Me encanta Gaudi

We made it! After eight long hours, we finally made it to Barcelona. Once we got here last night, I dumped the entire contents of my bag on the bed in the hotel room and re-folded and re-packed everything. I've been traveling so much that I got disorganized. On top of that, we had to have our suitcases packed and on the bus this morning so they can be sent to Cordoba. We're taking the train tomorrow, and apparently there is very limited room. Thus, until Sunday I'm living out of a backpack. But let's rewind.

After the re-pack, I met up with one of my best friends, Katherine, for dinner. She is here in Spain for a post-grad school trip before she starts work in the US at the beginning of next month. I love her, I love her!

We went to dinner with her boyfriend, Andrew, Andrew's friend Ashton, who recently moved to Barcelona, and Katherine's friend Lindsay. Lindsay is teaching English in Granada, which is pretty close to Cordoba, so she'll adopt me and we can hang out and eat American food together after Katherine leaves. After dinner we went back to Ashton's apartment and hung out on his rooftop deck. Not only was is amazing to sitting on a rooftop in the middle of Barcelona, but it was so nice to NOT be in a hotel. I can't wait to settle in Cordoba.

This morning our group had a tour of Barcelona. It was mostly on the bus (so hot here- 105+) , but we did make some stops to walk around and take photos. Barcelona was Gaudi's home, so there is a ton of amazing architecture here. In fact, most of our tour was architecture. I was hanging on every word. This is Gaudi's house, a few blocks away from our hotel, which was turned into a cultural center and museum after his death.

The street is in a neighborhood "de la clase alta"- upper class. The Art Nouveau style was really popular here during the early 20th century. Thus, all the houses have lots of balconies with iron railings that are sculpted in long, sinuous forms. The upper classes could sit out on the balconies, staying cool in the sea breeze, and watch the people in the street. I already knew a bunch about this eclectic, modern style from my class last Spring called Modern Architecture and Design from 1789-1945, but Barcelona is the first city that has really embodied most of the big concepts. Much of this architectural influence came from Gaudi, who designed houses around the city.

We also visited the Parque Guell (pronounced gu-ay), Gaudi's biggest work. His main mission was to integrate architecture with the natural environment and compliment what naturally exists. It was really interesting to see how he made columns look like the base of palm trees and used mosaics to compliment the floral gardens. I bought a book in the gift shop on the way out because I loved it so much, and of course to add to my collection of art books from exhibits and places that I've visited and loved. I don't think pictures to Parque Guell justice, but here are a few:

Gift shop!

After Parque Guell, we drove past Sagrada Familia, a church Gaudi designed, that is still being built after nearly one hundred years. We didn't go in (the line to get in is over three hours long), but we got to take a look at the outside. It is very cool (maybe my favorite Catholic church yet), and almost has a cartoon-ish look to it. 

Our final stop was Mont Juic, the sight of the 1992 Olympics, to take pictures overlocking the city, port and Mediterranean Sea. The entire city is literally an open-air museum. I love it. 

And finally, around 3 pm, we had lunch (pasta!) and a group meeting at a restaurant on the Plaza de Catalunya. We got information about where we are going to be living in Cordoba, how to walk to school, and our schedule for the first week, which was all very exciting, but exhausting. On the way home I stopped at an open air market on the Rambla, the central city walkway with street performers, etc,  and got some fresh-made juice. Yum.

So now I've just woken up from a three hour siesta and I'm getting ready to go out to a discoteca with some friends and have our first night out in Barcelona. There are four of us in my room right now- listening to SheWolf. Without a doubt this has to be the song of today. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=booKP974B0k) And tonight. Fiesta!