Tomorrow Henry turns 2!! What whirlwind of a year. Where did it go? So tonight, as we were reading Henry his last bedtime story as a one year old, I grabbed our camera to capture the moment. I hope two year old snuggles are as sweet as this!
Monthly Archives: May 2014
Barcelona, Part Two: Glorious Gaudí
A collection of tiles from Park Güell
To be honest this post has been driving me nuts. You know when you just can’t seem to do something justice with words (or even in pictures)? That’s how I feel about all the Gaudí stuff we visited in Barcelona. So instead of a long narration of all the things we saw, I’m just going to throw it out there with a few captions and comments. I have WAY too many other things I want to blog about and my need for things to be perfect and my ability to procrastinate (they’re related you know) is getting in the way of moving on. So with that disclaimer out of the way, here’s what we saw:
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló aka “the building that looks like bones”… sadly we didn’t get to go inside.
I didn’t know much about Antoni Gaudí before we arrived in Barcelona. I vaguely remembered learning about him in an art history course. If you had asked me to name one of Gaudí’s works I would have said, “Didn’t he do that crazy colorful building that looks like bones?”
We were absolutely delighted by what we discovered in Barcelona. Gaudí’s style and influence is unmistakable throughout the city. Did you know that his works in Barcelona are actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site? All the colors and shapes are just stunning and our photos really don’t do them justice. You absolutely must go and see it for yourself!
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia (1882 – still working on it)
We had intended to visit La Sagrada Familia on our first day in Barcelona but the line to go inside the church was huge and we have an impatient toddler. So we admired the exterior and enjoyed the fantastic playground (I love kid friendly cities) across the street!
You might be surprised to learn that La Sagrada Familia is not a cathedral. It’s actually a basilica. But if I were to try to describe it to anyone I’d say it was a cathedral of light and color. It is truly one of the most ethereal spaces that I have ever experienced. Which is funny because from a distance the outside kind of looks like a hot mess. But don’t be distracted by the cranes and construction. When you get up close and go inside its breathtaking.
The Nativity Facade at La Sagrada Familia
Detail from The Passion Facade at La Sagrada Familia
After admiring the outside the day before we were really excited to actually go inside the next day. With our advanced tickets purchased online the night before (highly recommended) we practically waltzed right in. The interior honestly took my breath away. I couldn’t believe how light and airy it felt compared to the formidable exterior. The colors and shapes were so different than anything else I had ever seen in a church. It is a truly mesmerizing space and really these photos are just a tiny glimpse of what’s inside.
Colorful stained glass at La Sagrada Familia
Light dancing off the ceiling and glass
The columns and walls awash with color from the stained glass
Parc Güell
Parc Güell wasn’t actually intended to be a park. It was originally conceived as a posh subdivision in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona but finances got in the way. Which is lucky for the rest of us because it is much too beautiful to not be enjoyed by all.
Gorgeous mosaic tiles
Hanging out on the Serpentine Bench
The view of Barcelona from the Serpentine Bench
After a very long and uphill walk to Parc Güell we were rewarded with breathtaking views of Barcelona. Walking all the way to the park with 25lb. stroller and 33lb. toddler is probably not something I would do again. Tip: Take public transportation unless you really like walking. All that walking made us mighty thirsty.
So we had to get a mini pitcher of sangria. It wasn’t that good, but that’s not the point.
Looking north from the terrace at Park Güell, where you can have a sangria under the palm trees!
Don’t you just love seeing palm trees in February. It’s like an instant mood booster.
And this is what’s below you, supporting the terrace!
The whole park almost feels like it’s been carved out of the hillside.
Even the fences are beautiful at Park Güell
Henry thought Parc Guell was pretty great too!
Buenos Dias Barcelona
Back in February we bought last minute tickets to Barcelona and crossed our fingers for blue skies and sunshine. Neither of us had been before and we had no idea what to expect. We arrived late on a Friday night and promptly went to bed. Cheers to traveling with a toddler! We woke up on Saturday well-rested (relatively) and bright eyed – ready to discover the city.
El búho on the Avinguda Diagonal
We knew Barcelona had a beach, a big crazy unfinished church, sangria, paella, cava and tapas. Oh my Gaudí! We were blown away by the whole city. So much so that I can’t do our long weekend justice in just one post. So consider this part one! I’m saving all the Gaudí bits for part two.
Walking through Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf
While Paris might have a more well know Arc, Barcelona has really impressive one as well. And the rows of palm trees lining the Passeig de Lluís Companys could not have been a more welcome sight for these Londoners. The lovely pedestrian boulevard leads to the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella. Which is where we discovered a large and very colorful Latin dance festival was taking place. I couldn’t help but stop and take a picture of this trio.
From the Parc we made our way down to the beach in search of paella and sangria. It was pretty touristy and most foodies would probably disapprove but we couldn’t help ourselves. So we grabbed at table at Xup Xup and indulged. The sun was so bright we actually felt hot – in February!
Paella and cava for mama. No coats or sweaters needed.
After our sunny lunch we walked along the boardwalk of La Barceloneta and enjoyed the sea.
And we all touched the Mediterranean Sea for the first time. Hopefully not the last.
Henry loves the sand
After the beach we headed back into the older medieval parts of Barcelona, El Born and the Barri Gòtic. We loved going from the bright sunny beach to the old narrow cobblestone streets in just a block or two. Barcelona really does have the best of both worlds.
Barcelona Catedral at Twilight
Inside the medieval Catedral
Colorful flags and laundry in El Born
Old water fountains in El Born
But the best thing about visiting Barcelona with a toddler were all the playgrounds. You can find them everywhere, tucked away in little squares and along the boulevards.
We absolutely loved this city and I hope we get to go back again soon!
So much to see, so little time and so little blogging
So it turns out I’m awful at blogging. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I just can’t seem to find the time to keep up with it. I realized today that it’s been over a month since my last post!
But I have a really good excuse… kind of. We’ve been traveling and trying to see everything we can in London before we head back to the states in July. So expect posts about Barcelona, Bath, Florence, Amsterdam and London as soon as I find time to finish editing photos. Or more accurately, as soon as I stop procrastinating and use my time to edit photos instead of reading about what Kate wore in Australia.
But while we’re on the subject of so little time, how is Henry turning two in 27 days!?!? How did we leave New York three years ago? And how are we about to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary in July? Time is flying by faster than I ever it imagined it could.
And so it seems timely that I include this photo of The Astronomical Clock at Hampton Court Palace in this long overdue post. I think it’s pretty amazing that I can tell time from the same clock that Henry VIII once used. In fact it’s so old (constructed between 1540 -1542) that the pre-Copernican and pre-Galilean clock depicts the sun rotating around the earth! If you interested here’s a bit more about the clock.
Time to go edit photos now!
chellabella 