Barcelona...lots of it....phew!

OH my god, super busy day...we have done a ton. The girls and I with the guests went into Barcelona for the day, 9:40 bus....first to Park Guell, which we have been to before and I LOVE. Click here for a photo tour. However some waste of oxygen decided to wack off the nose of the dragon a few days ago, so he was tented over. They figure it will take a month at least to repair. Hereis a photo of it before from some one's blog and here it is after. Idiots.

Bused down to the city center and saw this house by Gaudi and it's neighbour. The Gaudi house costs a fortune to go into, but the neighbour is free. Well, the ground floor is, and it is amazing. Tilework, stain-glass skylights, dragon light fixtures....

Then we wandered down into the old town for lunch and totally lucked into a little place serving very typical food to locals. It was definitely not the best version of these dishes, but very traditional and typical. I had soup - cabbage, white bean and potato, followed by bacalla (cod) in a sofregit. The guest had another very traditional meal, green beans, and these are different than any I have seen outside of here with potatoes, boiled with olive oil, salt and pepper. One of those heavenly combinations...although here slightly over-cooked. Anyway, it was very cool. *whisper* My Catalan held up too!

Then on to the Picasso Museum....which has a completely disappointing website...the art was amazing. He was, as should be no surprise, phenomenally talented even at an incredibly young age...and the building itself is several ancient houses knocked together and is absolutely stunning. We saw some mind-bending visions even outside his art. The disposable had run out of film however...._{gotta getta digital} One mild mutiny from the little one, but all good. He is amazing.

Then wandered through the back streets heading towards La Rambla, and we stumbled upon the Church of Santa Maria del Mar which I had wanted to get into so many times, but which was never open. Well it was, and boy it was amazing. Built in the 14th century in only 56 years, it is austere and soaringly stunning. The ceiling is so high it is hard to understand....
and the sun was shining through the rose window...words fail me.

Wandered up along La Rambla, which I am starting to dislike (future guests, please note I would be truly delighted to walk it with you...I mean it, I'm just not doing it on my own anymore.) The crowds are intense which make me a little squirrely around keeping track of the kids and the wallet. I am always glad to get off it with everyone and everything still intact. Plus the kids tend to start to bicker in crowds which does not add to it. All was well. Found a toy store for the guest to buy gifts for the kids she left behind, and then there was a bus in 6 minutes (at 6ish) when we got there...how good is that, as they are about every hour and a half on the weekends....or more I can't remember. All home, good dinner, kids giggled and bickered in bed till too late.

Life is good.