Spain Part I – Barcelona

I absolutely loved my trip to Spain! In fact, I think it was one of the best trips I have ever taken and would 100% recommend that everyone try to go there at least once in their life. I’m already planning to go back through Andalucía once more to hit up the cities I missed and then take the ferry across to Morocco! I’m really glad I did this trip, first, though, as I loved seeing Barcelona and all it had to offer.

Tibidabo

It was a beautiful city and one of the friendliest I’ve been to. Being Brazilian, my sister and I were able to get along there very well because (I was *very* surprised to discover this) Catalan is extremely close to Portuguese! In fact, we found that the people of Barcelona (and those that spoke Catalan) could understand us much much better (and us them) than the people in Andalucía who spoke only Spanish! It was interesting to me to see the similarity between Portuguese and Catalan, but it was also fortuitous as we were able to get along very well while there.

Going around Barcelona

The weather wasn’t very cooperative while we were there, sadly enough, and we had to deal with a lot of rain, cloudy days, and drizzle. That being said, the weather really didn’t detract from the sights of the city that much at all:

Park Guell

And in fact made for what I think are some pretty awesome shots at times!

La Pedrera

I just loved being able to walk around the city! It’s a very interesting European city and in fact quite unlike what I had thought it would be! Newer than I was expecting with a touch of old world charm.

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

La Pedrera

Going around Barcelona

Of course, there are the really old parts of the city which are very neat with the small streets (here they would be alleys) and buildings looming over you:

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

These are ancient Roman columns from a temple that used to stand here. They still remain to this day!

Going around Barcelona

I loved this small cafe in the Jewish District!

Going around Barcelona

One of my favorite things about the city as I was walking around it was all the amazing graffiti everywhere!

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

I’m not sure how the locals feel about it, but I thought it added so much to the city, in certain cases even working around the older areas for a pop of color!

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

Going around Barcelona

And in other cases, working with more unconventional materials:

Going around Barcelona

And, yes, those are Legos!

Going around Barcelona

Of course, a visit to Barcelona means seeing lots and lots of Gaudi on display!

Park Guell

From the amazing Parc Guell (totally absolutely incredible to walk around in!):

Park Guell

This is a ceiling!

Park Guell

Park Guell

Park Guell

Park Guell

To the beautiful La Pedrera:

La Pedrera

La Pedrera

La Pedrera

La Pedrera

To the awesome and inspiring Sagrada Familia (which they claim will be finished in the next 10 years – it’s not even 40% done and it has been in construction since the 1880’s!!!):

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Gaudi’s idea was to build a church in which you would be reminded of being in a forest (the columns representing trees) with the canopy above you so that when you look up you can see the stars shining down.

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

The statues and doors are not Gaudi, though, just the building. However, I think these were also awesome!

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

And worked quite well with the building!

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

And although I wish I could show you every last bit of the city I saw, that would take way too long and there are way too many pictures to share (though if you want to see more, I have uploaded them onto my flickr account here – still a work in progress) but before I wrap up this post, I do want to share the last bit of Barcelona that I loved! And that was going up to Tibidabo!

Tibidabo

Tibidabo is an over 100-year-old amusement park located in the hills overlooking the city. It was a beautiful place and though most of it was closed when we were there, I loved going up there and would definitely say it’s on my not-to-be-missed list if you go out to Barcelona. The view is incredible, of course!

Tibidabo

Tibidabo

But so is the park itself and the church up there was really pretty too.

Tibidabo

Tibidabo

Tibidabo

I think this is the prettiest confessional I’ve ever seen!

Tibidabo

And though I wish I could go on, I think this post is already way too long and definitely has way too many pictures in it! I will be posting another Spain part sometime soon (after doing a yarny one, of course!). Up next: Valencia, Montserrat and Granada! Stay tuned! 🙂

12 thoughts on “Spain Part I – Barcelona

  1. Wow. Thank you so much for posting this. I love seeing Barcelona through your eyes/lens & I think the weather made your pictures beautiful! More more more!

  2. How did you come home? Thank you so much for sharing. I have never wanted to visit Spain but I do now. A library trip for research is definitely in order. Thank you.
    The photos are beautifully I can tell you are a professional, I felt like I was there. Some should be enlarged and hung as Art.

  3. You’ve really captured the beauty and mystery of the city! We were there a year ago, and it was one of our best stays in Europe. Glad to know that you’ve enjoyed it as much as we did.

  4. Wow! What an awesome post and beautiful photos. I never thought of going there, but now, I do – it’s like I want to find these beautiful things you did.. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Love your pictures! I went to Barcelona two years ago; it’s an amazing city. I want to back, just to see Park Guell again, and Casa Battlo and La Pedrera. Can you tell I love Gaudi? 🙂 Did you go up to the tower in Sagrada Familia? I’m not afraid of heights but I admit it was a little scary 😉 I like your pictures of the streets, I took lots too, I loved walking around and just looking at all the buildings.

  6. I love your pictures. I was in Barcelona years ago for a short visit. I wanted more! I have a good friend who lives there now…I guess I should try to get over there again soon.

  7. Love, love, love this post! I was there 10 years ago on a day-and-a-half trip from Palma and wish I could have stayed longer… Absolutely loved the place, though, and will be going back soon!
    And a note on the language: you wanna get yourself to Lisbon! I really struggled. I preferred to let everyone think I was British because I could understand their English better than the Portuguese! 😀
    x

  8. You’ve inspired me to add another city to my list of future travel plans. Captured the beauty of the city so well, even the graffiti! Thanks for showing us (and my little guy LOVED the Legos).

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