Our last destination before returning to Oslo was Barcelona. The city had a lot of interesting architecture and art, the climate was mild, and the pedestrian walkway (La Rambla) filled with flower shops, pet stores, tourist stands, and street performers was entertaining to meander down. Below you'll also find photos of some of the Gaudi works we saw...most noteworthy is the Church of the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi was a popular Spanish architect and part of the art nouveau movement.
View of the city from atop a hill near Gaudi's Park Güell
The pedestrian walkway downtown
Statue of Christopher Columbus situated at the end of La Rambla.
In the Gothic Quarter of the city
Arc de Triomf, built for the 1888 World's Fair
Gate of the Roman wall with Cathedral of Eulalia in background
In Barcelona the children don't ask Santa Claus for Christmas presents; rather they make their requests to the magi.
Before you saw the 'La Rambla' pedestrian walkway. This is La Rambla del Mar, the maritime version.
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The next few photos are all of Gaudi's work around the city.
Casa Batlló
La Pedrera
In Park Güell
Park Güell lizard
At Gaudi's Park Güell
Guadi's Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia
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We went to a chocolate museum and learned quite a bit about the history of the use of the cocoa bean and production of modern chocolate. Barcelona was the entry port for the cocoa bean into Europe starting in 1520 coming from the Americas. An interesting tidbit I learned from the museum that I hadn't realized previously is that chocolate has been consumed as a drink for most of its history. Since its first documented use around 1100 B.C. until around the time of the Industrial Revolution it had only existed as a drink.
The museum also had a fascinating display of chocolate sculptures...
This one should look familiar...its the chocolate counterpart of Michelangelo's Pietá found in St. Peter's Basilica.
And here is chocolate model of Gaudi's La Pedrera building
A chocolate Arc de Triomf
Enjoying some chocolate after the museum visit. Consumed in the traditional technique, as a thick warm liquid with pastries for dunking.
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Some modern art
At the Olympic Stadium complex where Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic Games
View of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (the Olympic stadium)
Inside the stadium------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another aspect of Barcelona we really enjoyed was going to the markets. My personal favorite was the meat stands with salamis and sausages and legs hanging all around.
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