At last, we made it to Barcelona. We took a train from Valencia and got here Thursday. Since we only have a few days here, we decided to ride the red open-top tour bus again to see all the good sites fast. We checked into our hotel at 4 and by 9:00 we had pretty much already seen every corner of the city.
The next day we got back on the bus so we could hop off at the good sites. First we went to Barcelona Cathedral (there are lots of cathedrals here). Of course, it was so pretty inside and out. Even after several cathedrals, we´re always amazed at how giant they are inside. You can´t help but say WOW when you look up.
Next we went to Spain´s most popular tourist site, and learned that it is not overrated. La Sagrada Familia is a giant church that Anthony Gaudi started building over 100 years ago and it´s still under construction...and will be until 2040. It has the weird Gaudi style all over it. He was waaaaaay ahead of his time with his style.
After that we went to Park Guell, which has more Gaudi art in it. It´s huge. There are artsy buildings, tile work, bridges, walkways, etc, all designed by him. There was a great view of Barcelona because the park is up on a hill. We stopped and had our regular Babybell cheese and cracker lunch.
Next we strolled down La Rambla, which is a famous tree-lined walkway right in the middle of the city that leads to the port and a giant statue of Christopher Columbus. There was some great people watching, street performers, shops, flower stands, and food.
Today we woke up at 7:30 to partake of our hotel´s free continental breakfast. We showed up later yesterday and it was too crowded and the milk was warm, so we decided to wake up and be there first today. We ate and ate, and then went back to bed for 3 hours. Then we sat on the beach for 6 hours. Our hotel is 6 blocks from the beach, so we strolled down there with our ice chest and umbrella (all Spaniards own a beach umbrella)...but we were the only ones with an ice chest because Spaniards, like most Europeans, don´t believe in ice.
On another note, this entire country smells, and Barcelona is the worst of them all. Next is Valencia, then Madrid. We can´t figure out why it smells so bad...but then again, downtown Phoenix might smell just as bad. We just don´t walk around it. We´ve learned how to breathe out of our mouths here...except at the beach and at the tomato fight of course.
PS. Panda is quite the cartographer!!! I never knew how great she is with maps. If she wasn´t here I´d be wandering the country aimlessly...but she has us situated with maps within an hour in each new city. Quite helpful.
Tomorrow we´re headed back to Madrid and we have every second of our last few days here all planned out.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
¡La Tomatina!
Today we traveled from Valencia to the small town of Buñol for the annual tomato fight, La Tomatina. The city´s usual population is 9,000, but today it was at least 60,000. It was tomato madness!
There were 120 tons of very ripe tomatoes being flung from giant trucks throughout town. By the end of it, there were chunks of tomato in our hair, noses, shirts, shoes, and everywhere else. Good thing we wore goggles...we´d have been blinded without them.
We found the perfect place to stand in the crowd, next to a bridge wall so we could have something to hold on to. It was also a perfect people watching spot! There were people in costumes all over the place...men in briefs, people with wigs, men in women´s dresses, carved out watermelon helmets, a bathrobe, a pikachu pokeman costume, batman costume, and pool floaties.
Buñol residents dumped buckets of water and sprayed hoses from their balconies on the enormous crowd below. The water helped wash away some of the booze. Keep in mind that this was 50,000 Europeans, after all. We may have been the only two sober people in the entire city.
We took a million pictures with my new waterproof camera, but again, our hotel internet is slow and won´t upload, so pictures coming later!!!
The best decision we made was to rent a car and drive ourselves there so we didn´t have to ride back on a train or bus with smelly, drunk, tomato juiced people. Best decision ever. After we got back we got ready and went to dinner. I ordered a salad, then literally gagged at the smell of the tomato on the lettuce. We may not eat tomatoes for a while.
Other than that, it was a great day and a once in a lifetime experience! It´s exactly like the pictures you google about La Tomatina, only crazier.
There were 120 tons of very ripe tomatoes being flung from giant trucks throughout town. By the end of it, there were chunks of tomato in our hair, noses, shirts, shoes, and everywhere else. Good thing we wore goggles...we´d have been blinded without them.
