Barcelona, Spain

I stayed in Barcelona for 5 nights, which was a nice change from the otherwise flighty itinerary I have been maintaining. A schedule that has, at times, gotten a bit stressful: figuring out where I want to go, how to get there, where or with whome i will stay, etc. But I think I've sorted out the next couple weeks of my trip and will hopefully be able to spend more of my time on being where I am instead of planning on where I will be next....

As for Barcelona...
I didn't quite think that the Alhambria deserved the prestige of being one of the 7 wonders of the world. I did, however, think that the Sagrada Familia deserved the prestige. I am not usually so taken by art, it´s just not my thing (e.g. the Joan Miro museam in Barce), but, between Guell park, La Pedrera, and the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi really impressed me. His works are fantastic--surreal, imaginative, visionary.... Barcelona is worth visiting if for nothing less than to just check out his stuff. Having assimilated some of natures wisdom into architecture, via e.g. waves, skeletons, hanging chains, etc., I am surprised I have seen little else like his work around the world. For it is both asthetically and practicaly ingenuiative, making very utilitarian structural accomplishments presposessing. quite a feet.
(mind you, it is not possible, of course, to capture the works in photo--especially mine)

a crashing wave inspired tunnel in Guell park

the backside of the sagrada familia (one cannot even begin to take a single photo...)


the frontside of La Pedrera

Barcelona is quite the tourist city. It almost seems designed to attract tourists. The Magic Fountain is a good example. Esconced within an esplanade of stairs that lead to a castle, it is a spectacular fountain that makes a show of colored lights shooting through dancing jets of water, with John Williams´scores playing on the soundsystem

Then there was Las Ramblas: a walkway filled with street performers (and pickpockets) doing all sorts of weird things for change.



There were so many that is seemed some just threw on whatever strange costume they could find, put out their hat and did something weired in hopes someone would give them money....but there were some really neat ones too...

And there´s a beach to boot. Only about a 30min walk from the hostel, what were probably man maded beaches were so very made for a man like me. I love the beach, regardless. and I had the pleasure of the company of two Brazilian girls I met at the hostel.
here eating at a beachside restaurant. (I've taken a hiatus from my vegetarianism for this trip, for I would not want to forsake the opportunity sample the tastes of different cultures.)


It´s funny, doing the backpacker thing and staying in hostels, youre far more apt to meet people from countries other than the one your in (the couchsurfing route is far better for meeting locals). The Australians, Germans, and Pommies (English) seem to be doing the most travel around here now. But you do meet a heck of a lot of people whom you can visit next time you end up in their neck of the woods.