journal entry: Espana parte cuatro

Just a little note regarding these journal entries... mostly (about 95%), I just copy verbatim whatever I wrote on my journal and then pick some photos I took that day when I post here. However, when I'm dead tired at the end of said day and trying to write on this journal, my grammar usually goes down the drain... a little more than usual. So I do have to make some little edits (corrections) sometimes. Not that what I end up posting is good, I'm just saying that what I wrote in my journal is worse. 😁

I do have to say, typing these journal entries personally leaves me with a bitter-sweet feeling... I am still a little bummed that I had to cancel my recent trip and my heart aches a bit thinking that travel will probably not go back to the pre-coronavirus normal in the immediate future; but mostly, I'm just really really grateful for the trips that I did get to go on and experience and see the things that I did.
So for now, I will have to be content with dreaming of travels past and future. Cheers! 😀

*****

24 March 2019
9:54 PM - Barcelona

Oh my Gaudi! I am in awe.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. train to Barcelona - 7:30 AM train so I had to check out of the hotel early then took an Uber to the train station. Train ride was thankfully uneventful so was able to sleep a little. Then I had to take a Suburban (local train to get me a little closer to the hotel) and walk the rest of the way, luggage in tow. Although check in was not yet available at the hotel, I was able to leave my luggage so I could do a bit of exploring.

2. Las Ramblas. It did get a little hot today but I enjoyed walking down this street. There's a fountain near the start (or end) of Las Ramblas, near Placa de Catalunya; tradition has it that whoever drinks from this fountain will come back to Barcelona. So here's hoping that is true. 😀

Font de Canaletes

3. La Sagrada Familia - so unbelievably beautiful, it literally brought tears to my eyes. I'm not even joking. I mean, I was expecting it to be beautiful, but I wasn't really prepared for what I saw. Wow. Just wow. I am now a fan of Gaudi. The attention to detail, and how each one is largely based on nature, it's simply astounding. So unique in design and really amazing. I would definitely want to come back to see when it's finished (2027). Puhon.
(Note: photos don't do it justice. That's my excuse.)

4. Vasanta Hotel Boutique - my room is really nice, like something I would get on a business trip when I'm not paying for it personally (haha!). But yes, I got a really good deal on this.

5. Casa Mila - again beautiful work by Gaudi. It's just amazing how everything is based on trees or vines or whale skeletons or beehives or sea shells or whatever natural thing or living being, and then just becomes this wonderful man-made work of art. I wish I was staying one more day so I could see more of Gaudi's work.

6. the food - I almost forgot about this. Ciudad Condal for some tapas and lunch and Faborit Casa Amatller for some chocolate and dessert. yum! Casa Amatller is another modernism style building - I didn't have time to go in but it looked really pretty from outside. Another of Gaudi's - Casa Batllo - is right beside it but unfortunately was covered in scaffolding.

Casa Amatller