Day 42: Gaudi Park Photoshoot

Monday - June 28, 2010:

Ill give you a brief overview of our Monday in Barcelona:

Woke up and went to Starbucks (duhhh!) I switched things up by ordering a new drink (Lindsey Mercer's specialty) -- tall soy chai tea latte with extra shot of espresso. Why did I not think of this before? It was absolute heaven in a cup. This new discovery could get dangerous when I go back to Auburn...

{The usual Starbucks picture. Must document every part of my trip... even breakfast}

{This is a picture of us clutching our purses (or cardinal treasure as we like to nickname it) for dear life -- the death grip paid off, no pick-pocketers!}

The only real thing on the schedule for us today was to go see Gaudi's Park. This is the only thing our advisor from Auburn (Marilyn Bradbard) told us to do while in Barcelona, so that's a pretty big deal! We had to figure out the bus system, and once we found the right one to get on, we waited on it, loaded up and rode it to Gaudi Park.

Remember all the buildings we've seen by Gaudi so far on this trip? Ok well he did all of those AND this park. It's known for it's mosaics and stone structures. It's huge! We figured this would make for pretty good pictures, so we practically had a photoshoot in Gaudis Park (which is not a first for it... a portion of it was actually used as a runway photoshoot on Americas Next Top Model!)

{The main plazza, where we waited for our bus}

{Brittany, me, Kasi and Kate waiting for the bus}

{And in the bus... I told you we document every part of the trip...}

{And the photoshoot begins!}

{Can you see the rock work? Unbelivable.}

{Under the "rock-cave-thingy"}

{Embarrassing photo I knew I'd regret getting talked into...}

{We picked up a few postcards along the way... this one was a big seller}

{And now we got to the mosaic benches part of the park!}

{All of these mosaicssssssss we're unreal -- I wish he would decorate my entire house!}

{Becca showing me up with her awesome camera}

{Kasi's ready for her close-up}

{Taking a break -- it's a hard life photographing...}

{Lindsey and I maxin' and relaxin' on Gaudi's benches}

{More of the benches}

{What it looks like underneath the benches -- more mosaics!}

{This is the ceiling. Gaudi didn't let any space go to waste}

{I was making fun of them for totally taking a "MySpace" picture}

{Brittany, Lindsey, Becca, Kate and I}

{Sweet man!! Look how precious he is!!}

{Just another building in the park..}

{The main staircase. All mosaic.}

{Katelyn, Kasi and Emily}

{I loved this picture!}

{Even the detailing around the windows...}

Can you see how unbelivably cool, intricate and Gaudi this place is?! Not to mention the crowds... This man was well known and good at what he did!

{Only downfall of the park? (And Barcelona in general?) There were pigeons everywhere. Everywhere. And I didn't even fulfill my dream of drop-kicking a pigeon.... I got really close to it and then I felt sorry for the stupid things}

{Lindsey, Emily and Kasi's balcony shot}

{The whole Barecelona group!}

Once we had thoroughly explored the park and loaded up our memory cards with pictures, we got back onto the bus and rode it to the main square. We got off here and went roaming the streets some more!

I was exhausted so some of us headed back to the hostel for the afternoon and I got on the Internet for a bit and then took a much needed nap!

{This is the awesome building by Gaudi that I'm officially obsessed with. It's designed and decorated to resemble a fish. Decked out with fish-scale balcony's and color schemes. Even fish bone's in the windowsills. It's amazing!}

For dinner we weren't craving a big meal, so we hit up the Falafel stand!

{Pure goodness}

After dinner I wasn't quite ready to head back so we wandered down La Rambla (you'd think we would have seen it all but it's seriosly huge!) And all on La Rambla there are those creepy people who are dressed up like characters. Well we've passed them all weekend and had yet to take a picture with them -- well, tonight was the night. So we collected loose change to throw in their buckets and went to some of our favorites!

{Edward Scissor Hands}

{Something -- I'm not really sure..}

{Couldn't resist the picture opportunity}

{Those are like ceramic umbrellas on the side of this building}

{Walking down La Rambla...}

Then we walked back to the hostel and took pictures of Barcelona from its terrace. The terrace is the best kept secret of Equity Point hostel -- it was so cool!

Victor had told us he would take us all out again tonight but Kasi and I had to opt out of this invitation because I would literally be a zombie if I went, and nobody wants to talk to a zombie! So the rest of the group ventured out to the night scene of Barcelona and Kasi and I ventured to the room. I washed my face, hit the sheets and was out like a light! The walking in Barcelona will wear you flat out!! I never knew I'd walk so much on vacation! But it's ok, I'm not complaining :)

{View from our terrace at the hostel}

Goodnight Barcelona!