A Day of Gaudí (Spring Break day 6)

On the Friday of Spring Break, we saw (almost) all things Gaudí.

The five of us met up with Lauren and Gina, who were now in Barcelona, at La Segrada Família, a Antoni Gaudí designed church (which we had to pay to get into!).  Gaudí knew that it would not be finished in his lifetime, so he left very detailed instructions on how to complete it.  It is expected to be finished mid-century.  What I want to know is, who decided to finance this project for about 200 years?!

Exterior of La Sagrada Família

Inside La Sagrada Família

Then we walked through the northern part of the city to see the park he designed.  It was so big!  And very centered on architecture (duh! he was an architect), so there was not much greenery.  We climbed a small mountain, and the view was incredible!  We could see the entire city of Barcelona, all the way to the ocean. 

Cory and I over looking the park area.

Cory and I overlooking the park.

After the park, we search for a place to eat, and after finally finding a place that was open, we came across the most rude waiter I have ever met.  

I asked if there was a drink menu, he said, "No, we have the usual.  You know, water, beer, Coke..."  

So I asked, "What kinds of beer?"

"What do you mean what kinds of beer?  We have Barcelona beer."

"OK, how much is that?"  He told me the price, then someone asked how much a Coke was.

His response: "Why do you keep asking the prices?  I went to America and we didn't ask for prices!"

Well, sir, that's because we have drink menus in the U.S. that include prices.  And we are broke college students on a budget.

He was rude and I did not like him.  He also kept telling us that he wasn't going to rip us off, that the people across the way would rip us off, but he wouldn't.  The fact that you keep repeating that makes me question you, but OK...

Then we walked to two houses he designed, Casa Milá and Casa Batlló.  Both are distinctly Gaudí, as they are very fluid and surrealist.  We decided not to pay to go in.  Broke college students, what can I say?

Casa Milá

Casa Batlló

(Hope I didn't mix up the two houses!)

Afterwards we headed back to our hostels for a much needed nap, then went out to dinner.  Gina's friend Paula lives in Barcelona, so we met up with her and she took us to a great tapas place.  We had an egg dish, a bread dish, a seafood platter (that was so salty!  I think they caught the fish right there and just put it on the plate), and chorizo.  I ate some of the chorizo, which is a sausage-type meat.  Sorry, it was my Barcelona Exemption!  There was also this delicious tasting alcoholic drink, and we were told it was a vermouth drink, but I don't think it was.  Maybe there was a language barrier there?

Anyway, after that filling meal, we got some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (they follow me on Twitter!), the called it a night and headed back to the hostel.

-B