VALENCIA
We took the train from Madrid to Valencia early on August 8th. It felt great to feel the sea breeze and a slightly cooler temperature on the coast.
We stayed at the Albergue Colegio Mayor Galileo HI Hostel which is located in a student dormitory on campus of a very nice, new university. Our time here consisted of only one day and that was pretty much all spent at the beach.
We stayed at the Albergue Colegio Mayor Galileo HI Hostel which is located in a student dormitory on campus of a very nice, new university. Our time here consisted of only one day and that was pretty much all spent at the beach.
In the evening we ate paellea on the promenade. It was a nice mixture of seafood and chicken cooked on rice.
It was a great meal that ended off a nice relaxing day at the beach.
BARCELONA
Our train pulled into Barcelona just after 2:00 pm on the 9th. We walked up Avenue
Numancia to the Pere Tarrés HI Hostel and then went for a long walk down Avenue Diagonal to La Bodoa Flamenco where we bought tickets for the next nights show.
After this we walked on to the massive La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. This incredible structure inspires awe by its sheer size and over the top design. This medieval Cathedral is still under construction after more than a hundred years.
Then we moved on to the old gothic centre of the city and headed down La Rambla, Spain's most famous Boulevard where we finally settled in at a nice little Irish Pub (apparently where U2's Bono hangs out in Barcelona) to eat and rest our weary feet.
The next morning we took the Metro back to La Sagrada Famila. Although we were unable to get tickets to go inside we were very impressed by the outside. It is really something even for European church standards.
In the evening we went to the Flamenco dance show. Dance is Jueun's thing and it was she who insisted we go to this, must see Spanish spectacle . Well, I am very glad she did. It was unlike any other dance show I'd ever seen.
The Spanish guitar player was an amazing musician and the distinctive sound worked in harmony with the singer and dancers. It was truly a foot stomping, body pounding, hand clapping, Spanish yelling time. It was a passionate and powerful dance that says so much about Spain and its spirit. It was really incredible to witness such passion and emotion on stage and in the audience. All I can do is clap my hands high in the air and at the top of my lungs shout ole!
After the show I learned that Rock n Roll dreams do come true as we dug into a delicious meal of chicken and ribs at the Hard Rock Cafe and switched musical genres to AC/DC's "Who made who."
Early the next day we took the Metro to Drassanes station at the end of La Rambla. This area was full of life and lined with artists and street venders selling everything under the hot Spanish sun.
Close by, the Barri Gotic was waiting to be explored. This old medieval area which is filled with narrow lanes and tranquil plazas offered Kodak moments at every turn and the main Cathedral which is the city's central place of worship seems to be the heart of the whole place.
We walked around the Marina Port Vellum on our way to Platina de la Barceloneta. Here we could see the cars and yachts of the rich and possibly famous.
After a morning of walking and sight seeing the beach felt like the ideal place to chill out and spend the afternoon. Yes indeed... this is the life!
Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the temperature I now understand why Barcelona is known as one of Europe's coolest cities. I would have loved to have had more time here in this vibrant Spanish "rock n roll" kind of place. Ole!
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