Shannon and Dad come to Barcelona
We woke up early and took a cab the the airport. We had a nice breakfast at McDonalds which included a mini juice and some yogurt and the usual sandwiches. It was interesting because the portions were smaller. I mean who really needs 2 cups of OJ?
We landed in Barcelona and took a cab to our sweet hotel. Barcelona is a trendy city and is what transformed Spain into an upcoming country. They hosted the Olympics here and the tourism boost really got Spain out of the economic situation Franco put them in.
Barcelona is really trendy and is full of modern art and hip people. To go along with this our hotel was a five star and was really cool. You had to use a key to turn the lights on and it automatically lifted up the blinds. The pictures just show the modern design this city has. ALso in this region of Spain, they don´t speak Spanish. They speak Catalan which is a mix of French and Spanish. I can´t understand it at all but everyone can speak Spanish. They however like every part of Spain, they want independence.
We got to our hotel and my dad took another nap.... He really wanted siestas. Shannon and I hit the town. We were right next to a street called Las Ramblas which had tons of street performers markets and tourists. We then went to the market in Barcelona. It contained tons of fresh fruit, nuts, meats, fish and eggs. I love going to these markets and Shannon seemed to like it aswell. WE bought some chocolate things with hazelnuts inside which were excellent. Strawberries are ripe here now so it was great to get some fruit. In Minnesota I have to say we don´t have much for produce because of our sweet weather. We do in the summer, but here its all year.
Later that day we explored the Sagrada Familia which is an immense modern catherdral which is just nuts to look at. It was designed by Gaudí and is still under construction. The outside is kind of ugly but inside it is really cool. We want to go there when it is finished. Which may be a long time away, my dad said he will be dead but we can leave some of his ashes there, its his sense of humor ya know.
We then took the metro to the park the same artist designed. There was a little walk to get there and my dad called it a "death march" and later on emailed the family to warn them of the terrible things Shannon and I were doing. The park was cool and we hiked around and got a great view of Barcelona. My dad was resting at this point and he bought a beer and relaxed. We had to get back to the metro and he wanted to take a taxi. We got one but my dad tried to bring his beer in. WE told the man where we wanted to go, and he said that it is close and we can walk. I am pretty sure he was upset of what my dad did, but it was hilarious that he told us it is close. My dad wasn´t too happy lol, but Shannon and I laughed as we trekked my dad down the hill to the metro.
We returned to our hip hotel which had a shower that was sketchy and we though that we could see the person naked in the shower, we just had to warn people when we were showering to prevent undesired exposure. Shannon and I walked around some more while my dad napped or used the internet. Shannon had watched a show on the travel channel about Barcelona and we found a restaurant called 4 cats that was shown on the tv program. This place was where Pablo Picasso had his first showing. It was really cool and we went there with my dad another day and got some Cava which is Spanish Champagne.
That night we ate some tapas and hit the hay.
The next day my dad wanted us to explore a grain elevator in the port. Shannon and I felt he wasn´t participating enough but he almost got us to go there, but the cab driver went the wrong way. We instead went on a cable car that has a great view of the city and the harbor it has. We then got off and realized in order to get to the top of this mountain we needed to walk another 100m up hill. My dad paid money to take a tram while shannon and I made it to the top. My dad maybe would call this death march number two.
The castle on top was turned into a museum of military stuff so we looked at tons of weapons, which we didn´t know too much about. We did however meet an old man who gaveShannon and I a little tour of the museum. I got to translate and he was just a nice guy who new a lot about history. I will note that people like him are rare where I live because everyone is kinda snobby in the North. Barcelona is for the fun people.
We took the tram down and could see a glimpse of where they had the Olympics.
We then went home for a bit but Shannon and I went to the Gaudí house which was this insane house designed by him in the early 20th century and it is amazing. This man was so far ahead of his time. It was my favorite thing in Barcelona. WE did have some issued with our voice tours but we got thru it alive.
We pub crawled that night and met some interesting people. We met an eves dropper and then some creepy man wearing a bullet proof vest. Shannon thought my dad was going to get knifed but this man was just purely crazy. He had a dyed blonde mullet and goggles. He wanted to be less American and more Spanish I guess. Shannon kept screaming cannonball because she wanted to evade this creeper. We had a full drink but continued to scream cannonball so that we could get out of there alive.
