Barcelona, Spain: The blend of Gothic and Gaudi with an added splash of Roman

by Missie Hills | Feb 23, 2019 | Europe, International Adventures

Everyone has their favorite things to do while travelling. Mine are about as standard as anyone’s… 1. Food 2. Architecture 3. Culture. Jason would put history in there somewhere, but I never could get that excited about history. I covered food pretty well in my last post about La Boquira. So now, for the architecture!

Walking through the narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter immediately transferred me back in time. But back into which time, I couldn’t quite tell as I was hit with details swaying back forth between Medieval and Roman.

One moment I’m exploring the Roman ruins of Barcino preserved under the city in the Museu Historia. Then, a quick step into the empty Saint Agatha chapel brought me quickly back into the middle ages with its gothic alter. And just as quickly, I’m led out onto the steps of Plaça del Rei, a 14th century medieval public square.

The shifts in architecture fueled my obsession with details. But as usual, Jason had no patience for the never ending snapping of my camera, and I was left to scuttle behind the group trying to catch what I could while keeping up and not getting lost. I think Little E inherited my obsession as well. He made sure to point out every lion shaped gargoyle in sight while adding in a fierce growl each time.

And OK, OK, I can’t get through even one post without mentioning something about the food. What’s a stroll through a beautiful Spanish city without a stop for some Sangria and Tapas?

Jill and Adam had already visited the Cathedral of Barcelona. Because of what they saw, they wouldn’t let us miss it. We got there just before closing. Jill and Adam stayed outside with Little E, and Jason and I hurried through the massive church. We have seen so many churches in our travels that we have gotten a bit numb to seeing the real beauty they can offer. However, this cathedral showcased gothic architecture in a hauntingly beautiful way leaving both of us a little breathless.

But little did I know, the Cathedral of Barcelona wasn’t even the most extravagant cathedral in Barcelona. Nope, the award goes to the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família.

Interestingly enough, the word gaudy doesn’t actually stem from the architect Antoni Gaudi. But boy is his work gaudy! I mean just look at this building…

The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for 136 years, and it is still incomplete! I found it to be possibly the most marvelous church I have ever experienced. The interior design has an ethereal feel filled with so many elements of nature that force your eyes up to the heavens. The stain glass fills the white walls with a vibrant rainbow of colors, blue and greens on one side, red and oranges on the other. The exterior is loaded with sharp gothic designs, symbolism that made me feel like I was in Dante’s Inferno, and a lot of creepy gargoyles. Little E loved pointing out all the unique creatures while making strange growls.

My catholic travel buddies were taken aback by the touristy flashy feel. It didn’t help that the church was missing holy water at that entrances and the pews or alters for prayer. It didn’t really seem like a place of worship. Eventually, we did see where the actual worship hall was located at the lower level bringing my skeptic friends a little peace. But perhaps they still weren’t really feeling present in the moment with the sun bearing down heat waves on us and the final world cup game teasing their attention in nearby bars. So, I was convinced to leave after about a half hour lured away with promises of sangria and croquets.

For me, the Gaudi style can be compared to that middle aged lady you all know who wears loud colors, mixes prints, and covers herself in a ton of costume jewelry with large beads and rhinestones. And yet, after experiencing the chaotic mix of details the church offered first hand, I fell in love with its quirky personality. I mean who wouldn’t want to live in this house.

And just for giggles, let’s bring us back into the Gothic style one more time… at the Maritime Museum, which turned out to be way more pleasant than I could have imagined. I had no idea that another trip to another museum would have me mesmerized in even more beautiful gothic architecture. The building is a 13th century shipyard turned military building, now turned museum. So while Jason got his fix of history, I got my fix of looking up in awe at another beautiful ceiling.

There really are so many reasons people end up loving Barcelona, the tapas, the friendly people, the fashion… I hear it time and time again from my travel crazy friends, “Barcelona is my favorite city!” For me though, I fell in love with the city because of its dramatic flair, where nothing is soft and inviting, and everything is fierce and exciting.

Although I’m just a simple country girl who rarely wears much more than studded earrings and a single pendant necklace, I can still appreciate the art of the gothic style that is so different than me. Seeing things so different than me is precisely why I travel after all.

And for proof that not all moments are picture perfect…

Until next time,

Barcelona, Spain: La Boquira, the market all the other markets wish they were

by Missie Hills | Feb 3, 2019 | Europe, International Adventures

La Boquira… the name just rolls off my tongue. La Boquira, La Boquira, La Boquira…

Nestled in the heart of the Las Rambas lies La Boquira, a massive foodie market that might as well be heaven for my millennial soul. From the moment we crossed the markets threshold, beautifully ordained with an exceptional crest, my senses where overwhelmed with the strong smells of seafood, colorful piles of spices, and the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

The market was definitely overly crowded. I suppose being the best at anything will draw a crowd. This pushed my anxiety a bit as I don’t like to be crammed into places much. And pushing a baby through the crowd made things a little more complicated. But if we can’t handle pushing a stroller through a crammed crowd, we probably shouldn’t claim to be travel parent pros. So, we pushed on.

We stopped often to snap photos of weird fish and to try unique items like ostrich and kangaroo. The local vendors didn’t mind mine and Jill’s obsessive photo taking. They pretty much waved us off as crazy tourists. Little E really enjoyed the fresh squeezed juice. Actually, we all did. The market was dappled all over with these adorable fruit juice stands. I wanted to try every flavor!

Jason was super excited to have his first taste of parnil, a dried ham known to be an expensive delicacy. Jill was super excited to get a stick of chocolate covered strawberries. I was super excited to try some hot seafood empanadas. And Little E was super excited to have his cup of fresh fruit. Everyone was happy.

We eventually sought refuge outside the stuffy market for some fresh air and space. And even though I could have spent my entire vacation in that market, I agreed to continue our exploration of the city into the gothic quarter.

I couldn’t stay away forever though. The next day, I was determined have one more visit to the market before we hit the road. So, while the hubby’s headed to fetch the rental car, Jill, Little E and I made way to La Boquira for lunch. We loaded up on fresh pasta and more fruit juice and found a quiet sidewalk to sit on and people watch.

This market really embodied Barcelona to me, a city where mediocrity is nowhere to be found, where everyone is entitled to the best delicacies, and where being fresh and unique is a state of mind. Yeah, typically a crowded stuffy area is the last place I want to be. But sometimes, I know I need to let myself get caught up into the chaos. Sometimes, I should let my senses go on fully loaded overdrive. Sometimes, I should just embrace the culture shock. Because I didn’t travel halfway across the world to accept anything less.

Until next time,