Day 2 : Barcelona

My second day in Barcelona was all about Antoni Gaudi, visiting his Casa Botlle, Park Gruel, and La Sagrada Familia. I spent the morning lost on La Rambla, a tree lined street full of shops, vendors, and street performers. I came across the St Josep La Boqueria market. The market was full of vendors selling everything from meat and fish, to baked goods and spices.  You wouldn’t believe the interesting things that I found at the market.

After the market, I went to La Sagrada Familia, a basilica designed by Gaudi. It has been under construction for over 100 years and isn't projected to be finished until 2025-2030. My hotel is two blocks away, so I’ve seen the outside several times, but today, I finally got to go inside. The inside was amazing. Construction is still being done, but when it’s completed it will be twice as tall at its highest point. You can get a better idea of its size in the photos from Park Gruel. You can see it because of the 3 cranes being used for construction.

Casa Batllo, designed by Gaudi.

Park Gruel, parts designed by Gaudi

Barcelona: Day 1

I just finished up the first couple legs of my trip. I've had a great time in Maine and Boston, but now I am headed to Barcelona today. Keep checking back, as I'll be posting pictures.

A Few Pictures from Maine

Dinner
April 4, 2012

Permaquid Harbor Lighthouse, ME

April 4, 2012

Permaquid Harbor Lighthouse, ME
April 4, 2012

Permaquid Harbor Lighthouse, ME
April 4, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

Lobster Dinner
Sheila and Carl
April 5, 2012











Lobster Dinner
Sheila and Carl
April 5, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

 Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

Boothbay Harbor, ME
April 5, 2012

A Few Pictures of Boston

Harvard
Freshman dining hall. We snuck in and took a look.










Kennedy Library
4/2/12

The Rodeway Inn

Having been busy with school, mom was in charge of booking the hotel in Boston. I had jokingly given her a bad time about the hotel she had booked. After a few tense moments in the airport with my mom trying to contact the hotel shuttle, we were climbing on the shuttle and heading to the hotel. I've traveled enough to know that things rarely go according to plan. I had this feeling that this hotel stay was going to be an exciting one.

A few minutes after leaving the airport, the shuttle began to fill with smoke. The other passengers, including us, tried to ignore it, but it got to be so thick and difficult to breath, and something was said. The windows were opened, and about 10 minutes later, we were at the hotel. I'll just say that after pulling up to the hotel, I had very low expectations for the hotel.

After the freezing ride to the hotel, I was a little surprised with the hotel. It didn't look half bad. The first night wasn't bad, and I slept well. The next morning, as I was laying on my bed, I saw a bug crawling across the top of the bed. I was sure I knew what it was, but googled it to be sure. Sure enough, it was an adult bedbug that had not yet fed, thank God. I said something and mom. She quickly got it in a plastic bag and we moved to a new room down the hall. We decided we'd check the room when we got back. After a day walking the Freedom Trail in Boston we came back to the hotel. After pulling back the covers of the bed, we found another adult bedbug. 5 minutes later we were checked out and moving to the Holiday Inn.