8:59 PM
Last day in Spain for this trip. (Tomorrow doesn't count since I have a really early flight - 6:30 AM)
I had a great time - consumed a lot of food, walked a lot of steps, learned a lot of things, visited most of the places I had planned to see.
I am very grateful for this trip. Today, specifically, I am thankful for:
1. Plaça de Catalunya - following the Barcelona City self-guided walk by Rick Steves, I started out from this square. The Times Square of Barcelona.
2. Barri Gotic neighborhood
3. Barcelona Cathedral - also Gothic and beautiful inside
4. Palau de la Musica Catalana - very beautiful concert venue. Stained glass windows and very unique ceiling. It would be nice to see (and listen) to a concert there someday.
5. Mercat Santa Caterina - had an empanada and a paper cone with different small pieces of ham in it.
6. Museu Picasso de Barcelona - it was nice to learn that Picasso had different kinds of work other than what he became really famous for. (no pictures inside)
7. Cafeteria at El Corte Ingles - nice cafeteria in the top floor of a mall. Had paella, fried pieces of squid, and a small lemony cake. Food was okay. View from the top was nice.
8. Rambla de Mar - at the end of La Rambla is this place by the water. find a shady spot (or not if you don't mind the sun) and just sit and enjoy the view.
9. Pudding - nice little cafe a few blocks from the hotel. Had cafe con leche and chocolate cake.
Realizations:
1. I feel like if my feet had their own mouth, they would be screaming bloody murder at me right now.
2. lots of walking in the heat of the sun - I am definitely not a fan. This is now my second enemy when travelling, right next to tummy problems, which surprisingly didn't make an appearance this trip.
3. favorite food that I've tasted on this trip:
-tortilla (spanish omelette) - 2 out of the 3 times
-mazapan (from Toledo) and ponche segoviana (from Segovia)
-paella. (I feel like I just didn't go to the right places or the right places were not an option to solo travelers like me -- but I really love seafood and even though those that I did taste were not as mind-blowing as I would have liked them to be, I still liked them)
4. artist/architect I was most impressed with: Antoni Gaudi. Hands down.
5. favorite church: La Sagrada Familia followed by the Toledo Cathedral.
Barcelona is now one of my favorite cities visited.