We found the perfect place to stand in the crowd, next to a bridge wall so we could have something to hold on to. It was also a perfect people watching spot! There were people in costumes all over the place...men in briefs, people with wigs, men in women´s dresses, carved out watermelon helmets, a bathrobe, a pikachu pokeman costume, batman costume, and pool floaties.
Buñol residents dumped buckets of water and sprayed hoses from their balconies on the enormous crowd below. The water helped wash away some of the booze. Keep in mind that this was 50,000 Europeans, after all. We may have been the only two sober people in the entire city.
We took a million pictures with my new waterproof camera, but again, our hotel internet is slow and won´t upload, so pictures coming later!!!
The best decision we made was to rent a car and drive ourselves there so we didn´t have to ride back on a train or bus with smelly, drunk, tomato juiced people. Best decision ever. After we got back we got ready and went to dinner. I ordered a salad, then literally gagged at the smell of the tomato on the lettuce. We may not eat tomatoes for a while.
Other than that, it was a great day and a once in a lifetime experience! It´s exactly like the pictures you google about La Tomatina, only crazier.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
El Rastro and our Next Adventures
Today we went to El Rastro, which is the largest flea market in Europe. We're headed to Valencia tomorrow for a few days, then to Barcelona after that. We're going to La Tomatina on Wednesday to throw tomatoes with thousands of people. We won't have a computer with us, so farewell until next week!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Avila and Segovia
We're still in Spain, still happy and still walking a ton. We haven't been online much the past few days because we checked out of the hotel and moved Mary into her new apartment and the internet isn't set up yet. We have lots to catch up on.
A couple days ago we took a day trip to Avila and Segovia, a couple towns an hour and a half outside of Madrid. Castles, cathedrals, aqueducts, and a fortified city. Details (and pictures) later....
A couple days ago we took a day trip to Avila and Segovia, a couple towns an hour and a half outside of Madrid. Castles, cathedrals, aqueducts, and a fortified city. Details (and pictures) later....
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Madrid Temple!
Teddy and I went to the Madrid Temple today! It is quite a distance from our hotel, but we made it there on the Metro with no trouble at all. We are getting to be pros. Came up the subway to the street and did not know which way to turn. We knew it was close....so we asked someone and they pointed us the right way. A short walk and there was Moroni! The coolest thing was that we did baptisms in Italian and were confirmed in Portuguese. We met an older couple from Mesa who are here on a mission and working in the temple. Small world. Everyone in the temple spoke a different language, but somehow everyone knew what was going on. We heard Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Engish. It felt really good to be there...the Spirit is the same in every language.
This evening we went to the Museo del Prado, which is probably the most famous art museum in Madrid. Lots of amazing paintings and sculptures. We went next door to the Real Jardin Botanico (Botanical garden). Such a beautiful place. We wandered for quite a while and Teddy hugged a Ponderosa Pine tree because she was feeling homesick. Now she has sap in her hair. We layed on a couple benches and just looked up at the trees and sky. I love not being in a hurry.
-Panda
This evening we went to the Museo del Prado, which is probably the most famous art museum in Madrid. Lots of amazing paintings and sculptures. We went next door to the Real Jardin Botanico (Botanical garden). Such a beautiful place. We wandered for quite a while and Teddy hugged a Ponderosa Pine tree because she was feeling homesick. Now she has sap in her hair. We layed on a couple benches and just looked up at the trees and sky. I love not being in a hurry.
-Panda
Monday, August 16, 2010
Rota!
Now that we're in the middle of this Spanish adventure I LOVE it. Who knew that I'd ever be brave or lucky enough to stay in Spain for a whole month?! Not me. Even more amazing, who ever thought I'd learn to deal with my anxiety enough to get on a plane and fly across the world, then on a train to explore? Again, not me. I am blessed and excited to be on my first international adventure, and I'm so glad my mom and Mary are with me for it!
This past weekend we left Madrid to go down south for some new adventures. We stayed at a naval base in a little city called Rota. Everyone made it sound like this place was going to be lame, dull, and boring. The people in our hotel in Madrid told us there's "nothing in Rota except for an ugly American naval base". The internet also told us how uneventful this city was, so we weren't totally stoked about going there.
