Milà Casa Es Su Casa
Happy Monday! Today was another busy day for the Alonzi family in charming Barcelona. We started our day off with some morning coffees from Starbucks - it's not what it sounds like! Dad and I got up and went to go find breakfast around 7:15 AM since we were both awake. Tourist tip: Spaniards start their days later and most shops of this kind don't open until 7:30 or later. Good to know for next time!
This morning, we visited Gaudi's most famous rooftop - that of La Pedrera. It was absolutely mesmerizing: the large statues and the roof's curvature enhance the experience, all while providing some of the best views of Barcelona and its landmarks. I was incredibly excited when I could see La Sagrada Familia from the top, a cathedral that I've been learning about in Spanish classes since elementary school that still (more than 100 years later) isn't done.
We continued down the Escher-esque (think this) staircase towards the apartment levels, where we learned more about the architecture, saw models of the Casa itself, and visited a gift shop. If you're in Barcelona, I'd highly recommend getting to this rooftop - it's incredible and fairly easy to get into if you arrive a few minutes before 9 AM during the summertime.
Barcelona Cathedral
We then took a cab to the Barcelona Cathedral to start our visit to the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) of Barcelona. It's a wonderful Gothic-style church with 28 chapels and 13 resident geese!
Almuerzo (Lunch)
We ate at Moniberic in the Gothic Quarter for lunch today. Though we'd heard about all of the Spanish ham, this restaurant gave us a chance to taste all of it - 25 grams (each) of 5 hams prepared slightly differently and some sandwiches. Delicious!
During our Gothic Quarter visit, we strolled past the Barcleona Cathedral, Plaça Novam Fontana Santa Anna, el Pont de Bisbe (the bridge), la Plaça de Sant Jaume, S. Felip Neri, the Roman Towers, and la Plaça del Rei, among other things.
We ventured out for two more "Casas" before dinner - Casa de Comolat (which has two facades - pictured below) and la Casa de Punxes, famous for its spires. Neither was designed by Gaudi, but were very nice (and I would like to live in a house like one of those someday) nonetheless.
Dinner
We ate at La Bogueteria tonight. The food was good - we enjoyed a Spanish Rioja suggested by our waiter alongside a variety of tapas. This included peppers, a Burrata salad, potatoes, and some fried squid. After, we got some desserts at nearby Mauri - ice cream (stracciatella and crema catalana) and a chocolate/strawberry cake. I also had a fun adventure and went shopping at Mango, a store just down the street.
QOTD: "Be careful crossing the street - this town even ran over Gaudi!" -Dad (more on that here)
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