So this is summer...

We were asked the question, “so what is Barcelona known for?” Truth is, we didn’t know. We heard it had some neat architecture…and maybe…a BEACH. We were convinced.

This time we got to share our weekend with some fellow Sooners. We met up with Jordan Carlton and two girls who are studying with him in Madrid. Also, a friend studying with us in Clermont, Erin, came too. Add all that up and you get WAY too much fun.

If we had to describe Barcelona in one word it would be architecture; more specifically, Gaudi. No, not “gaudy”, even though Kely tried way too hard for that pun multiple times. The people there are obsessed with him, and with good reason. Pieces of his were all throughout the city: the cathedral, Sagrada Familia, even random lampposts and fountains. Even though we only got to spend two full days there, we definitely tried to take in as much as we could – most of which happened on Saturday when we saw all those structures. In the morning, we went to the beautiful Cathedral where we took an elevator to the roof! After that, we rode the metro to a local park that was dedicated to the display of Gaudi’s work throughout the city. We never expected to have to climb some 5,382 (give or take) steps to get there. Okay maybe not…we didn’t actually count them…but it was way up there. It was so worth it, though. The view was spectacular! Plus, we got to sit on the world’s longest bench. Then we walked back downtown toward the Sagrada Familia – the most famous of all Gaudi’s works. The pictures say more than we can, but here’s a little of what we learned about it. It’s a massive Roman Catholic church with every little thing representing some aspect of Christianity. Gaudi himself worked on it for forty years, pretty much all he did the last fifteen years of his life, and has been carried on since his death consistently, minus a few years for a civil war or something. Construction began in 1882, and it is set to be completed in 2026, a lofty goal! Um, wow.

The next thing on the to-do list was hit the beach! After stopping by the “supermercado” for some jamon, queso, pan, y bebidas (ham, cheese, bread, and drinks for you unilingual folk) we brought our towels and picnic to the Mediterranean. After lounging for a bit, working on our tans, we had to see how cold the water was. The verdict is in…it’s cold. Of course that didn’t stop three of us – Danielle, Jordan, and Kely – from playing in the salt water. Being in France, we really haven’t had much of an Oklahoma summer, aka sun, so this was perfect!

We now know the answer to that question. There are countless things that make Barcelona memorable. Things like: its distinct Catalunian culture, architecture, beach, etc. But also a lot of things that you can’t begin to describe unless you’ve (not seen) felt it. Honestly, we didn’t realize what made Barcelona the unique city it is until we, well, left – the little things: plazas every two blocks, street performers, flamenco dancing (which we watched…and Kely tried), and LATE nightlife.

Barcelona – a city that never sleeps! At least we didn’t.
Danielle got a chance to use her Spanish, though! All in all, we had another fabulous weekend!