Today was pretty full of fun, I must admit. I also must admit that I knew the day would come that I got frustrated on this month-long trip, and today was that day. I didn't lose it on anyone, though when I rich, middle-aged Spanish woman cut the line I was standing in with 60 other people, and went right to the front... that was a test. I passed the test with just these three words, "There's a line." She proceeded to look back at me and make a face that a three-year-old would make.
She was a gem.
I won't go into the other exact points of frustration, but it will say they had to do with one of two things:
1. People thinking I'm American and automatically choosing to hate me (this is apparently a Europe-wide point of view)
2. People thinking I'm stupid because I don't speak Spanish, and treating me as such
There was an absolute deluge of both today, and it was unpleasant.
The good news is that the deluge was at times rewarded with some pretty cool things to see. Let's focus on those.
I bought a ticket for a "hop-on, hop-off" tour bus. Yeah, I did it. I became the people we see in Toronto on those double-deckers, but you know what, it was pretty great.
Firstly, they don't have a tour guide here, they give everyone headphones, you plug them in and choose your language, and that's it. It's pretty smart and I thin necessary since they offer 13 different lauguage/region options!
They basically drive the bus and tell you what's at the specific stop and you get out if you want. I chose to get out at Casa Batllo, a house that Gaudi designed. He's the one who designed Segrada Familia which I posted about yesterday, and while this is very, very fun, nothing will ever top that. Here are some pictures of the place and different features of the building.
I didn't understand why I saw so many everything with this pattern there, and then I saw this building. This is an example of the pattern on the wall in metallics.
These are from the rooftop.
Back inside, on the way down. Such fun shapes!
These tiles are surrounding the build as the make-up of the ground outside for about a block. They're dull now, but I bought a single tile that is this rich, gorgeous teal. It's about 8" wide and it's very, very fun!
The next stop that I was interested in was Park Guell. It's a park that, of course, Gaudi designed. He was commission by a man to design this park that the guy would then sell property in, but it never took off so Gaudi abandoned in, and eventually the Barcelona parks/government bought it and it's now open to the public... for €8.
I tried to get in, but they said that even though the ticket line isn't long, the ain't to get in is because it packed, so it would be a two and a half hour wait. Nope. It was something like 38° with humidity today, was not hanging around. I took the pictures I could for the gate. And carried on trotting down the street.
I saw a 4D Gaudi movie, it was about 10 minutes long, and combined moving seats (think old school Days of Thunder), blown air, mist and weird things hitting the back of your legs when you "went over the trees". It was pretty good stuff, graphic were impressive, and it was air-conditioned.
No pictures of that, but here are the pictures that I could get from Park Guell.
Back on the bus, and headed to FCB Stadium!
I thoug that FCB Stadium would be a fun sight to see, since they said it can seat up to 100,000 people! I bough a ticket and in I went.
Where the pre-game praying takes place, it seems. It's about 20 feet from the field.
We got to go up to the wonders box. This is how the rich live!
This is the view from the walk down the back of the stadium. Also, I bought myself a soccer ball, like a legit FCB one. It's really well-designed. I don't have a picture because I got one that wasn't inflated yet so that I can ship it back home.
From there the bus continued, and it was nearing the end of the day, so I hung out on the bus, saw some fun stuff, and took a few pictures of some randomness.
Their trams go over grass!
You can take these things to the top of the mountain where there's this huge church. I may have gotten a bit better at my fear of height, but not this much better.
This is the midpoint tower that those things stop at. I took the picture upside down on the bus because we went by too quickly to take it right side up.
A cool sculpture. It had to be 60' in the air.
Alright folks, to bed with me, early morning as I mentioned, and lots of fun small down and Dali excitement to be seen. And most importantly, on an air-conditioned bus!
Until tomorrow!
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