On base we found a grocery store that had some of the most wonderful foods: pickles and cheetos. I don't even like cheetos, but they were the best thing that happened to me the day we got there. I also ate a whole jar of pickles by myself, but only after mom dropped and shattered a whole jar at the store.
Last night was our last night in southern Spain, so we finally decided to go "out on the town" in Rota. It was WONDERFUL! Whoever says Rota is lame has never been there. It's a small town with narrow cobblestone streets lit by street lamps. The apartments are tall and colorful and everyone has wrought iron balconies with flower pots and Spanish tiles on them. We walked on miles of boardwalk next to the beach. People of all ages were out walking around, eating, playing, laughing, people watching, and shopping. By the time we left around 1:30am, there were still babies in strollers as well as great grandparents walking around the streets. This little town has a great nightlife! The night ended with each of us eating our own tub of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
-Teddy
Teddy is right....Rota rocks! It is the cutest little town ever! Lots and lots of narrow cobblestone streets and alleys. And everywhere you turn an unexpected adorable plaza...old churches, really cool old buildings, a lighthouse, and even a castle / fortress! A cool ocean breeze was blowing through the streets and into open balcony windows. Love it! I would fit right in since I am nocturnal and all. Back in Madrid tonite....going to the Madrid temple in the morning!
-Panda
This past weekend we left Madrid to go down south for some new adventures. We stayed at a naval base in a little city called Rota. Everyone made it sound like this place was going to be lame, dull, and boring. The people in our hotel in Madrid told us there's "nothing in Rota except for an ugly American naval base". The internet also told us how uneventful this city was, so we weren't totally stoked about going there.
On base we found a grocery store that had some of the most wonderful foods: pickles and cheetos. I don't even like cheetos, but they were the best thing that happened to me the day we got there. I also ate a whole jar of pickles by myself, but only after mom dropped and shattered a whole jar at the store.
Last night was our last night in southern Spain, so we finally decided to go "out on the town" in Rota. It was WONDERFUL! Whoever says Rota is lame has never been there. It's a small town with narrow cobblestone streets lit by street lamps. The apartments are tall and colorful and everyone has wrought iron balconies with flower pots and Spanish tiles on them. We walked on miles of boardwalk next to the beach. People of all ages were out walking around, eating, playing, laughing, people watching, and shopping. By the time we left around 1:30am, there were still babies in strollers as well as great grandparents walking around the streets. This little town has a great nightlife! The night ended with each of us eating our own tub of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
-Teddy
Teddy is right....Rota rocks! It is the cutest little town ever! Lots and lots of narrow cobblestone streets and alleys. And everywhere you turn an unexpected adorable plaza...old churches, really cool old buildings, a lighthouse, and even a castle / fortress! A cool ocean breeze was blowing through the streets and into open balcony windows. Love it! I would fit right in since I am nocturnal and all. Back in Madrid tonite....going to the Madrid temple in the morning!
-Panda
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sorry for not putting pictures on...no matter where we are or what internet we're on, pictures won't upload to this blog site or to photobucket. Aaand my facebook won't let me login today because I keep changing locations and for "security reasons" it won't let me login. Maybe Mary's computer has some weird setting on it.
It's been a few days...let me remember what we've been doing.
We went to a few art museums, an archeological museum that had mummies, the giant national library that had a museum inside, and a tour of the palace. All of them were pretty cool. My favorite painting in all the museums was a Van Gogh one I've never seen before. Instead of his usual blues and greys it was minty green and so pretty. Of course I didn't write down the name and now I can't find it anywhere online because it isn't famous.
Yesterday we rode a taxi to the train station, a bullet train to Sevilla, and a rental car to a little town called Rota. Mary had to come here for a few things, so we're staying at the U.S. Naval base in Rota. We found a small cove beach on base yesterday and we'll probably spend a day sitting on the beach! It was so cool to walk in the water on THIS SIDE of the Atlantic Ocean. The water is warm enough to swim in too!
