Monday, March 15, 2010

Barcelona... Finally!

Hey folks,
It's been a long time coming but I've finally found the time and motivation to post pics from the second leg of Gina's and my trip to Europe. I present to you BarTHelona!


On our first day we explored the Barri Gotic which translated means the Gothic Quarter. This is the historical center of Barcelona and where the City was founded. The composition of many of the walls here are like a timeline. The stonework at the base of the building is Roman and the Goths and Catalonian governments built right on top of it hence the varied types of masonry.


Upclose detail of the ancient walls


This is
Placa de Sant Jaume. On one side of the plaza is the city hall and on the other is the Palace of the Generalitat. This plaza has been the site of government buildings since Roman times.


La Plaça del Rei
.


These are the steps where Columbus presented his findings from the new world to Ferdinand and Isabella.


There were musicians everywhere in the Barri Gotic and because of the acoustics of the narrow streets, it was rare to be without music.


This is the backside of La Cathedral. The reason you're not seeing the front is because it was shrouded in restoration tarps.


Heres Gina reading her guidebook again.


She sure loves a guidebook


The way the light fell onto the narrow streets reminded me of a slot canyon in the desert






Street performers in Barcelona are NO JOKE! The folks on the 3rd St. Promenade could learn a thing or two from these people.


This is the view from the balcony of our room in the late afternoon. Thats right, we stayed in the ghetto.


The thing about the Spanish is that they call it like they see it.

Thats all for now, next week I'll post more including our visit to Park Guell which is one of Gaudi's masterpieces.