Spain--part 4

Finally a day to explore Barcelona--1 really wasn't enough.  My impressions are it is beautiful but touristy.  They have a good thing going tourist-wise.  It is a fairly new (as in new for European ages), so the buses navigate easily.  They have created large photo-op areas and pedestrian areas.  A harbor and beach area.  It is very safe because of this.  Gaudi is their main man--Modernist architect of the late 1800's for those of you unfamiliar--like I was.  He was full of weird building ideas.  I wonder if our word gaudy is derived from his name?

His famous Cathedral--still under construction over 100 hundred years later.  Over 4 architects have worked on it.  You can see the different hands.  It is no where near completion.  The line to get in is hours long. 

A building in his Park Guell--looks like Candyland--seriously

Cathedral again.  It is so tall and weird

more of the park--really amazing architecture.  he was really into recycling items for this work.  he created natural shade areas as well.  it was supposed to be a huge neighborhood and market, but it never "took" in his lifetime.  now it is a huge tourist spot.

sorry for the back and forth. more segura familia church

Then it was over.  What a whirlwind trip. 

Spain--part 3

We left Basque country and flew to Barcelona.  We got in fairly late, unpacked, and then walked around the harbor/beach area for a restaurant with no luck.  All the kitchens were closed.  I was not happy.  I thought this was happening Barcelona.  Evidently not down there.  Clubs were open, but not the kitchens.

Our first day in Barcelona we spent taking the Bullet train to Catalayud--about 50 miles East of Madrid.  The third wine growing region is there. They grow Granacha grapes for Granache.  Yummy red wine, truly.  Catalayud is really arid.  Totally different landscape.  We returned to Barcelona for dinner that night.  We were treated to the region's dancing at our winery lunch at Las Rocas at Bodega San Alejandro.  The manager there knows how to do a tasting and a lunch. We had dark chocolate, their special almonds, and cheese and Iberican ham with our wine tasting in their cellars.

We had empanadas and rose up in their vineyards.  It is so dry and arid, their vineyards look nothing like I've seen before.  

traditional dancing

a quote inside BSA

Spain--part 2

From Gallicia we flew to the Basque country into Bilbao.  Bilbao is gorgeous and somewhat modern.  One of the Guggenheim Museums is there.  We did a 30 min dash through the museum.  Modern art is crazy! We then drove almost 2 hours--kind of through the Pyrenees to Rioja.  Rioja is gorgeous.  They grow temperanillo grapes to make Rioja wines.  You're welcome!

We were only here 1 night and 2 half days.  Wish we had more time.  We explored Bilbao, toured a winery, and we visited the largest wine museum in the world.  It was cool, but we were all so exhausted it was hard to fully appreciate it.

Leaving modern Bilbao--on to Rioja--sorry for all the photos.  It is breathtaking