Barcelona
The first day of our amazing summer vacation.

Downtown was crazy crowded but so much fun.

Let's do this!

She said look surprised, so we did.

Spanish Sisters

This looks all sweet and then you realize that the little baby is strangling the bird.

A fun park a block or two from our apartment.

Finally on the tour bus.

Gum tree, pretty and gross.  The bus must hit this light often.

A dragon gate created by Gaudi.  Barcelona's favorite son.

The home of FC Barcelona

Looking up at the Catalonia National Art Museum

A view from the museum over looking Barcelona.

Varying degrees of excitement

La Sagrada Familia surrounded by the city.

A peek inside Barcelona's Olympic stadium.

The ocean side had a wide variety of art.

Wide Variety

One more place Obama might have been born.

Batallo house, by Gaudi of course.

La Sagarda Familia up close.  Started by Gaudi but has now been worked on my multiple artists and companies.

Fun in the Barcelona sun.

Not the best sea floor but good enough for these guys.

And this gal.

Back in the touristy heart of Barcelona cooling off with cold fanta.

LY HAD to have this hat...it didn't survive the trip.

La Sagarda Familia is my favorite church ever.  Europe is covered in amazing churches, big and small.  This one is huge, and so weird on the outside.  But the inside is like breathing fresh air and sunshine.  It is beautiful and open and AMAZING.

And colorful

Just a detailed as any gothic cathedral, but you don't need a flash in here to see it.

Nothing is normal, but it's all wonderful.

Entire walls of stained glass?  Yes please.

Mark

Mathew

Excuse me while I lose myself

Poor turtle, that column looks so heavy.

The amount of detail is staggering.

And covers traditional scenes as well as some confusing ones.

John

Luke

I LOVE this place, I'm sure you can't tell.

The kids however were D O N E

A smaller chapel below the main body of the church.

An oculus surrounded by the rays of the sun.

Park Guell...Gaudi's of course.

Complete with gingerbread houses.

Concave mosiacs...they looked like they were originally a solid tile that was broken to fit the idea.

Recognize this lizard Kerry?

One of many discs hanging from the ceiling. It's diameter is at least my height, but I'm sure it's even bigger than that.

Not all art has to be beautiful.

Columns holding up the ceiling from which the discs hang. I don't know the girl in the pic, but it sure looks like she's standing there on purpose, just for me.  Thank you random citizen. 

At the overlook, handsome fella isn't he?

To get to this park was one helacious up hill walk and it was even more up hill once you got there.  I definitely got a workout.

From the overlook, with out PY and I blocking the view.

Graffiti on cactus...honestly!

I wonder if everything here buttons and zips on the opposite side.

Shark Patrol

The signs said no flash, but I used it anyway.

This fish didn't seem to mind.

The Aurelia Aurita were kind enough to pose for a picture with our Aurelia.

It plainly says no climbing, booger head.

Going for a ride.

Payment in the form of kisses.

Such a tragic loss.

Too much time in the sun.

Told you.

A statue of Columbus.  He's pointing to the sea and not to America because to have Columbus pointing across land would be weird.

Usain Bolt or Columbus? Not sure.

Ready to ride home.

IY's favorite part of Barcelona was the Columbus monument.

Andele!

IY's namesake

Pleased to meet you.

Great day out on the town.

Monkey Man!

And his sisters.

Good place for a rest.

Goonie faces.

The hill behind Barcelona looked fun.

I can't even tell you how many times we jumped to get a picture of us all in the air...so many jumps.


Barcelona was beautiful and wonderful.  Now it's time to hit the high seas.