Barc Barca Barcelona!

Warning: Again, not recommended for the busy or impatience.

Highly recommended for those feeling hungry or extremely bored. Peepz, ready for another marathon?

So, it has been 5 days since the last travel post. Many thanks to the compliments! be it on the blog itself or over the msn. =) at least my 5 hours of hard work wasn't completely ignored and I can self-comfort that my existence can still bring a wee smile to some people.

I appreciate them alot! Thanks. ^_^

Big toast to everyone!

Had a good Easter holiday?

Speaking of existence, for the past 4 days I'd been living alone in the house with almost zero human contacts. I actually started packing bag for home which is like 7 weeks away. David said I'd gone crazy. Maybe lor. I thought that is something can at least make me happy and self entertained. A small room isn't a good idea. Gotta get a bigger one next year, hopefully.

okok, back to Barcelona! Gotta write these experiences all down before Gastrointestinal knowledge actually displace them. Bah.

Yeah. So, we flew to this lovely sunny Spain from the freezing windy Prague! Thank god. That day itself actually brightened up all 3 of us, after the much depressing 4 days in Prague. And what is more, we were joined by another buddy from Newcastle!


See, who's here? That's Cheng Guang officially taking over Matt's job as a map-reader and location-finder. Matt apparently very gratified-looking.


How can one not smile with this kind of weather lar? ^_^ and see the crowd in the background, the whole city is ALIVE! hehe, so were we.

Matt always has this very kind samaritan look that attracts people to approach him asking for directions. See....


Case No. 1


Case No. 2

and the other 3 of us, being very kindhearted too, decided to recruit these easily sesat people into our travel group.

Presenting you another 2 travelmates, Axxu and Choy Wan.

haha, no idea who took this picture. their expression so funny, really look abit lost.

Okay, so there were 6 of us in complete set already. Out we went, to venture into Barcelona, the brilliant city of Catalonia. I somehow make it sound like a pokemon mission, recruiting people and continuing journey, haha.

If no one tells me this is one of the Gaudi's crazy masterpiece architecture, I would have thought it's a Palace where the east-sea-dragon-king live undersea with his crabs and sotong armies.

It's weird that despite the world often associate Barcelona with Spain, however that was not quite the case in the place itself. Surprisingly, they are very independent at identity from Spain in general. Instead of Spanish, people here predominantly speak their own language, Catalan which is a mixed form of Spanish and French, and called themselves Catalonian instead of Spanish, very much because of it being geographically close to France as well as its wealth. This region is the richest in Spain.

Uniqueness of this city - The balconies. Luckily we brought an architect along. Axxu told us in Barcelona, buildings' facades emphasize alot on the balconies and they like to play with different types of designs.

Other than Lonely Planet, another Barcelona Trip Must-Bring: An architect.

If it weren't because of one man, Barcelona wouldn't be worldly famous like now. Gaudi is the soul of this city.

Hence need no say, our mission here is to visit as many of his works as possible. Here are a few we went during the 1.5 days stay,

La Pededra

A house built for a very rich man. The special thing about this house is that, you can never find a straight line in it.

Seems like everything is built in curved lines, even its furnitures are all in wavy shapes. None of the patterns or designs in this house are repeated, see the pillars?

I suspect Gaudi's ulterior motive was to drive this whole family mad!

even their worker here was abit crazy too.

and this thing! having a hole on bedroom's rooftop where starry nights can be seen from bed, used to be one of my childhood dreams, I'm not joking! but I thought no one will ever built it out. Can't believe Gaudi designed it as the house's living room!

so, It is POSSIBLE!!!

Laughing Fatso

Ultraman, Laughing Fatso, other Ultramans

By the way, those are the chimneys of that house.

Everyone went mad after visiting this house. One wanted to plant a bomb. The other one wanted to be a pig.

.

.

.

Getting tired of reading already?

How about a cup of coffee with milk?

Here in Barcelona, if you want a cup of normal coffee, always remember to tell them with milk. If not, you are highly likely to be served a cup of Espresso, that's what they meant by coffee.

Had a good coffee break?

~~~

next one coming... hehe.

La Sagrada Familia

Gaudi died in an accident while building this Sagrada which he dedicated to God.



He got banged down by a vehicle and no one on the street actually bothered to send him to hospital for they thought he was merely a beggar, of which we believed very much attributed to those typical artists' artistic appearance, you know those ragged clothes, long hair and untrimmed beard.

He was left struggling on the street until a friend of his passed by and was able to recognise him and wanted to send him to hospital. Guess what was Gaudi's response? Disappointed, he refused asking his friend to let him died as a poor like what he was perceived as.

Boyband album cover

There are a few versions about Antoni Gaudi's death that I'd heard. This is the most interesting one I thought. So, don't take this seriously. =)


Interior. Ceiling inspired by sunflower.

This Gaudi, sees design inpiration from every corner of the surrounding nature.

"Trees outside my room are my best teacher", he said. I thought the Sagrada behind me looked like a forest with many leaves hanging on it even before I read that sentence of his.

Park Guell

Barcelona is in Europe. Strangely, here in Park Guell, cactuses are everywhere and sand lies all over. If you were to take pictures here and tell people you're in Dubai, I don't think people will actually doubt you.

Cheng Guang and his forever upright image. =)

As Barcelona is a warm country in Europe with quite heavy rainfall throughout the year, Gaudi came up with this brilliant idea!

The ground where people are walking on, serves as a water reservoir whenever it rains and the water contained in it will flow downhill through the many in-built pipes and ...

eventually come out from this Biawak's mouth as a small waterfall. The water will then nourished the ground underneath, keeping the park on the hilltop safe without landslides.

Loving couple

GROUPIES!

errr...David, what you doing with my handbag?

How can we forget the extra one round ride back to the park again after we missed the stop in the city centre? haha. The bus driver looked at us one kind. Yet, we were all too tired to bother. Classic!

Seriously, I think this David deserves the 'Best Poser' award already. Every trip, he will definitely come up with some creative yet funny poses.

Pasar

Next up is the wet market - pasar. But, wait a minute,

no pasar?

Here you can find various types of seafoods, veges, fruits, meat, etc.

I shall save my words and give your eyes a big feast!


Cow's stomach

海胆


Balitong


Unknown. But trust me, very geli! Have no idea how people put such things into mouth.

Jamon

Ain't bunny cute?

Nah! Bunny.

Oh yah, We found out it was CG's birthday on our first night in Barcelona. Enjoy!

~~~~~

Congratulation! You have reached the end of this Barcelona post! You definitely deserve a big treat! Hereby presenting you the squid-ink Paella with mixed seafood. Bon apetit. =)

US!

(p/s: I must clarify. I didn't make that fella cry ok. Everyone was busy posing despite the baby crying so badly lar, I was trying to calm her down. I'm serious...)