Fall Break in Barcelona Part V - Our last day and trip home.

Thursday was our last day in Barcelona.  Our flight didn’t leave until just after midnight, though, so it gave us a full day in the city.  We first checked out of our apartment at 11:00.  We were able to store our bags in a different apartment for the day so we could get out and explore for the morning.

Our first stop was at a city park that had a maze in it (Parque del Laberinto de Horta).  It was a park that has been around since the 19th century and was near some of the venues for the 1992 Olympic games.  We had to walk a fair distance from the metro station to the park and then spent about an hour in the maze.  Lexa was running and fell down in the mud.  It rained early in the morning, but while we were at the park, it was nice.

Parque del Laberinto de Horta

the Maze

We divided into three groups: Nika and Lexa were together, then Sophie and Lina, and finally us, the old folks. The goal was to beat the other groups to the center of the maze. Wisdom won against the speed (in other words,  we, the parents, rock!) 

After we (the old folks) enjoyed our quiet time in the center of the maze for what felt like 15 minutes, our kids finally showed up.

By the entrance/exit to/out of the maze. As soon as we were done, a couple of big groups of school kids showed up and it became very crowded.  So, we left.

Muddy Lexa

After we had seen the park, we took the metro downtown.  Sophie was looking quite pale and we thought she was dehydrated.  We went to Burger King and got lunch.  Sophie felt better, but Lexa immediately began complaining that she wanted to throw up.  We walked in the city (we had avoided a large downpour while we ate) and saw a place that used to be a convent and where babies were dropped off on a little turnstyle.  Then we happened upon the big market in the town and saw the fresh seafood.  The market was loud and crowded, but was very impressive - especially the sheer selection of seafood that was available.

By the turnstyle. We asked the kids to look very sad as we were dropping them off at the convent. Lina couldn't play the part.  Lexa on the other hand didn't have to pretend.  Poor kid didn't feel well at the moment.

At this huge market we discovered on accident

They had rows and rows of every kind of fruit, fresh and dry.

Candy made to look like items from fast food menu.

More fruit

Still more fruit

And then they had this ginormous seafood section 

And it didn't even have this specific fish smells we've encountered at other similar markets of the world. The fish was laying on a thick layer of ice.

We stopped for gelato and then wanted to ride the funicular and the cable car at Montjuïc.  The funicular was part of the metro ride and was just a slow climbing car up and down the mountain.  The cable car up to the top of the mountain was much more impressive - and we had to pay for it.  We were riding the cable car in the middle of a downpour, so it was a very exciting ride.  Lexa threw up before we got on the funicular and once when we were down.

Inside the cable car. As soon as we got in, it was a downpour!

Switching the cable cars midway up the mountain

Pretty cool

It is Barcelona down there, but in this storm you can hardly see anything.

The cable car up close.

By the time we had gone up and down the mountain, it was about 4:30 and we went back to the apartment early.  We had told the apartment people we would be back at 6:30 to pick up our bags.  We got to the apartment building a bit after 5:00, but couldn’t get in touch with the maintenance man to get our bags.  We hung out outside and in the lobby of the building.  Lexa was quite ill and threw up a couple of times - poor girl!  We finally got in, used the bathroom, and got our bags.  We decided to take the subway to the airport and caught things just right to get there by about 8:00 p.m.  We had to wait for a couple of hours to check in, and then for about an hour and a half to board our plane which flew out at just after midnight.

At the airport. Again.

We loved Barcelona airport. This new terminal is really spacious (of course we flew out late at night, so there weren't that many flights going out).

Goodbye, Barcelona! Goodbye, Spain

We had a pretty quick layover in Moscow - a couple of hours, and were home in Astana by mid afternoon on Friday.  We had a wonderful time in Barcelona!  It is always nice to be back home, though.

And hello, Astana!

Barcelona Day IV: Aquarium and Beach

We decided to have a slower day on Tuesday, and ordered tickets to the Aquarium.  The Aquarium has the largest collection of Mediterranean fish in it, and we love zoos and aquariums in general.  We got off to an easy start to the metro at about 9:30 a.m.  We stopped and looked at the Christopher Columbus memorial when we got off the metro, and then walked to the aquarium itself.

Riding a Metro on our way to the port

At the Christopher Columbus Monument

Our world class travelers

Kids found a school of large fish hanging by the pier

On the pier

On our way to the aquarium

Lots of tourist were using segways to move around the city.

The aquarium was a bit smaller and tighter than what we expected, but there were some fun exhibits.  We spent a few hours wandering around and looking at the fish, penguins, and other sea creatures.

After we finished at the Aquarium, we walked to the Barcelona beach, which is the public beach.  It was an overcast day with intermittent sprinkles.  It wasn't cold, but wasn't really a warm day either.  We have been in the ocean plenty lately, so we didn't have the kids take off their shoes and wade in the water.  The beach was not very crowded.  As we walked we saw a few people swimming.  As we got closer we noticed that the swimmer coming out of the water next to us was a woman and was quite topless.  That was something we really hadn't thought about on the type of day it was, and the kids were a bit shocked.  Europe!

