spain: barcelona

for the first time in i don't know how long, i had an actual holiday...
i flew to a budget airport about an hour outside barcelona, then took a shuttle bus into barcelona...i checked in late, then went straight to sleep...
i spent a total of 10 days in the area, only leaving for a couple days to go to andorra...i did a couple day trips, but basically spent more time relaxing...i went to the beach, i saw the sights, i ate good food...i was able to have dinner three nights in a row with a garmisch friend who happened to be in the city at the same time...sooooo good to catch up with her...

i have always been impressed by the work of famous artist Gaudi, though it isn't really my style...if you want to see all the Gaudi sights in barcelona you'll need a lot of time, and a fair amount of money...the sights are all quite busy, most of them offer online booking that allows you to choose a specific time for your ticket, so you have it ahead of time and don't have to wait in line...
the busiest sight is definitely the sagrada familia...no matter how you buy your entrance ticket, (in person or online) there is a time printed on the ticket, a 15 minute period during which you have to enter the cathedral or you don't get to enter...

even though getting a ticket was kindof a pain, i'm glad they keep the number of people in the cathedral at any point under control...it was crowded, but it could've been a whole lot more crowded if there were no ticket times...
one morning i got up to walk to parc guell...it was neat to see, both for what it is (originally intended as a living neighborhood) but also as a place with nice views over the city...
barcelona is the capital of the spanish area of catalan, most locals speak catalonian...

i recognized some words, others sounded completely foreign...it took me a few days, but eventually i was able to speak in spanish (only a bit, not anywhere close to fluently) when i was in a restaurant or a store...
lots of people go shopping in barcelona, i did some of that as well...sometimes it was just so i could get out of the heat (35C or warmer each day!) and sometimes just because i wanted to wander...

when you visit one of the cathedrals they won't let you in at all if you are not dressed appropriately...and by appropriately i mean more in the way women dress...at least short sleeves (no tank tops) and skirt to close to the knees (no short shorts or skirts)...i'm guessing men aren't supposed to wear tank tops either...
i had fun listening to the different languages spoken on the beach...so many...the beaches were crowded, but i'm good at tuning everyone out, and just relaxing...

barcelona is a foodie city...food of all different types is available, so good...i figured out which tapas i like best, i indulged in indian food, as i had great seafood...there is so much good food in the city, you have to be careful not to eat EVERYTHING in sight...
there are parks all over the city, i spent time in quite a few...it's nice to sit on a bench and read for a while, or watch people...
i got lost a couple times walking through the old city...like any old city most of the streets aren't in quadrants, so it's easy to go the wrong way...oh well :)

i didn't visit any of the famous museums of the city, maybe during another visit...long lines for those too...
barcelona is awesome, as is the surrounding area...i would gladly go back :)