Barcelona, Spain - February 2011
Photos from my mini-break from school in London to visit my friend and roommate, Alyssa in Barcelona!








I really do remember the light in Barcelona when I landed.
I hopped into a cab and hesitantly told them "Placa de Mayor" and PRAYED that it'd take me to the place that Alyssa and I had agreed to meet up in.

But we found each other in the blue dusk! It was beautiful!
We walked back to her place and she danced on her roof top.


International Roommates, continuation. 
I've been so blessed with international roommates.






I loved the small tree growing up through the triangle formation of the adjacent buildings.


There she is.


Interior.


One of her flatmates was a pastry chef in training...he kept bringing home goodies over the three days that I was visiting.


Woke up from my post-flight/travel nap to this shadow on the wall.

That night we took it easy, just chatted and were obnoxious to everybody around us. Of course.


The next morning was beautiful!
Sunny, warm, delightful! Such a contrast from Madrid, which was windy and cold as poop!


Textures and patterns and colours, oh my!


Oh, so this day I ventured off to do touristy things alone while Alyssa went to a full day of classes.
I was like the lost puppy child wandering the city while mommy was at work.


A city of truly beautiful and surprising architecture.


Correos.






Oh what's that?
In the distance...


Getting closer...


Let me tell you...the anticipation of walking up to the strange architectural giant was just...gahhh so good.
STILL underconstruction...the best part is I'll have to visit when they plan to complete it in 40 years. What a bookend!



A juxtaposition of centuries.


Splurged for the audio guide, I couldn't help myself.


The first sights!


The emotions that such seemingly cold geometric shapes can evoke are incredible. God. SO GOOD.


*GASP* The first views of the interior.
I swear I've never seen anything like it in my whole life.
Gaudi's aspiration to make a truly heavenly cathedral...I might argue that he's been the closest in history.


I really cannot describe the feeling you get when walking through this overwhelmingly beautiful space. Incredible.


Light on the floor


Never alone in these spaces.


God.


Standing at the base of one of the columns.


Tree scapes.


Melted candle wax.
SO MUCH OVERWHELMING AND LOVELY DETAIL IN PERSON...in photographs...looks sloppy and poopy.
But. Wow.








A photograph of the Cathedral at the moment of Gaudi's death.


Designs


A really awesome model of how weight distribution was factored 






A view from Gaudi's Park across the way


Wandered into the Market of the Sagrada Familia nearby.


Reflection.


Basics for comparison


I went to a hospital a few blocks away that I wanted to check out.
Apparently famous for great mosaic work...BUT THE LAST TOUR LEFT RIGHT WHEN I ARRIVED. GAH.


Las Ramblas
Alyssa hated it there...haha




Went to La Boqueria








I passed stalls and stalls of delicious looking fresh produce and foods, but of course my cheap ass sprung for this odd "pizza" that was like 2 euro.


Went to the Museu D'Art Contemporary De Barcelona...
but it was closed. Just my luck. Lots of bikers.




Had a coffee in a nearby cafe.


Wandered around El Raval


Hung out by this bike rack and ran into other tourists from LA who asked me in spanish where MACBA was, it was kind of awesome. Hahah, except that I hung out by a bike rack for so long...I was tired, okay?!?!


I walked all the way down Las Ramblas, caught the sunset.


Columbus pointed me to the seaside.


Lions in so many cities.

S
Seagulls galore


I sat by the water for quite some time.
Watched the clock and caught the metro to meet Alyssa back at her school


Went to the grocery shop on the way home, and made pasta! Whoo!


Poop coloured pasta


The next morning we got croissants and coffee at Alyssa's favorite place.
(All the pastries look like crabs to me...)


We hit up Parc Guell.


JOY JOY JOY!








We wandered around the park, laughed, giggled, did dumb things. Awesome.


And we saw Michael Jackson!


BAM, Parc Guell starring Alyssa Najafi.



Ah!


Possibly the weirdest photo we have together.

A
Alyssa and her children


Mm.


ANTM.


Which way is up!??!


Favourite french child, Charlotte that we stalked.


AH!


One layer jacket, pretty good for February.




Awkward jumping, always classic


Candyland real life










We walked to the hidden Gaudi house!
Wow!




Best visual menu ever


All about clarity


Yeah, then we got Pans for dinner (had a coupon!)
It's like a McDonalds but for the spanish favourite, bocadillos!



I had a few more pictures of when Alyssa and I visited Montjuic and walked around at night before my flight to Venice, Italy...
I'm not sure where those went. But.

Ah!


So that was Barcelona! My brief honeymoon with my friend Alyssa!


Much love friends.




Also, I hope these posts don't sound like bragging.
I realize I get more comments on more relatable posts about my documented days or school or stuff....
I hope this doesn't mean that some readers don't like seeing travel photos. I know that travel photos from other people can feel tedious, but I do try to apply captions that make things more personal and relevant.

Ah.
SORRY!