It was love at first sight. I exited from the underground train station on to the streets of Barcelona and was completely taken by the buildings, whose windows and balconies were perfectly symmetrically aligned.
It was a good 2 kilometers to my hostel, so I just took it all in like a child in a candy store. My 28 pound pack reminded me that it was not exactly the time to just start wondering around, rather that it was important to find the hostel first. I could see the old roman walls, colorful artwork, and caught glimpses of the cathedrals further down the streets as I passed by and was no less than eager to start exploring.
Barcelona, like Denver, is wonderfully gridded making it so easy to orient oneself and adding to the symmetry of the grand buildings which lined the streets for miles ahead and behind me. As I neared the hostel and entered into the Barri Gothic district where my hostel was, the streets were no longer passable by car, only foot and motorcar, and the perfect geometric grid faded as the allys seemed to run this way and that forming a playful maze. Luckily I found the hostel with no problem, checked in, locked up my pack, and headed straight back out into the city to explore my neighborhood and find some bearings. I found it an absolute luxery just to be able to walk, this way and that, turning down whatever street seemed interesting and visiting the shops whose windows seemed inviting. My first night in Barcelona ended by attending a Spanish guitar concert given by a local musician who soothed us with the sounds of Spain.
Day two in Barcelona- By 9:00 I was off to the beach- I was in Spain afterall. It was great to be on the beach, to take my shoes off and walk though the sand (not nearly as soft as the shores of the Gulf) and listen to the sounds of the ocean waves, which I had forgotten how much I love to hear. What is it about the sounds of waves or staring into a campfire or listening to rain on ones window pane while lying in bed that is so mesmorizing? However, as great as it was to see the ocean blue, the lively and energetic streets of Barcelona were beckoning me to return and explore.
All over the city of Barcelona are bike racks, some filled and some not so filled with bright red bikes. They are free and available to the public. Pick up a bike at one location and drop it off at the next. Brilliant!
My morning walk led me though the sights that were in the Barri Gothic area where I was staying. I stopped into the cathedral, which had a lovely courtyard. If you ever go visit, don't waste your time or money climbing its tower, errr riding the elevator to the roof (you don't even get the satisfaction of counting the tower steps to the top). While, it was pretty cool to walk on the roof hold out for La Familia Sagrada-- way better!
Some of the best things were to go down an ally-street and turn the corner to find a courtyard filled with artists and their artwork or a market filled with spices and honey. I admired the work and look forward to the day when I can afford it!
The symmetry of the Barcelona buildings. This building has much more of a rough and tough feel than most of them did with their much more delicate and ornate balconies... more pictures to come soon.
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