Still, Barcelona

Blog Update

Hey again! Ok, so like I said, Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities I've ever seen. There is SO much to see, and there's something for everyone! Gaudi's buildings and Parc Guell struck me most, I think- especially La Sagrada Famillia because it is huge and so unique- it really does look like a giant melting sand castle- I hope I get to see it in its finished state (if that ever happens!)- it's really incredible.

I also went to Parc Guell, which is also unbelievable- if I remember right I think it took Gaudi like 14 years, and it was still considered a failure at the beginning (poor guy)- there is mosaic everywhere: the famous salamander and benches (really, one long windy bench) and beautiful mosaic circles and squares-you really have to see it, it's amazing! The park is free, and huge- it keeps climbing up and up, and there's trees and lots of open spaces for pictures, and you can get great views of Barcelona facing the sea- there are a lot of people who play instruments there, too, and when they play in the cavernous spaces of the park it becomes that much more whimsical-

In the Barri Gotic (Gothic neighborhood) there are two large churches, the Catedral de Barcelona and Santa Maria del Mar (the latter I got to go in for free after a wedding got out, it was beautiful!)-both are very beautiful and have lots of cool details, inside and out.

Barcelona also is any shop-lover's paradise- you can find anything, from the cheapest kiosk to the priciest designer store, so of course it was really hard to not just grab one of everything haha! Probably the most amazing shopping place to me, though, was the Mercat de la Boqueria- a huuuuuuge outdoor food market that stretches for like a block- whatever food you can imagine, they have it. Fish, meat, spices, wines, candies, produce, specialty stuff, I can't even remember, but I ate lunch there one day just walking around looking at everything!

I also went to a waterpark about a half hour away from Barcelona the day before I left, which was awesome too (I wish I had a better word than “awesome” for all this stuff!)- normally I'm too much of a wuss to go on anything, but I just said “when am I gonna be back here?” and went on all the scary slides- it was really fun!

Luckily, I got some practice in John's translation office, which was really nice since I got to see an example of how things are run, and “help out” a bit (at least I hope I did!)-

I hope all this made sense- I'll throw some more pics on here, that should help!

Things in Santander are going well, I'm translating a document from English to Spanish right now (the result of which should be VERY interesting-normally people don't translate into their second language-I'm hoping my professor gets a good laugh hah!)-just enjoying the weather and as much of the beach as possible before I head to 102 degree weather and lack of water (take heed, Tom and Jess, I'm not even kidding!)- oh, I made the tail end of the Fair that was going on here, which was cool- lots of delicious looking food and crazy rides (I went on the less-crazy ones!) so that was fun. Ok, I should get to work, more later! Oh, feel free to ask about anything I might have forgotten- I'm sure there'a a lot!

Pictures are of Gaudi's salamander and mosaic circles at Parc Guell, me taking apart a delicious shrimp, Catalan cream dessert (like creme brulee...oh my good lord. So good.) and one of many pictures from Mercat de la Boqueria.

Besos,

Rachel :)