Sunday, June 13, 2010

Day 2 - Barcelona - Mont Juic - Olympic Port - Gaudi




Really our first day after a normal sleep. We started the day with a croisant, some filled with chocolate, and headed to the metro to catch the Fenicular Montjuic so we could ride the Teleferico up to the castle. After some great views of the city from above, we headed down to see a museum dedicated to Joan Miro (one of my favorite artists) and I was so pleased that this year's group had some members that actually liked his work. We then took a gondola down to the port (more great views and some altitude "queasiness,") walked along the beach to the Olympic port where we ate a big lunch full of seafood and special paellas. The Paella Marinera drew some big applause and the Arroz Negro (with squid ink) drew an opposite reaction. This set up the perfect surprise when they tasted the black rice and found out how delicious it is. This group as a whole has so far been very good about trying everything. We then walked around the Sagrada Familia, probably the symbol of Barcelona, and then the group divided into two with the choice of seeing Casa Battlo or La Pedrera, both houses built by Gaudi. I would say that Battlo is a better tour if you want to see how detailed and involved architecture can be while La Pedrera, though probably more respected, to me only beats Batllo in the coolest roof contest. We ended the evening with a beautiful meal at Asador Aranda, quickly becoming Barcelona's Casa Paco (see last year's blog or ask any alumni from this 30 year old program) for the Woodberry in Spain program. Enjoy the photographs.  I had trouble moving them around so they are not in chronological order.




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