Spring Break 2010

During my spring break of 2010, I traveled with the travel club to Paris and Barcelona. From Paris we took a night train to Barcelona, Spain. The train cart/ room was very small. There were four of us in one cart and all of us had big luggages. Because we were taking a night train, everything was dark and I wasn’t able to see much out side but when it lighter, I was able to see some of the scenery which was mostly country.  I enjoyed Barcelona much more than Paris. Barcelona was much cleaner than Paris was. At Paris, everyone smoked and was very dirty and stink. Paris was also very cold; I had to wear 4 layers of clothing, so Barcelona was much better. It was still chilly but it was warm enough to wear a light jacket without freezing. So it was nice to be able to feel the warm.

On our first day in Barcelona we did a tour around the city. Barcelona seems like a small place, nothing its an hour drive, but then again we stayed in the city side. We were able to visit the Sagada familia, which, I think it’s called the communities church. Or something along those lines, but they told us that they have been building that church for a very long time now, and hopes it gets done in the year 2026. I didn’t get a chance to look in the church, but I was able to walk around it. That church is very big, I’m not too sure but I believe that they said when the church is done, there should be 13 towers in all. After seeing the Sagada Familia, we went to Gaudi’s house, I learned that he was an architecture and his work is all over the city. He made beautiful pieces from recycled item and other things, also that his pieces were based on nature and designed it as if it’s a part of nature. For example,  

These buildings are Gaudi’s work. His work is very unusual.  For the model building on the left he designed it to a theme that was connected to the ocean and under the sea theme. The railings for the stair cases and balconies were shaped like seaweed. The Smoke stack on the roof top was designed to look like coral. All his pieces are themed to represent something in nature. Also his handicraft, a chair he made was modified to fit how someone would sit and if they turned either way or positioned their body differently on the chair it would still be comfortable.

We were able to go to a super market called St. Josep La Boqueria. It was like a regular super market that sold fresh fruits, vegetables, deli, flowers, candy and other fresh products. It’s kind of the same kind of super market you’d find in the states. In Barcelona there were many street performers on the streets. There were people in costumes and entertainment. When you walk down the streets you wouldn’t find an area in the main street where there wasn’t a performer on the side. We were able to see soccer, or footbol performers showing off their tricks with the ball, people dressed up in big colorful or scary costumes, waiting for someone to take a picture with them and artists, with their drawing skills or a group singing or playing an instrument. It was very scary but entertaining at the same time. Also when we were up there our tour guide warned us that there are people who are ‘pocket pickers’ they are sneaky people who walk around and take things from tourist’s pockets while they aren’t paying attention.

One authentic dish we were able to try was the seafood paella. It contained clams, muscles, peas, other vegetables and rice.