My Europe Research + Writing Trip Photos - Part III (More Barcelona)
So, I'm pretty behind on this. I've gotten a chance to visit a number of tourist sites since I last posted on here. I have more photos than I can reasonably post, really, but I'll see how many I can post before the blogging software gets mad at me, lol.
Mostly I've been touring Gaudi sites and just walking around town. I'm staying in Born / the Gothic Quarter, so just walking in my "neighborhood" has tons of beautiful old buildings and street art, not to mention a lot of cute little shops and coffee shops and restaurants. I've been eating at home a fair bit, but working out at coffee shops here and there.
Of course, even with the insane number of photos, this is only a fraction of what I've taken. It's easy to go a little nuts with photos here, lol. And this doesn't include my last few days here, since I haven't sorted through all those yet (although I've been writing a lot, so those are definitely less exciting, lol).
Hope you enjoy them! :)
Another of the alleys in the Gothic Quarter. There's so much street art here - I've been photographing a lot of it as I wander around.
This is one of Gaudi's buildings, Palau Güell (Güell Palace). They have tours of this one, too, but I haven't been inside it yet. It's right off La Rambla, the big walking street in the center of town.
This is Plaça Reial, one of my favorite little spots here. It's walled off from a lot of the crazy and really beautiful and peaceful, lined with outdoor cafes.
Another alleyway in the Gothic Quarter...
This is the outside of the big market on La Rambla. I actually ventured in this time. :)
Lots and lots of chocolates...
And lots and lots of dried fruit and nuts...
This was a mishmash of all kinds of stuff... mostly seafood. :) There were also whole booths devoted to olives and fruits, meats and cheeses of all kinds, flowers and pretty much anything edible you can think of.
A somewhat wider view of the indoor / outdoor market. This was probably the closest I've felt to being back in Thailand, lol. These kinds of markets are EVERYWHERE there, and people do most of their shopping in them (locals, at least).
More street art... :)
This is a detail on another really pretty square, not far from the Barcelona Cathedral
A church along La Rambla
There was a circus alongside the marina and ocean. I might have to go back there when it's open, lol. I did walk right by it after I'd wandered on the beach and all over the pier.
Ocean! :) Always makes me happy.
There were quite a few surfers, actually... and naked people, which was funny because everyone else was bundled up for the colder weather. So you'd have people in ski jackets next to completely nude people either swimming or laying out. I'm used to nude beaches being a little more secluded but this was basically a hundred feet from a busy city street.
The beach, surfers, and Hotel W in the background (I actually saw the hotel when I flew in on my way down from Brussels)
This is actually a research shot. I took a lot of photos of rich people's yachts, lol. So for those who read my fiction, you'll be seeing some of this in one of my upcoming books (I won't say which one, lol)
Walking around by the marina... there were tons of restaurants down there, really pretty
The gondola. I was actually going to do this today, but it turns out it's shut down for a few weeks for maintenance. I won't be able to ride on it until the end of the month.
The circus! :) This is one of their painted cars.
A view looking from the marina up towards the city (this is right near the entrance to the Gothic Quarter, which is right along the water on the south side). This is labeled on the map as Edificio de Correos, and appears to be office buildings and the post office.
Walking along the marina, with "La Cara de Barcelona" in the background.
"La Cara de Barcelona" (the face of Barcelona)
Enormous statue of Christopher Columbus... (right at the southern entrance of La Rambla)
This is a restaurant my parents went to when they were last here, lol. I got there at the wrong time, or I at least would have gotten a drink. :)
More views of the Gothic Quarter
Detail on the wall of the Gothic Quarter
This is pretty close to my house. I still haven't been inside might I might need to one of these nights, lol.
More views of the Gothic Quarter - this is close to a coffee shop I work at sometimes.
More Gothic Quarter...
A meat shop (again, not too far from my place)
Another research shot. I've learned to take photos of the police stations in any place where I plan to use as a location, lol. I inevitably need to have some idea about the police stations and what they look like. I even had to go back and take a bunch of L.A. and San Francisco.
Part of the facade of the Catalan Center for Music
Puppy! :)
I am so confused by this, but these statues are EVERYWHERE. I seriously can't figure it out. And it seems connected to some food brand. You can see inside the store that the shelves are covered with miniature versions of this dude pooing. I need to ask someone what this is all about, lol.
A building along the street that houses a lot of the more famous Gaudi buildings (Pg. de Gràcia)
Detail of the top of Casa Batlio
A wider view on Casa Batlio (I did a night tour of this one - some of the photos are below)
This is Casa Mila - I toured this one first, the day before I did Casa Batlio and Sagrada Familia (I did both of those the same day)
Inside Casa Mila
The courtyard of Casa Mila (we were able to see the courtyard, part of the sixth floor, the attic and the roof as part of the regular tour)
The attic ceiling of Casa Mila
A model of Casa Mila inside the attic of the same (there were models of all of the famous Gaudi houses in there, it was pretty cool)
Rooftop stormtroopers (Roman Centurians?) at Casa Mila
Close up of more sculptures on the roof of Casa MIla
Space cucumber! (or sex toy, take your pick, lol) - from the roof of Casa Mila
This was a really pretty courtyard to the north of Casa Mila.
Looking down into the inner courtyard of Casa Mila
A wider view of the rooftop sculptures
Looking back along the side of the roof (you can see Sagrada Familia in the background)
Looking out over Pg. Gracia
Another funky statue on the roof of Casa Mila
I loved the covered walkway with it's leaf / palm frond like covering
The door and gate of Casa Mila (no longer has public access)
Just another pretty building / windows along one of my walks
Another building
Second trip to see Sagrada Familia (this time I had a ticket to go inside)
Turtle holding up part of the structure (just outside the entrance to the main cathedral)
Inside Sagrada Familia...
More Sagrada Familia... I really lucked out with the time of day. the sun was just pouring through the stained glass windows on the west side (it was around 3pm). Just gorgeous.
Looking up and towards the altar (that gold umbrella is the crucifix over the altar)