We walked around and then went to this bar called hook. Of all the bars in this trendy city we chose the one that had a permanent theme of hook. It had a Wendy statue and pirate uniforms. It for some odd reason had an enormous statue of an native american and my dad offered to buy it. We laughed because we pictured my dad going home sitting next to a native american statue on the plane.
I then brought dad and Shannon to my favorite fast food in Europe. Doner Kebap which has Turkish food that is similar to Gyros we eat. We really enjoyed our meal and it is super cheap so we saved some money. WE made it home and had a nice rest in our humble room. My dad does make some aweful snoreing noises but we all got through it.
Our final day in Barcelona was nice. WE went to the market in the morning and got some strawberries and Napolianas which I talked about in my Valencia blog.
We headed to the beach and hung out in the sun and walked in the frigid waters of the Med. There was a big drum concert going on to promote the anniversary of this bike program the city has. Shannon got a nice picture of one of them and their dreadlocked rat tail. I may have to get one before I leave.
WE walked around this park that was really tropical and enjoyed the greenery. Then went and got some paella at a Basque restaurant. It was really good but we were so so so full. My dad instead of trying the Spanish food got some hamburgers and eggs, did someone say American, or giry as they call us. In latin american they call us gringos but not in Spain, we are Yankees of Girys.
We went out for wine that night and just relaxed and enjoyed our company and great Spanish wine. We had to leave super early and had to get up at 2:30 because of the time change. It was quite a hoot.
We stumbled into the taxi and set sail for Madrid. The final stop in this crazy trip and the only place that is actually truly Spain because they actually speak Spanish and they call themselves Spanish.
Highlights:
My dad complaining of all the death marches we put him though.
When the man told us we can walk instead of taking a cab. My dad was a little upset.
When we were served cold red wine at a restaurant...?
When my dad would try to style his hair as a european. Picture a fo hawk but with my dads bed har.
When Shannon said "It is time to turn you" to my dad when we returned and he was napping as usual.
Teaching Shannon the Spanish accent. "Dis is not E SPain this is Cataluña.
I loved the city and I wont be back there until I go home in less that two months.
Enjoy the pics. Shannon did a nice job.
We landed in Barcelona and took a cab to our sweet hotel. Barcelona is a trendy city and is what transformed Spain into an upcoming country. They hosted the Olympics here and the tourism boost really got Spain out of the economic situation Franco put them in.
Barcelona is really trendy and is full of modern art and hip people. To go along with this our hotel was a five star and was really cool. You had to use a key to turn the lights on and it automatically lifted up the blinds. The pictures just show the modern design this city has. ALso in this region of Spain, they don´t speak Spanish. They speak Catalan which is a mix of French and Spanish. I can´t understand it at all but everyone can speak Spanish. They however like every part of Spain, they want independence.
We got to our hotel and my dad took another nap.... He really wanted siestas. Shannon and I hit the town. We were right next to a street called Las Ramblas which had tons of street performers markets and tourists. We then went to the market in Barcelona. It contained tons of fresh fruit, nuts, meats, fish and eggs. I love going to these markets and Shannon seemed to like it aswell. WE bought some chocolate things with hazelnuts inside which were excellent. Strawberries are ripe here now so it was great to get some fruit. In Minnesota I have to say we don´t have much for produce because of our sweet weather. We do in the summer, but here its all year.
Later that day we explored the Sagrada Familia which is an immense modern catherdral which is just nuts to look at. It was designed by Gaudí and is still under construction. The outside is kind of ugly but inside it is really cool. We want to go there when it is finished. Which may be a long time away, my dad said he will be dead but we can leave some of his ashes there, its his sense of humor ya know.
We then took the metro to the park the same artist designed. There was a little walk to get there and my dad called it a "death march" and later on emailed the family to warn them of the terrible things Shannon and I were doing. The park was cool and we hiked around and got a great view of Barcelona. My dad was resting at this point and he bought a beer and relaxed. We had to get back to the metro and he wanted to take a taxi. We got one but my dad tried to bring his beer in. WE told the man where we wanted to go, and he said that it is close and we can walk. I am pretty sure he was upset of what my dad did, but it was hilarious that he told us it is close. My dad wasn´t too happy lol, but Shannon and I laughed as we trekked my dad down the hill to the metro.
