#43 - Discover Gaudi

This goal was inspired by photos my sister took on her trip to Spain a couple years ago. After I saw the interesting architecture and unique beauty in Barcelona, I set my screen saver to one of the colourful buildings in Park Guell (Gaudi Park). Mirko and I had also decided every time we go to visit his home we can stop and explore a new part of Europe. So, this past June we made a stop-over in Barcelona.

Mirko and I have very different ways of travelling/doing most things. He enjoys doing re-search, asking friends and making lists of things that he really wants to see and do. I enjoy going in blind with no expectations – I am also lazy when it comes to these things. The only thing I had planned for Barcelona was our cooking class. It’s a good balance because as he picks things out I really can’t argue whether it’s something I would like to do and I get to see it all from my own perspective. I didn’t even realize we would be close to the beach here and was very confused as the plane was landing to see the sea.

Our first day there we tried to do most of it by foot. However, I was still pretty swollen and sore from surgery and didn’t make it too far. We were resting more than walking and didn’t cover much ground. Second day we rented bikes and that was the way to go! Barcelona is super bike friendly and we were able to see everything we wanted to in one day. Since my injury, I’ve noticed how cautious I am with everything. I think I was one of the only people wearing a helmet in the city that day. It had a built-in visor, bonus points for sun protection, and I think I rocked it. Mirko says otherwise.

As far as discovering Gaudi goes, I was blown away. Each building has so much personality. With my limited research and google images mindset, I was sort of expecting all of Barcelona to look that way. It was almost more shocking to have this curvy, colourful building sandwiched between “normal” looking European flats. Reflecting now, if he had did the entire city it may feel like living in an acid trip. Coming from a land where new housing developments have no personality it was nice to see such character in a large city.

All in all, I loved the food, bike paths and the beach. Barcelona is a gorgeous part of Europe and I’d recommend anyone who was passing through to rent a bike and see where that takes you.