November 15, 2009
After breakfast, we headed off to Parc Guell, again. We took the metro to a different stop, and then found the bus stop. We waited for what seemed like forever, and many buses later, the right bus finally arrived!
Antoni Gaudi originally built this park to be a residence housing project. It failed. Now it's a public park.
At the front entrance are two "gingerbread" gate houses. One has a bookstore and the other is the Center for Interpretation of Parc Guell.
The grand stairway has a ceramic dragon fountain.
The "Hall of 100 Columns" was designed to be the produce market for the housing community.
At the top of the stairs is the terrace, with colorful benches that are ergonomically designed to fit your body. There is a great view of Barcelona from this terrace, including the Sagrada Familia.
After Parc Guell, we took the metro to the Picasso museum. While riding the metro, I caught a woman unzipping my mother's purse. I reached out to take her hand off of the zipper, and she walked away like nothing had happened.
The Picasso museum was fascinating. Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona from the ages of 14 to 21. This museum has the best collection of his early works anywhere.
We then did a walking tour of the Barri Gotic. At Mont Taber there is a courtyard where you can see a surviving corner of the Temple Roma d'August.
This was our last night in Barcelona and Europe.
The grand stairway has a ceramic dragon fountain.
Antoni Gaudi lived here for 20 years, until his father died. The house is now a museum.
Our last stop for the evening was at Granja La Pallaresa, a xocolateria just off of the Ramblas. We had churros con chocolate. Freshly fried churros, rolled in sugar served with a cup of pudding-thick hot chocolate. Yummy!
What a whirlwind trip of the Mediterranean! I hope to return to many of these cities someday!
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