The Ins and Outs of Catalunya

22 May 2013

Every time I go to a new place I promise myself that when I go home I am going to learn their language. I think it would be so incredible to be able to understand people in their own cultural setting. There are so many passions in the world, and I guess mine is understanding culture and people. Living in these places and becoming more of a “local” would be the best way to really get to know people and their culture.

Visiting all these places really has increased my love for discovering new ways of life, but also made me very grateful for all the privileges I have in the United States.

We found a great hostel to stay the night in, and it had good Wifi! The cost was minimal and it included breakfast in which I gorged myself…but unfortunately it was all pastries. Great, I have been eating so unhealthy. The goal for the rest of my trip is to eat fruits and vegetables everyday, and no more pastries! Bread, cheese, fruits, and vegetables will suffice… and a lot healthier than pizza, gelato, and pastries. Geese, what has gotten into me. Europe really does have amazing food…

I have learned a lot of very interesting things about Spain and Barcelona that I never knew before. For instance, there is a region of Barcelona known as Catalunya. They have been arguing for their own independence and want to become a separate country from Spain altogether. They speak a different dialect of Spanish, one that is so different from traditional spanish, that spanish speakers can hardly understand it.

Parc Guell
This park is a giant display of some of Gaudi’s best works. As you know, he is one of my favorite architects of all time! The park was so beautiful and I got to experience so much in such a little area…well the park was actually quite large and beautiful.

Sagrada Familia (round two!)
We were able to view the Sagrada Familia last evening with Dennis, but we wanted to go back during the day and get a few more pictures as well go inside the exquisite building. Unfortunately when we got there after spending the morning in the park, the line was absolutely ridiculous. It was so long and we didn’t want to wait the many hours it would of taken to get it. Although, we did get our pictures as well as get a beautiful view of the Sagrada Familia in the daylight. When you look closely at the pictures and depictions on the outside of the building it is absolutely incredible how much thought and meaning was put into each curve of the building. There is a depiction of the nativity, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and many other biblical scenes throughout the exterior of the building.

On our way to the Parc Guell we had to take 4 giant escalators up the hill!
After we went to the park and back to Sagrada Familia, we headed to the train station to catch our ride to Paris. We are off to Paris! Woohoo! Right now I am sitting on the train heading up through Southern France. I did not realize how beautiful the countryside is here. So green and filled with plentiful yellow flowers. The sky is deep blue with fluffy clouds and the houses dot the hillsides like little ants. It is absolutely gorgeous as the sun sets behind the hills. Awe, I can’t believe I am here right now.

As we enter back into France, it is like a light switched is being turned on. Although the countries in Europe are very close together and it is easy to travel between them, each one is different and unique from all the others. Even being in just Italy, France, and Spain for the past week and a half has proven this to be true. The main difference between the three countries is not the terrain on which they were built, but in the way in which the terrain was built on and the people that occupy that terrain. The buildings in Italy are colorful, vibrant, and fun. France’s buildings are sophisticated, dark, and bold while Spain’s are random, light, and mysterious. As I try to explain these differences to you I have discovered that it is really hard to put feelings to words… The people in Italy are traditional, in France they are superfluous , and in Spain they are adventurous. Obviously I am generalizing, but I still find it interesting to pick out the differences I see between the different places and cultures. Even comparing England to the lot, the English are quite more proper and goal-set in their ways.

My life now must be what writers describe as fairytales in their books… I just cannot believe I am actually living it.