Made it to BCN and went straight to meet my parents at the Airbnb in the Gracia-Park Guel area of the city. They got to Barcelona a couple of days prior and had been staying at a hotel and exploring cava wine country. Our host recommended a wonderful local restaurant where we all had a delicious filling lunch. I had paella, and Ryan ate this massive bowl of snails—as a first course.
And then… Sagrada Familia. Stained glass warmed the stone in different areas of the cathedral into different hues. I loved the yellow gold behind the altar. The reds blazed and the blues cooled. Every corner detailed in some way. Everyone except Mac (too young) and my mom (hates heights) went up one of the towers of the passion for an amazing view of the city, and a vertiginous 450 steps down.
Afterwards we enjoyed snacks from a wonderfully stinky cheese shop, where a very knowledgeable woman offered to give a cheese tutorial to whomever could come back the next day…
More Barcelona to come…