Barcelona: Fútbol and the Beach

Of course I was the happiest waking up on two day - BEACH DAY!  Before our adventure to the beach we hoped on the metro and zipped over to the FC Barcelona Fútbol stadium to inquire about tickets for the game that evening  -  the last home game of the season.  We knew it would be a long shot, but wanted to try anyways.  AND I'm so glad we did because we scored four tickets just like that!  Two and two.  One section apart.   A quick stop in the fan shop to purchase some gear for the game and then it was back to the hotel to get changed and ready for THE BEACH!

  

By the time we hit the beach area our Starbucks buzz had warn off and it was time to find food.  The last time Brandan and Andrea were in Barcelona they found this off the wall sandwich shop they swore by.  The shop appeared to be nothing special from the outside, without even a sign or store name above the door.  Tucked away on a side street off the touristy path, the shop was TINY and to say it was busy would be a HUGE understatement.  Andrea stepped up to the plate and ordered for all of us.  We didn't have much luck finding a place to even stand inside the shop it was so packed, but with weather that nice, we didn't mind eating outside. 

 

 

 

See? No sign above the door.  No hours of operation.  You won't find it on TripAdvisor.

No markings.  Just delicious sandwiches & amazing smells.

 

 

 

The BEACH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel's dream ride.  Can't you see it? ..perhaps with a small basket attached to the front.

Or maybe one of those small flags, waving in the back.

 

Mandatory ice cream stop.

 

After spending a few hours at the beach, we hopped back on the metro to head back to our hotel to shower and change for the soccer game!

 

 

 

 

Being their last home game of the season, the stadium was PACKED. 

 

We got there early so we could find our seats & scope out the eateries.  The latter was a bit of a disappointment.  You see, along with the energy, packed stadium and high priced tickets, the last game of the season also meant that all of the venders were using up what they had left.  We settled for a bratwurst on a bun.  It wasn't exactly the most savory of brats, but also not the worst stadium food I've had.  The atmosphere quickly made up for it. 

 

 

The first goal of the game  -  Barcelona.

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned above, it was the last game of the season.  Before the game had even started Barcelona had already won their league, so even though the game ended in a tie, following the game there was a huge celebration complete with the trophy presentation and confetti.  So much confetti.  It was an awesome experience to be a part of.  It was also the last game of one of their players who was retiring.  He had been on the team since we was 16 years old.

 

 

 

The four of us had great intentions of freshening up at our hotel after the game and heading back out into the city to enjoy some more of Barcelona's nightlife, BUT once we got back we all voted to call it a night.  Long day.  Lots of walking.  Lots of time in the sun.  So, we grabbed some dinner & crashing for the night.    

 

Next Post  -  Day III Barcelona

Barcelona Day Uno

Another European adventure.  This time with our good friends & neighbors, the Coopers.  We were privileged to join the Coopers on their last big European adventure before they PCS to the states this summer.  The four of us flew to Barcelona, checked into our hotel, freshened up & ventured out into the city in search of topas and beautiful architecture. Check & double check.  

 



 

This being my first time in Spain, I was eager to take in all of the sights. Our hotel was in a quiet residential neighborhood, easily assessable my metro (our main mode of transportation all weekend).  Our hotel was next to this beautiful hospital (pictured above).  These pictures were taken from our hotel room balcony.  Above is the hospital and below, if you look past the tall cylinder looking thing, you can see the water. 

 

 

Casa Batlló. Built by Antonio Gaudi.  Our good friend, Rick Steves informed us that like many of Gaudi's masterpieces, Casa Batlló was servilely criticized by the city & its residents because of its radical design that broke all of the bylaws of the city.  It has since then been identified as one of the best buildings in Barcelona. 

 

 

 

For our first night in Barcelona, we booked advanced tickets for Gaudi's La Pedrera Night Tour.   Highly recommend the experience.  La Pedrera is one of Gaudi's most celebrated achievements.  Our tour guide informed us that because La Pedrera was constructed later in Gaudi's life, it is believed to be one of his most comprehensive works - drawing together all of the techniques & passions he had acquired through his lifetime.  Magical doesn't begin to describe it.

 

 

Our tour didn't begin until 10:00 PM.

 

Looking up from inside the main entrance to the house from within the courtyard.

What do you see when you look at the oversized metal doors guarding the entrance. . .   Turle shell?  Butterfly?  Spider Web?  . . .

 

Heading upstairs before venturing to the roof for the audio, visual performance.

 

 

All of Gaudi's architecture is intentional.  At first glance, much of his work can seem messy or chaotic.  Upon further observation and study, one quickly comes to realized that every inch is inspired.  Inspired by nature.  Trees, the movement of water, corn husks, animal backbones, objects falling through space, the human body etc.  Inspiration. From the door handles that fit perfectly into the human hand to the curvature of the hallways and stairways leading to the one of a kind roof top.

 

 



View of the city from La Pedrera's (Casa Milla's) rooftop.

 

 

Another beautiful ceiling as we walked towards the exit.

 

After a full day of traveling & walking the city, it was time to bead back to our hotel and SLEEP. 

 

Stay posted for Barcelona Day II . . .



Speyer

The second Saturday in May, Daniel & I took a quick day trip with the Coopers to Speyer, Germany.  One of Germany's oldest cities.  We didn't have a HUGE list of must-sees like on some day trips, but we knew there was an impressive Cathedral and a temporary Titanic exhibit at the Historisches Museum der Pfalz (translated in English as the Historical Museum of the Palatinate). 

 

 

Parking in the center of town was full so we circled around and found a little lot not far from the Cathedral.  It also gave us a chance to walk through the town and explore some of its charm.

 

 

 

View of the Cathedral from the car park.

 

Someone was in Titan mode already!  Nailed it.

 

Arriving in the center of town we quickly realized that there was a HUGE Flohmarkt (Flea Market) taking place in the center of town.  We browsed the tables with the locals & almost purchased an item on our "To Buy From Flea Markets List" - an antique German Koffee grinder.  Sadly, the seller wanted more than we were willing to pay.  Next time!  

 

 

The Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of St. Stephen.

 

 

 

 

Next, the Titanic Exhibit - "Real Discoveries, True Fates"

 

 

 

Something I learned from the audio tour - this isn't actually a picture of the Titanic.  It's a picture from the Titanic's sister ship, the Olympic.  The grand staircases were designed to be nearly identical on both vessels.  The glass casement you see on the bottom right is the base of the statue from the bottom of the Titanic's staircase. This base and many of the other items displayed throughout the exhibit were found on various dives through the wreckage after its discovery in 1985.  I also learned that there are NO pictures of the inside of the Titanic as no one excepted its first voyage to be its last.

 

Channeling our inner Jack & Rose.  Andrea & I both decided that if we had been in Rose's position, we would have been smart, I mean  nice and shared the floating piece of wreckage with our man.  There was totally room.

 

 

A much needed food stop at a delicious and cute adorable "Biergarten" . . . otherwise known as an outdoor restaurant.

 

 
After food, we walked around the town a little more before heading back to our car.  The best part is, we had a full day of sightseeing and still made it home for dinner.


Next on the blog   . . . Barcelona!