Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

The palace is built to deflect the heat of the day, while allowing cool air to circulate through the rooms. When I stepped out into the sun I instantly broke out into a heat rash.















Look South


Look North (actually I have no idea in what direction I was truly looking, just that these views were opposite each other)

[R00TS]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Very beautiful! appreciate your detailed photos lapassionata


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lapassionata</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
</div></div>

[Gen]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

oh those fans were imported ? good thing I didn't buy one. I was rushing around on my last day there looking for souvenirs. I love spain

[Nylah]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome



this is great! I am planning to do Spain late Fall so it is nice to see pictures of a few places I plan to visit

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Thanks Roots! The Alhambra is such a beautiful place. Photographer's paradise.

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> oh those fans were imported ? good thing I didn't buy one. I was rushing around on my last day there looking for souvenirs. I love spain </div></div>

The ones I bought had a very strong &quot;made in China&quot; feel. But I couldn't pass up 2 for 3 Euros

Where in Spain did you visit?

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

this is great! I am planning to do Spain late Fall so it is nice to see pictures of a few places I plan to visit </div></div>

What I saw of Spain was wonderful. I Barcelona especially. Are you going to one particular city, or planning to move around abit?

[Nylah]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome



The plan is to visit Madrid and the concentrate on the Andulusian region: Frontera de la Jerez and the surrounding towns.

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Our next stop was Barcelona, which is on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, and about 12 hours away. We booked passage on an overnight train with sleeper carriages. I was looking forward to having a kind of &quot;Midnight on the Orient Express&quot; type of experience, but it was actually all kind of...well kind of like the Sex and the City episode where Samantha and Carrie took the sleeper train. Totally unglamorous, small cramped quarters. But everything's fun-er and funnier with friends, so I enjoyed the experience immensely. We ate in the dining car, walked up and down the train from one end to the other, and then there was nothing else to do but sleep.

The next morning we were scrambling to get dressed as the train pulled into the station. There was just enough time to brush teeth, wash face and do a quick tidy. The train seemed to be full of American college students going to Barcelona for exchange progams. Lucky them!

<span style="font-weight: bold">Breakfast of champions</span>


We found a taxi driver, a bit of a character, who offered to give us a quick driving tour of all the major sights of Barcelona for something like 30E an hour. Split between the 4 of us, we couldn't resist. Our first stop was MNAC, the National Museum of Art of Catalunya. It's located in Montjuic and has some of the best panoramic views of the city. We didn't have the time to actually visit the museum, but we certainly took advantage of the view.

<span style="font-weight: bold">MNAC in the distance</span>




Barcelona at our feet






I couldn't help noticing the Barcelona <span style="text-decoration: line-through">phallus </span>bullet

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Our driver/tour guide was awesome. He was orignally from Morocco, spoke four languages, could eat, drive, talk on the phone and direct our tour at the same time. And he was good at it too...until he rear-ended the car in front of us. Oh la-la! No injuries or damages though, so the rear-endee just waved us off and we continued on our way to Olympic Park.

My mates react to the crash


<span style="font-weight: bold">Olympic Park</span> Merlene Ottey ran this track!






Our next destination, I honestly don't remember what or where it was, but it gave some views of the port and the airport. It was my first look at the astonishing blue of the Mediterranean






I was trying to get a pic of the jet coming in for landing, but I'm not sure you can see it

[Gen]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

madrid and then took a day trip to pamplona (running with the bulls)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lapassionata</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gen</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> oh those fans were imported ? good thing I didn't buy one. I was rushing around on my last day there looking for souvenirs. I love spain </div></div>

The ones I bought had a very strong &quot;made in China&quot; feel. But I couldn't pass up 2 for 3 Euros

Where in Spain did you visit? </div></div>

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

The next part of the tour was dedicated to the works of Gaudi. Barcelona is worth the visit just to get a glimpse into the mind of this creative genius.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Casa Batlo</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">La Pedrera</span> &quot;not a straight line in sight&quot;





<span style="font-weight: bold">We changed up seats, and I got to ride shotgun</span>





<span style="font-weight: bold">Gaudi's house</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">Parc Guell</span>

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

All Gaudi, all the time.. .

<span style="font-weight: bold">Hospital</span>





Drive-by of the Sagrada Familia




Our driver was urging us to &quot;stay, take some more pics&quot;, but after 2 hours, we were ready to end the tour. Our hotel for this short stay was Hotel AC Barcelona (we got an extremely good deal online) and again we had two rooms. Everything was glass and steel ultra-modern, and the front desk staff was really friendly and helpful. Catalan hospitality!

AC Barcelona






The Sagrada...I don't have much to say...any guidebook can give all the vital stats...it's really something to be experienced first hand...it's so immensely creative, so lovingly imagined...the exterior is intricately detailed, and the interior is so beautifully simple...can't wait to see it when it's finally completed

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Sagrada Familia. Exterior details: The life of Jesus or, All flesh is grass












Behold I stand at the door and knock...



<span style="font-weight: bold">Sagrada Familia. Interior. The columns are apparently based on some crazy geometrical principle that made them better load-bearers. Sadly, there wasn't enough time for me to go up to the tower. I've heard the view from up there is staggeringly beautiful. </span>

[lapassionata]

Re: Spain, the Cinque Terre, Rome

Somewhat out of order, but before we went to Sagrada, we took a stroll down to the beach! AC Barcelona is on the water and about a 5 minute walk away from this beach. Barcelona is a city made for promenading...I loved Loved LOVED IT!!!!

Now I get the whole &quot;Mediterranean blue&quot; thing. Of course everyone was topless, and everyone was tanned to within an inch of their lives. Yay Spanish leather! I was jealous though, wish we had time to jump in.










We stayed at the Sagrada until the absolute last minute, and we literally got ushered out the door. The day was winding down, and were feeling relaxed and low-key, so we just did some wandering.





<span style="font-weight: bold">And then it was night.</span>