Barcelona

We took a train to Barcelona, and settled into a hotel near the harbor found in my guidebook. We took the subway to tour the major sights, from the old gothic Barcelona Cathedral, and the unfinished La Sagrada Familia Cathedral designed by Gaudi, to Parc Guell with its famous whimsical forms also designed by Gaudi. Barcelona is a bustling city, the food is very good there, motorcycle thieves seemed to be operating in the touristy old quarter. The signature surrealist architecture style is playful and reminds me of fairy tales. The L'Eixample neighborhood was a nice example of elegant urban design. However, compared to Paris Barcelona is on the gritty side and has a cluttered feel. Most public signs are spelled in Catalan, the local language more similar to French than Spanish.

We took a side trip by suburban train to Sitges, a beach resort famous for its gay night life. However, the whole place was practically empty because of the winter season. Few restaurants were open, the beach was deserted, but the warm sunset on the Mediterranean Sea was glorious.