighting for. They want jobs, normal pay, help for housing... etc.

Columbus Monument - except he's not actually pointing towards America. It's the opposite direction.

I don't know what that was, but it looked important.

I absolutely loved this fountain. I know it wasn't remotely important compared to other things I saw, but it was definitely among my favorites. 

Sagrada Familia - Gaudi. Pretty cool.

Parc Guell - Gaudi. Also pretty cool.

They look like ginger bread houses. Gaudi must have been on something when he was working.