warning: picture overload
Im finally going to try and tackle blogging about our trip to europe. Pretty much i haven't blogged all summer so i guess i have to start somewhere. We were so lucky to go on a European cruise with Drews work. I invited my parents along. It was and amazing trip!
We sailed out of barcelona so we got to spend a few days exploring there. I have to say i was really surprised how much i LOVED barcelona. It was such a beautiful, modern, clean city but still had old charm. Drew loved it too. It was definitely on our top list of places we visited.
when we all arrived we decided to venture out even though i was feeling soooooo jet lagged. i really really really hate being jet lagged but i knew i couldn't go to sleep for the night at 2 in the afternoon
so....
so....
we hopped in taxis
and headed to the market
drew was absolutely in heaven. there were just rows and rows of local food. He especially loved the cured ham. we bought some saffron too for a really good deal.
everyone found some delicious treats to enjoy
there were some not so delicious things as well
like skinned goat heads
our dads thought they were hilarious
the next morning we went to see Sagrada Familia
its a catholic church designed by Gaudi. Its basically been under construction since 1843 so the scaffolding is kind of a permanent look. Its too bad because it really distracts from the whole presence of the church
the inside is really amazing. It was super modern
the stained glass was beautiful
and the design was so unique
it was was different from old gothic style churches you see across europe
my personal favorite was jesus floating away on a hot air baloon
the outside of the church is soooo intricate
there are these little biblical scenes all over the outside
we took the elevator up to the top of the bell tower. the view of the city was prety cool. You took the elevator up but the stairs down
these stairs were the craziest things i've ever been on. there was no rail in the middle to keep you from falling hundreds of feet to your death. im not kidding when i say my legs were shaking with fear.
on our way out we noticed that the doors to the church was carved out will all sorts of scriptures. Very cool, and very modern.
the rest of the day we spent just exploring barcelona including visiting all the Gaudi houses
all the detail is amazing
we stumbled across a political protest going on in catalunya square
and ate tapas, ofcourse.
drew had to order the angulas (baby eel) they looked like little gray noodles and tasted super garlicy
we found some fantastic local art
and just enjoyed a fabulous day
our last day in barcelona was the day we got off the ship. we just wandered around.
saw some churches
went inside more chrches
and just enjoyed the cute little streets of barcelona
the skinny streets are one of my very favorite parts of europe. i took millions of pictures of streets :)
niya was such a trooper. of course we had to bribe her at times with candy
we had such a fun group. it was crazy at times trying to all be going in the same direction at the same time. but it was worth it. I believe scott took this picture, and im pretty sure my dad was lost on some tour bus by himself at this point
the last thing we saw was the christopher columbus monument.
this was where columbus landed back in europe after he discovered america
kinda cool
that pretty much does it for our visit to barcelona!
i do have to add one more thing that happened on that last day. When we got off the ship we went with my parents to their hotel. We were just going to leave our bags there, because we were heading out on a train that night for madrid. So we were all there waiting to meet up with the quists. Niya was ofcourse running crazy around the hotel lobby. All of a sudden i see her run toward the revolving door. Before i can get to her, i see her fall down and her leg get sucked underneath the revolving door. I let out a blood curdling scream. I grab her leg and literally have to rip it out from under the door. As im doing this im thinking her leg is broken for sure. And if its not broken then im breaking it right now by tearing it out from under the door. She's screaming. The hotel people are around me. I get her loose and am just kind of in shock. She's just crying, and I'm trying to examine her leg. It looks totally fine! After a couple minutes she gets down from my arms and runs away. sheeeeesh!
