Barcelona Day 2

My parents and I had another fun day in Barcelona. We woke up and headed to Parc Güell. The park is a a large garden complex with situated on a large hill in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. It was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. Gaudi is famous for his work on the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. He uses many natural elements to form his building and it was very noticeable in the park as well. My favorite part is a tunnel made of stones and rock that resembles a wave. It is a large park and we spent a few hours walking around it. Anyone who has a chance to visit Barcelona should check out all his major works, it is definitely worth the high admission price. The park however was free.

Mom and Dad near Park Entrance

View from park balcony overlooking Barcelona

Dad and I walking through the park

Mom and Dad under tunnel that looks like a wave

Random guy with dog, just liked the shot

Walking through the park

Taking a break in the park

After the park we walked around through the Gothic area of town. It didn´t matter if we got lost because we had a metro pass and could hop on any stop and easily find our way back to our hotel. We checked out La Rambla for a bit and then found a place to eat. The amount of street performers and "statues" was crazy. Every 10 feet would be another person set up looking like a statue, a monster, cowboy, etc. There was some pretty good ones, and others were so so. After walking for a bit we were trying to figure out was to do for the night. It was a Saturday night and we didn´t really know what to do so we decided to buy tickets and see a Spanish Guitar show.  Before the show we found a really cool farmers market with a lot of fresh fruit and other foods. We had to kill some time before the guitar show so we wondered through the market for a while

Me with the coolest cowboy in Barcelona

Dad and I near Cathedral, The arch behind us is a very famous and is often the scene for many painters

Gothic District 

Edward Scissor Hands

Fresh Produce at the Market

 We went to an old church around 9 pm and one guy played about 15 different songs on 4 different types of guitars. He gave us a sample of famous guitar pieces dating as far back as the 16th century. It was a really great show and I am glad we checked it out. On the way home we saw some street performers dancing on La Rambla. This dude did like a backflip barrel roll over 4 dudes. it was pretty crazy. Afterwords we headed back to the hotel and called it a night.

Guitarist at Show

Airborne 

Barcelona Day 1

Today was our first day in Barcelona. We got up and ready to go around 10 am. We didn´t really have a set plan, I just knew I wanted to take them to a few spots before we leave the city. We walked out of our hotel to Plaza España and went to the metro. We ended up buying a 3 day pass, which is the way to do it if you are in barcelona, easiest and fastest way to get around the city. We headed to Las Ramblas which is a very popular street for both tourists and locals that makes its way to the ocean. The street is filled with all sorts of vendors and street performers. There were actually a few pretty clever street performers who dressed as statues. We walked all the way down and made it to the beach line. We passed a large monument to Christopher Columbus and headed around the port walking along the docks.  

Mom and Dad at Entrance of La Rambla

Making our way down the busy street

Street Performer giving the `thumbs up` after my dad gave him some money

 

whaaaat



 

Monument to Christopher Columbus

After we made our way to the ocean and walked around for a bit we decided to take a gondola to the top of this large hill overlooking the city and the ocean. I have been to Barcelona once before but I had not seen this section of town. We walked around on the beach for a bit and caught the gondola to the top of the hill which turned out to be a place called Parc de Montjuic. The ride up was really cool and got to see some great views of the town. 

Dad and I on the beach



Mom and I walking to the gondola



Christopher Columbus monument with La Rambla in the back ground



We made it to the top and walked around the park for a little bit. The Olympic venues were held on the other side of the hill so there was a lot of monuments for the Olympics around the park. We made it to the top and there was a large castle which I found out used to be a political prison back in the day. We spent a while at the top enjoying the amazing views of the city. 


Mom and Dad with Olympic Statue



Park at the top of the hill

Dad and Mom

 

Parents with city in background



The city kept going

Cannon pointed at the Sea

After spending a while up on the hill overlook the city we decided to head back to the hotel and get ready to go to the Sagrada Famila. The Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic Church that is STILL under construction. They first broke ground for the church in 1882. Shortly after Antoni Gaudi took over the design. I visited the church four years ago when studying abroad. It was very beautiful but there was a lot of construction going on. I was a bit worried when we were arriving but was amazed on how well it looked inside. It was nearly finished and the design was amazing. Gaudi died in 1926 and another architect took over, however many critizize his work. The church is said to be finished completley in 2026. I am guessing it will take atleast an extra 20 years... it seems they don´t mind leading everyone on.

