Barcelona

A few weeks ago I expanded my international horizons by visiting Barcelona, Spain. I know that I keep repeating myself when I say that I have visited my new favorite European city , but I really mean it this time when I say it. It is a city that I could easily see myself forging a more permanent residence.
I liked it for a few key reasons;
1.Weather. Barcelona is a coastal city with weather very similar to Los Angeles. It was warm and sunny during the day, slightly rainy at night but never freezing. I spent quite a bit of time wandering the sandy beach and listing to the waves. (Which are hard to find in Europe) What a beautiful escape from the frigid Florentine winds.
2. Diversity. Barcelona at one point was an international trading hub that brought both temporary and permanent residents from every corner of the world. Naturally, everyone is beautiful and exotic because of it.
3. Culture. The culture of Barca is young and refreshing. It can easily be labeled as a Left leaning, forward thinking city. Antiquity is something of the past, remembered but moved away from. Anyone who says Spanish food is gross is out of their mind. Its cheap and its seafood and its delicious. The sangria is out of this world and do not ever leave Spain without tasting Paella. (Unless, of course, you are allergic to shellfish *Chelsea*) Nightlife is abundant and does not begin before 3am. If you go out dancing don't count on being home until around 7 or 8am.

Our itinerary while there:
- Architectural explorations: Barcelona was home of the famed architect Antonio Gaudi. He was working in the early 1900's but his work reaches something of the future. Organic and reminiscent of sand castles, his structures draw more attraction than anything else in the city. (La Sagrada Familia, Casa Gaudi, Guell Park just to name a few)
- Art Explorations: While our architect friend Toby got his fill of architecture, us art students also got to see a nice treat. Barcelona houses the best Picasso museum you will visit. Pablo Picasso spent a lot of his time there, and its only suitable that his work remains. It’s a small museum, easily managed in a few hours, but the design is fantastic. Each section of the museum displays a different period of Picasso's work, all in chronological order. It makes it easy to see his development in style from his early figurative works, to his later blue and rose periods, and finally to his period of complete abstraction.
- Olympic Explorations: Finally we had to fill our friend Matt's plate with things he is passionate about. So, being a sports lover we went and explored the Olympic Stadium. Barcelona hosted the 1992 summer Olympics. It was really just a huge place. Pretty cool to see
- Cultural Explorations: Las Romblas is a notorious walkway that runs in the middle of the street in downtown Barca. Its always packed with people, performers and pickpockets. Fun to see, but be careful after dark. Mercat de la Boqueria is the central food market full of fresh (by that I mean still alive) seafood, fruits veggies, chocolates, juices and cheeses. Its pretty cheap and pretty interesting. Of course my favorite thing about it was the Arte Nouveau sign that hangs in the entrance.
Barcelona is great. I WILL be going back sometime.