A day up on Montjuic (where the Olympic Park is)

Here is the sceptical look that I have grown very accustomed to.

A lovely sculpture built for the Olympics.

This Fortress looks down on the city of Barcelona. It also had it's canons pointing towards the city for many years as it was built to keep those pesky Catalans in line and under Spanish rule;)

So Many Pictures...

I have way to many pictures, so the ones here are not in any particular order, nor do they follow any particular theme. They are just glimpses I guess, of my time here.

Yep, that's me chillin' with Dali.

My flatmate from East London, Jeremy. I was surrounded by Brits during my course. The faith I had previously had in my English began to wane slightly.

The view from the Catalan Museum of Art on Montjuic.

A road in Barri Gotic.

Nighttime market in Barri Gotic.

Mmhmhm. Nothing like my usual cortado at the beach.

A Weekend in Spain...

Before I arrived in Barcelona, Albert told me firmly, "you are not going to be in Spain, you will be in Barcelona, which is in Catalonia. Maybe I'll take you to Spain for a weekend." True to his word, Albert arranged for us to visit his father, stepmother, and little brother in Alicante. You can see for yourself what a gorgeous place this is. Alicante is nestled on the edge of one of the bluest seas I have ever seen (heh, Mediterranean). We had a great time, seeing castles and fairytale mediterranean towns draping the hills during the days and visiting some funky bars at night.

Albert's stepmother, Ana and his brother Paul.

Way up there, you can see Albert's dad running up the stairs.

A Southern European Moment.

The lovely town of Altea, located just a little north of Alicante.

Just a great picture I think.

Barcelona!

What a city! My father once said that being in London is like someone taking your hand and saying "c'mon, let's go!" Barcelona is definately the same. There is so much to see and do, one day can be quite exhausting. Barcelona is very unique also in the sense that it is a very new old city. There are medieval neighborhoods and old Roman architecture. It has always been an important port in the Mediterranean sea as well as the home to many famous artists. But unlike other cities in Europe, like Venice or Rome, it still is an important port and a hub of industry and activity. The result is a mixture of old and new. A veritable mish-mash of different cultural neighborhoods and architecture all very close together. For example, my school is right in the heart of the new and bustling financial district. But just a few blocks away is an old medieval town wrapped around a monastary. This neighborhood is very quiet. In the other direction is the soccer stadium for Barcelona. I live in La Raval which is what you might call the medieval slums(pretty cool, huh). This neighborhood leads off of the very touristy street called La Rambla. I could go on and on but suffice to say that Barcelona has something for everyone. Art galore, incredible architecture, music, hippy neighborhoods, the beach, museums up the yin yang, amazing food and some of the best nightlife in Europe. Man, maybe I should be a tour guide and try to sell this stuff;) Here I am at Parc Güell, designed by the architect Gaudi. Some of the best views of Barcelona from here.

This is the main square in Albert´s hometown, Vilanova i la Geltrú.

The beautiful coastal town of Sitges.

Albert spending an afternoon with Dali.

How's that for a living room? At a different angle you can see that the lips are a couch and the nose a fireplace. The Dali museum is definately one of the most interesting I have ever been to.