¡Visca Catalunya!
So here we are, on our last day in Barcelona, and we feel like we've already seen so much! Jet-lagged and toting our well-packed two backpacks (yes, only two!), we took our first breath of Spanish air on late Tuesday morning. After navigating the user-friendly subway system, about an hour later we were roaming what was apparently the street of our guesthouse...only we didn't know how to get in! Luckily our kind host, Juan, was waiting for us on his balcony and hollered down to retrieve us. Although our room is small by American standards, it does the job, and Juan is a great host! With our triple-keyed entrance and our closet safe, we feel pretty secure.
Although there have been countless sites to see here in Barcelona, I'll try to highlight our favorites. Our first was simply roaming the streets of Las Ramblas, kind of a main drag through the city. It's as crazy as Time Square, with streets that zig-zag in a maze-like fashion. The Barrí Gotic (Gothic Quarter) is rich in architecture that takes one back to old world charms. The Catedral Gotic is a site that is on our list for today before we leave.
Another incredible destination was Monserrat, a monastery built into the side of a mountain northwest of Barcelona. A quick cable car ride up the mountain left us to breathtaking views and sacred grounds. The pinnacle for many tourists is the Black Virgin, a statue of the Virgin Mary believed to have been discovered in La Santa Cova, a cave that is a 30-minute hike away. We ended up taking that hike, which rewarded us with even more breathtaking views...and quite the exercise.
Yesterday we started our day with La Sagrada Familia, a church designed by Gaudí, and still be constructed 125 years later. We then headed through the Citadel Park and munched on a baguette with jamón while people watching. Our walk then took us to Barceloneta, an old fishing village turned into a touristy drag lined with seafood restaurants.
After a walk on the beach and my first dip in the Mediterranean, our final destination was the Picasso Museum. Here we toured the strange life of the world-renowned artist.
Well, that's all for now...on to Valencia!