Inside of Church

Me out front of the Sagrada Familia

My Parents at the entrance of the church

 After spending a while in the church we headed back to the hotel and got ready to go eat. We were all very tried by the time the day was over. Looking forward to tomorrow!

Mom and Dad waiting for metro

Sevilla ✈Barcelona

Happy thanksgiving to everyone in the United States! I am getting ready to fly out of Sevilla to meet my parents in Barcelona :) They arrive today and I won't get in until later tonight. We will be in Barcelona until the 29th. From Barcelona we will fly back to Sevilla for a few days. I am excited to be able to show my parents where I work and for them to spend a day or two at work with me. After that we wrap up the vacation in Madrid. My parents fly out the 5th of December. Ingy will be flying in to Madrid during the time we are there. She will be spending a month with me in Sevilla and traveling around. I am so glad I will see them all soon :) Hope everyone has a great turkey day and eat a little extra for me since they don't celebrate here!

NO8DO

Where ever you are at in Sevilla chances are you will find this symbol on something within a minute or two. NO8DO is the official motto of Sevilla. It is on the bike racks, busses, sewer drains, buildings, monuments, public service cars, etc. 

The motto is made using the Spanish syllables (NO and DO) and in between a figure 8. The figure 8 represents a skein of yarn, or in Spanish, a “madeja.” When read aloud, “No madeja do” sounds like “No me ha dejado,” which means “It [Seville] has not abandoned me.”

Skein of Yarn

The story as to how NO8DO become the city motto is after the “Reconquest” of Seville from the Muslims in 1248, King Fernando III, El Santo, King of Castilla and León moved his court to the former Muslim palace, the Alcázar of Seville.

After San Fernando’s death in the Real Alcázar, his son, Alfonso X, “The Wise,” assumed the throne. Alfonso X was a scholar king, hence his title. He was a poet, astronomer, astrologer, musician and linguist. Alfonso’s son, Sancho IV of Castile, tried to steal the throne from his father, but the people of Seville remained loyal to their scholar king and this is where NO8DO was believed to have originated when, according to legend, Alfonso X rewarded the fidelity of the “Sevillanos” with the words that now appear on the official emblem of the city of Seville.

It is crazy how many places you will find this motto. I heard it is also on the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Net time i go to the Cathedral I will look to see if I can find it.

Missing the snow..... .. . just a little bit

I have been reading everyone's facebook posts (in washington) about all the snow. I actually do miss the snow a bit. Bellingham is such a fun place to be during this time of year, not only for how close the mountains are, but also just being downtown at night after the first snowfall. However, I think I will be able to survive one winter without seeing too much snow. I imagine I will see some when I go to Granada in the mountains and possibly Segovia next month.

Ingy and I in Colorado a few years back

My parents come out in less than a week! This Thursday to be exact. I am flying to Barcelona to meet them. We will be in Barcelona until the 29th and then we head to Sevilla until the 3rd. After that we finish out the trip in Madrid where Ingy will be flying into to stay with me for a month! I am getting really excited to see my parents and Ingy. Time to get organized for next week! 

First Westfalia Volkswagen I have seen in Sevilla

Walking to my place

Futbol and Football on Sunday

Nothing better than spending an entire day in bed watching football and soccer. Saturday night was a late one. It still blows my mind how late people stay out here. We were at a bar until 6 am and it was still packed when we left. I slept till about 2:30 pm and then got up for the day. I didn't really do much. Sunday is soccer day in Spain. I watched a little bit of the Sevilla vs. Mallorca game which Sevilla lost. Another great thing about living in the year 2010 is free streaming everything. I am able to watch every football game streamed live onto my computer. I made some dinner and had a nice relaxing evening watching two football games at a time. 

2 games and 1 computer

Not that exciting of a day, but it was good to rest up and watch some football. Now only if the Seahawks could win......