Day 1 - 48 hours in Barcelona - PART ONE

The flight was thankfully uneventful after finally getting on the correct plane. In fact, we arrived in Barcelona 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Got the luggage and dashed to the hotel.

The BEST part of the flight? Seeing the SUNRISE over Spain.

The hotel is set along the Passeig de Gràcia, nestled in amoungst some of Antoni Gaudi's famous fantastical creations.

To our right we walked to see Casa Amatller (#41 - shown right) and Casa Batlló (#43). Unfortunately the latter is tucked behind covered scaffolding as they clean it. Casa Amatller was amazing. Every place I looked I saw something new. The bits I saw of Casa Amatller were also lovely. I bought a postcard of them side-by-side. Really cool!

Later today or early tomorrow we'll turn left from the hotel to see Casa Milà, Gaudi's famous apartment complex. Said to be the most famous apartment complex within all of Spain. From here we continued down the Passeig de Gràcia and into Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter).

Barcelona has such grand boulevards, that when wandering into the Barri Gòtic from the Passeig de Gràcia, the Barri Gòtic feels even smaller. Even when it's loaded with bustling people, it feels more intimate.

Our first stop in Barri Gòtic was to see the Cathedral de Barcelona. Located along the Placa Nova, it is built in the Catalonian Gothic architecture style and it is BEAUTIFUL!!

The labyrinth of tiny streets are lined with small shops selling everything from dry-wall supplies or perfume, to wigs or chocolates. We walked around looking at the architecturebefore continuing on to the Picasso Museum.

But...all Picasso exhibits were closed until Tuesday (we leave Monday.) A few lovely Gaudi post cards were picked up and we continued on through the Barri Gòtic.

Yes, we couldn't pass up picking up some chocolates from ------- as gifts. I got some Costa Rican coffee beans dipped in chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder -- you know, Jet-lag relief!!

After popping into a Barcelona Information center to find out WHERE the yarn shop with my 5pm meet-up was -- I had a partial address but no one knew where it was -- we found out it was a few minutes from where we stood! So, to make it easier later, we walked on over!

First we saw this next door to the LYS:

And next door, we ran into Jennifer and Miguel (and their beautiful daughter) leaving the shop for lunch.

I like that all shops close for lunch. Having worked enough retail in my time, it's such a civilized concept!!

I said hello and waited for the gate to close so I could take my own photo of it and hopped a cab back to the hotel for an hours nap.

I'll leave it here for now...more to come!!