February 24, 2014 by Caroline Leland
Barcelona
Brooke told me about a UNC guy studying in Barcelona this semester whose first Facebook album of the experience is titled “BARS-elona.” Clever, huh? I’m getting really sick of the “Party in Europe” study abroad stereotype. I realize that’s how many people feel they can maximize their time here (with a run-on stream of wild nights they barely remember and mornings they slept through?). Every weekend I feel the pressure to do that, too. But I simply have different values. My kind of fun is waking up early with lots of energy and without a hint of a hangover so that I can walk for miles through one of the world’s most vibrant and beautiful cities. And not one tiny bit of me feels like I’m doing it wrong.
So anyway, I visited Barcelona this weekend. It’s potentially my favorite city so far.
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Casa Batlló, one of the most famous masterpieces of Barcelona’s most famous architect (Antoni Gaudí) |
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one of his more tame rooms |
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mosaic motif |
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love the colors |
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rooftop |
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dragon spine roof |
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first course to our fantastic 3pm lunch |
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We couldn’t bring ourselves to eat the ones with faces. |
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la Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s spectacularly designed cathedral |
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worship the light |
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Sagrada Familia exterior |
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poor turtle |
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The building is still under construction almost 200 years later. |
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A fun band playing for loose change in Parque Guell, which was also designed by Gaudí. |
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a very fun band |
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and then we found the boys! |
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the sea is just a wetter version of the skies |
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so lovely |
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last one i promise |
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love her |
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seductively drinking sangría |
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and then there was a magic fountain… |
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…that sang and danced… |
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…for hours on end. |
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We went to see it both nights. |
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This one is for you, Dad. |
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Palau de la Música Catalana |
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never could get tired of Barcelona’s mosaics. |
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and this stained glass window was incredible. |
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best for last. |
Griffin - February 24, 2014 @ 7:41 pm
Caroline, I am continuing to enjoy your blog so much! I especially liked the photo just for your Dad!
Enjoy!
Love,
Aunt Brenda