I'm trying pictures again.
Us flying from Phoenix to Toronto.
Mom with a moose in the Toronto airport.
Delirious the first day as we walked around town and tried to stay awake. This is a huge cathedral next to the palace.
Me walking down some stairs, the only downhill stairs in the whole city haha
Mom and the city background.
Bimbo Bread haha
This is how close you can get to animals at the Madrid zoo. Weird huh?
Me and some bears. See how close they are? They could easily clear that gap and maul me. But they didn't.
Possibly the smallest car ever?! everyone drives these! haha
Churros con chocolate! a Spain must.
Night view.
grocery shopping! Their carts are so cute.
Panda and Mary in front of the Metropolis, our favorite intersection in Madrid.
Me in front of a GATE to a park. This is in the middle of an intersection round about.
in this city there are random statues and art pieces under bridges and construction sites.
Panda trying out the Spanish food, this appetizer was pickled green olives and sardines.
Ted and a famous statue of a bear and a strawberry tree in Plaza del Sol.
Panda next to Mary's new apartment building.
Mastering the metro!
Every time you look up there's a cool building. This one isn't even famous, it's probably someone's apartments.
self portrait! having fun!
shopping outside of Plaza Mayor.
Panda in front of Biblioteca Nacional! We went inside a few days later.
The Palace at night!
The best dessert ever at Cafe' y Te' sidewalk cafe'. Raspberry, vanilla, and lemon sorbet wtih fresh berries. mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Garden outside Case de Americas.
Mixture of new and old architecture plus a gumdrop flower bush.
Another sidewalk cafe', they are everywhere.
Hopefully these pictures work. We'll post more after our trip to the south and the beach!
It's been a few days...let me remember what we've been doing.
We went to a few art museums, an archeological museum that had mummies, the giant national library that had a museum inside, and a tour of the palace. All of them were pretty cool. My favorite painting in all the museums was a Van Gogh one I've never seen before. Instead of his usual blues and greys it was minty green and so pretty. Of course I didn't write down the name and now I can't find it anywhere online because it isn't famous.
Yesterday we rode a taxi to the train station, a bullet train to Sevilla, and a rental car to a little town called Rota. Mary had to come here for a few things, so we're staying at the U.S. Naval base in Rota. We found a small cove beach on base yesterday and we'll probably spend a day sitting on the beach! It was so cool to walk in the water on THIS SIDE of the Atlantic Ocean. The water is warm enough to swim in too!
I'm trying pictures again.
Us flying from Phoenix to Toronto.
Mom with a moose in the Toronto airport.
Delirious the first day as we walked around town and tried to stay awake. This is a huge cathedral next to the palace.
Me walking down some stairs, the only downhill stairs in the whole city haha
Mom and the city background.
Bimbo Bread haha
This is how close you can get to animals at the Madrid zoo. Weird huh?
Me and some bears. See how close they are? They could easily clear that gap and maul me. But they didn't.
Possibly the smallest car ever?! everyone drives these! haha
Churros con chocolate! a Spain must.
Night view.
grocery shopping! Their carts are so cute.
Panda and Mary in front of the Metropolis, our favorite intersection in Madrid.
Me in front of a GATE to a park. This is in the middle of an intersection round about.
in this city there are random statues and art pieces under bridges and construction sites.
Panda trying out the Spanish food, this appetizer was pickled green olives and sardines.
Ted and a famous statue of a bear and a strawberry tree in Plaza del Sol.
Panda next to Mary's new apartment building.
Mastering the metro!
Every time you look up there's a cool building. This one isn't even famous, it's probably someone's apartments.
self portrait! having fun!
shopping outside of Plaza Mayor.
Panda in front of Biblioteca Nacional! We went inside a few days later.
The Palace at night!
The best dessert ever at Cafe' y Te' sidewalk cafe'. Raspberry, vanilla, and lemon sorbet wtih fresh berries. mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Garden outside Case de Americas.
Mixture of new and old architecture plus a gumdrop flower bush.
Another sidewalk cafe', they are everywhere.
Hopefully these pictures work. We'll post more after our trip to the south and the beach!
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