We returned to our hip hotel which had a shower that was sketchy and we though that we could see the person naked in the shower, we just had to warn people when we were showering to prevent undesired exposure. Shannon and I walked around some more while my dad napped or used the internet. Shannon had watched a show on the travel channel about Barcelona and we found a restaurant called 4 cats that was shown on the tv program. This place was where Pablo Picasso had his first showing. It was really cool and we went there with my dad another day and got some Cava which is Spanish Champagne.
That night we ate some tapas and hit the hay.
The next day my dad wanted us to explore a grain elevator in the port. Shannon and I felt he wasn´t participating enough but he almost got us to go there, but the cab driver went the wrong way. We instead went on a cable car that has a great view of the city and the harbor it has. We then got off and realized in order to get to the top of this mountain we needed to walk another 100m up hill. My dad paid money to take a tram while shannon and I made it to the top. My dad maybe would call this death march number two.
The castle on top was turned into a museum of military stuff so we looked at tons of weapons, which we didn´t know too much about. We did however meet an old man who gaveShannon and I a little tour of the museum. I got to translate and he was just a nice guy who new a lot about history. I will note that people like him are rare where I live because everyone is kinda snobby in the North. Barcelona is for the fun people.
We took the tram down and could see a glimpse of where they had the Olympics.
We then went home for a bit but Shannon and I went to the Gaudí house which was this insane house designed by him in the early 20th century and it is amazing. This man was so far ahead of his time. It was my favorite thing in Barcelona. WE did have some issued with our voice tours but we got thru it alive.
We pub crawled that night and met some interesting people. We met an eves dropper and then some creepy man wearing a bullet proof vest. Shannon thought my dad was going to get knifed but this man was just purely crazy. He had a dyed blonde mullet and goggles. He wanted to be less American and more Spanish I guess. Shannon kept screaming cannonball because she wanted to evade this creeper. We had a full drink but continued to scream cannonball so that we could get out of there alive.
We walked around and then went to this bar called hook. Of all the bars in this trendy city we chose the one that had a permanent theme of hook. It had a Wendy statue and pirate uniforms. It for some odd reason had an enormous statue of an native american and my dad offered to buy it. We laughed because we pictured my dad going home sitting next to a native american statue on the plane.
I then brought dad and Shannon to my favorite fast food in Europe. Doner Kebap which has Turkish food that is similar to Gyros we eat. We really enjoyed our meal and it is super cheap so we saved some money. WE made it home and had a nice rest in our humble room. My dad does make some aweful snoreing noises but we all got through it.
Our final day in Barcelona was nice. WE went to the market in the morning and got some strawberries and Napolianas which I talked about in my Valencia blog.
We headed to the beach and hung out in the sun and walked in the frigid waters of the Med. There was a big drum concert going on to promote the anniversary of this bike program the city has. Shannon got a nice picture of one of them and their dreadlocked rat tail. I may have to get one before I leave.
WE walked around this park that was really tropical and enjoyed the greenery. Then went and got some paella at a Basque restaurant. It was really good but we were so so so full. My dad instead of trying the Spanish food got some hamburgers and eggs, did someone say American, or giry as they call us. In latin american they call us gringos but not in Spain, we are Yankees of Girys.
We went out for wine that night and just relaxed and enjoyed our company and great Spanish wine. We had to leave super early and had to get up at 2:30 because of the time change. It was quite a hoot.
We stumbled into the taxi and set sail for Madrid. The final stop in this crazy trip and the only place that is actually truly Spain because they actually speak Spanish and they call themselves Spanish.
Highlights:
My dad complaining of all the death marches we put him though.
When the man told us we can walk instead of taking a cab. My dad was a little upset.
When we were served cold red wine at a restaurant...?
When my dad would try to style his hair as a european. Picture a fo hawk but with my dads bed har.
When Shannon said "It is time to turn you" to my dad when we returned and he was napping as usual.
Teaching Shannon the Spanish accent. "Dis is not E SPain this is Cataluña.
I loved the city and I wont be back there until I go home in less that two months.
Enjoy the pics. Shannon did a nice job.
entrada de Adam Gilbertson a las
5:39
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