I woke up this morning to B shouting, "Fuck! It's already ten!" Shortly after, I realised it was actually eleven, given the time difference between here and England.
Hurriedly, we got ready and set off for Parc Güell, an expansive bit of green space on a hill with gorgeous panoramic views of Barcelona. And of course, it is another one of Gaudi's works. A very Gaudi-esque entrance greeted us - mosaic'd animal sculptures, water features and buildings without straight lines. Up the steps, 86 tree-trunk-like columns led onto the plaza where on stone seats designed by Gaudi, one could watch the afternoon go by, or if like me, sat and took a 15-minute siesta.
We walked eventually to the highest view point, a cross on a hill where panoramic views of Barcelona could be enjoyed. With shaking knees, I managed to walk up and hugged the cross for dear life. Despite the dizzying fears of falling to death, the view was magnificent. Amidst the many buildings, the Sagarda Familia and las Ramblas stood out.
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| Parc Güell entrance |
Gaudi's influence permeates throughout Barcelona. Almost every corner is a bench that does not conform to a straight line, or a building elaborately coloured and mosaic'd. We attempted to see the inside of a few, but bulked at the hefty entrance fees. Mostly, the view from the street more than satisfied the eyes.
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| Gaudi wuz ere - Casa Batlló |
No trip of ours is ever complete without a trip to the local market. Today, we bought jamon. Jamon iberico bellota to be exact. And close to €40 worth. They are ludicrously expensive in Australia. So really more than €40 worth of savings, we kept telling ourselves.
A quiet night back at the hostel; dinner of jamon, cheese on baguettes, accompanied by wine in plastic cups. The jamon was delicious. The texture was two-fold: a fatty thinner side and a chewier slightly thicker side. B went all nerdy and waxed lyrics about the process that transformed these acorn-eating pigs to the tasty, salty, fatty morsels that slid down my throat. The Spaniards are not unlike the Chinese - they appreciate their pigs. Could this be one of the strategies used to drive out the Jews and Muslims during the Inquisition?
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| Jamon and wine for dinner. |
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