Barcelona (pop 3.5m & capital of Catalunya), is our favourite city in all of the Espana. It is our favourite because it has wide main Parisian style boulevards, takes full advantage of its Meditteranean Sea location with Darling Harbour style marinas, shops and breezes and contains awesome architecture by Gaudi, Montana and Gadafach (modernists).
We were also lucky to stay with Josep (work friend of John´s), Merce and their two girls, Ariadna and Júlia who stayed with John in Sydney in 1999. This made the stay even better because we got the candid story of Barcelona and the ongoing rivalry between Catalunya and Basque (north). Headlines: Catalunya voted for more autonomy on Sunday 18 June, many young people want a republic and everyone wants to live in Barcelona!
Highlights of our visit: Casa Batllo (top photo, house by Gaudi for rich textile merchant in 1904), Park Guell (middle photo, longest park bench in the world), La Sagrada Familia (bottom photo, church begun by Gaudi in 1882, 50% complete, Gaudi died in 1926 and still no roof), Le Pedrera (apartment block by Gaudi), cable car ride to Montjuic (hill with castle & 1992 Olympic Stadium & complex), La Rambla (main street), Mercat De La Boqueria (huge market place). There were several other places including beaches and the marina that were very sophisticated, well layed out and world class. Distance travelled so far: 6,877km.
Your photos are AMAZING! Good to see more shots of Gaudi's work.
ReplyDeletePaul,John - I told you Barcelona was the best city not just of Spain but in all of Europe!
ReplyDeleteJG, I hope you're applying plenty of 30+ because there are more semi naked than clothed shots!!
PS When are we going to get a shot of Mystery Shooter??
Finally caught up on the tour....I don't know how you guys have the energy...it's hard enough to read & absorb all the info.
ReplyDeleteJust looove Barcelona - definitely Spain's best.
John, are you trying to enter the Mr (underweight) World competition?
Actually john for a skinny guy you have man boobs!!
ReplyDelete