Barcelona/Rome 2012
After a long day (well, day and a half) and an all-too-short night, it was time to get up and wander Barcelona. La Sagrada Família, La Rambla, La Boqueria Market, Cathedral of Santa Eulŕlia (Barcelona Cathedral), and Parc Guell.
Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia is still under construction (1882 to present, 2028 estimated) and is one of the most striking cathederals in a more modern style around. The use of light and colors compared to more traditional ones, not to mention the vast arches and columns that are distinctly different than others-- yet so similar, you know you are still in a major cathederal. The line to get in in the off-season wasn't that bad, either.
La Rambla (Las Ramblas) is sort of like Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, in that it's a huge walking area, but it's got the Barri Gothic and hundreds of years of history compared to here. Not to mention La Boqueria Market, a historic farmer's market with an impressive array of meats, vegetables, seafood, and food stands, including Iberico ham. Mmmmmmmmm ham... the waterfront at the end is quite a bit more modern, and unfortunately I didn't have time to properly explore it.
Catederal (Barcelona Cathederal) is in the middle of the Barri Gotic, the more historic neighborhood (and well worth the quick walk). It's not quite as impressive until you pause to take it all in, and the way the sunlight flows through the ambulatory has the traditional Gothic feel that gaming geeks may remember in a few video games...
Parc Guell afterwards. It's huge, and 95% of it is a traditional but very nice walking park. Unfortunately I thought it'd be much more Gaudi-influenced all over-- the front buildings and viaducts are indeed unique-- but the rest is just a nice walk.
Lots of walking otherwise, through much of central Barcelona, which is a fairly typical modern European city, if somewhat smaller than I expected...