Barcelona Beach. We added the Mediterranean Sea to the list of seas and oceans we've been to.

Watching the waves

Sisters

As always, Lexa was looking for shells

Watching the sea

We walked down the beach to the Port Olimpic area where the Olympic games beach water sports were held during 1992.  We knew there were a lot of sea food restaurants in the area.  We picked one, sat down and had an enjoyable lunch.  The twins shared a pizza but the rest of us tried different things.  Lina had octopus which was a big tentacle.  Nika had a sea bass.  I had a sole, and Yulia had a risotto.  We had a great meal and enjoyed it.

This was a fancy restaurant but it was worth the money

We walked form Port Olimpic to the bus station and bought tickets to go the next day to Servera to visit Yulia's friend Olya from Krasnoyarsk. We took the Metro home and spent a quiet evening in our neighborhood.  We ate at a little restaurant near our house - they weren't open when we got there at 7:30, so we got the bar food sandwiches and sides.  We weren't too hungry since we had a nice lunch.  We struck out trying to find Gelato in the neighborhood, so we promised the kids we'd try again on Thursday.  We went to bed a bit early so we could make it to the bus station in plenty of time the next morning.

Fall Break Trip to Barcelona Part III

On Monday we dedicated the day to looking at the works of Gaudi, a famous architect whose work is found all throughout the city.

We started the day at Park Güell.  We took the metro and had to walk about a mile to get to the park.  When we found it, we spent about two hours walking through the park, looking at the interesting designs and mosaics that Gaudi was famous for designing.  We ended up at the top of the park on top of a monument with a cross that looked out over the entire city.

Old men playing Bocce Ball just outside the subway.

Park Güell

Portico gallery in Park Güell

Portico gallery in Park Güell

Our little explores

At the top of the park there was this monument with a cross

From the top you there was an amazing view of the city of Barcelona: Sagrada Familia in the middle of the frame.

Trying for a selfie

There was some sort of castle on the top of that hill that looks like the SLC Tempple

The gardens in the park. The park itself is huge!

After we finished at the park, we went back to the Metro and rode downtown.  By the time we got there, it was lunchtime.  The Metro stop was right next to McDonald's so we ate there for lunch.  When we got out we started walking down the street to look at some more Gaudi designed buildings.  We walked past a book store and so we ended up spending some time in there.  We can't resist a good bookstore!

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

Having lunch at McDonalds

At the bookstore downtown Barcelona. The kids really wanted to get some books even though they don't speak Spanish. However, after this trip they decided that they would like to add Spanish to the languages they speak!

Casa Mila "La Pedrera" - one of the buildings designed by Gaudi

Palau Baro de Quadras

Casa Terrades

Taking a little break before walking to the Arc De Triomf 

Another one of amazing buildings in Barcelona

We saw the different buildings, and decided to walk down to the Arc De Triomf because there was a fountain there that we hadn't seen the day before. On our way to the arch, we bought some Spanish churros (xurros) which were filled with different kinds of cream (chocolate, cream, and caramel). They were yummy, and very filling!

xurros are yummy!

We found the park and really enjoyed walking around.  We realized that there were flocks of parrots/parakeets in the city (Sophie had pointed one out on our walk, but we thought it had maybe just escaped from a house).  After we found the fountain, we walked to the Sagrada Familia, a cathedral that has been under construction for over 100 years and which was designed by Gaudi as well.

On our way to the Arc De Triomf we found this cool drinking fountain!

Pond at the Parc de la Ciutadella

feeding geese at the pond

Love these trees. 

Toadstools in the tree 

Wild parrot. There was a big flock of them flying at the park

The girls are trying to figure out if they could climb these trees

We found a mammoth at the park

Fountain of the Waterfall

Fountain of the Waterfall

There was a guy blowing these big bubbles for the kids to run after at the park. Our girls immediately joined in the fun. 

We had bought tickets online for 6:30 pm. We arrived early and stood in line for about fifteen minutes before we went in.  The Sagrada Familia was my favorite part of our visit to Barcelona.  The cathedral was amazing.  The amount of detail was just exquisite - and that was the outside.  The inside is complete in many areas and it is beautiful.  There are hundreds of stained-glass windows and the light is constantly shifting. The entire edifice inspires awe and is truly inspiring.  Yulia and I decided that we want to go back in 2026 when it is supposed to be complete (100 years after Gaudi's death) to see what it looks like when it is completely finished.

Sagrada Familia Basilica

Getting ready to get in line at Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia Basilica - Facade of Birth

The details are incredible!

The entrance - tells the story of Christ's birth

The entrance - tells the story of Christ's birth

Interior of the Basilica

Loved these stained glass windows

Interior of the Basilica

The lighting was amazing even though it was a forecast outside.

The floor right before you exit the Basilica - Christ enters Jerusalem.

This is the exit that tells of Christ's crucifixion and atonement

The exit door

The entrance door

The entrance door

The detail on the entrance door is amazing!

It was a great day

We took the Metro home, stopped and bought some fixings for sandwiches, and had a nice dinner at home.  It was a lovely day.