Vita Italiano: Barcelona, Spain--Day 3

Thursday 3.22.12

We woke up to rain continuing to pour down. It was almost laughable at this point. We were not going to let it ruin our plans though so we trooped out in the rain (umbrellas did not make the cut for our 2 week backpacks). We started out getting ‘chocolate and churros’ at a café. This is a traditional Spanish breakfast. They are long pieces similar to a donut that you dip in hot chocolate. The hot chocolate in Italy and Spain is not anything like the American version. Basically, it is warmed up chocolate pudding. Beyond amazing. After this it was still pouring so we decided to cave and buy umbrellas. We came out of the store and the rain had stopped…So you could say we paid ten euro for the rain to stop? We went to the DHUB museum which had exhibits about design and products prototypes. There was another interactive section that let us play with technology related inventions. We followed this with a visit to a chocolate museum that had chocolate sculptures of everything you could imagine. With the rain gone and the sun peeking out, we were able to finally see what we came there to see, Gaudi Architecture. We started with the Sagrada Familia. This basilica is still in the process of construction today. Construction began in 1882, resumed in the late 1950’s and the expected completion date is in 2026. Before seeing this, my favorite basilica was the San Vitale in Ravenna. Now my favorite is the Sagrada Familia. The front, “Nativity façade” of the church sculpturally represents the birth of Jesus. The sculptures were detailed but more simple. The inside of the Sagrada Familia was unbelievable. There was a lot to take in everywhere you looked. Before sunset, we were able to make it to another work of Gaudi’s, Casa Mila. We were surprised to be able to walk around on the rooftop as well as the inside. There were a lot of school children running around though so it was a little claustrophobic inside. For dinner, we went out for tapas at a place near our apartment called Tapas 24. In Spain, they eat tapas for meals which are small plates that the entire table shares. They are similar to appetizers and allow for consumption of tapas at multiple restaurants in one night, if desired.