Church Day

Starting out a little chilly and mostly cloudy, it didn't look like the day was going to evolve into much. Sometime around lunch (2pm- ha ha ha) the sun started to show itself and my day began. After my blog from yesterday and trying to update my pictures on Facebook and myspace, I didn't get to the gym with much time to do a full work-out, but that's okay, because I was looking forward to walking around the city with Sergio.

Meeting at 5:30pm, I was hoping that we could try Oriol's Vespa. My thought was that I would have another person there to call an ambulance if I were to crash again or if we were both on it, that I would be injured with someone else there to keep me company : ) Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to ride the Vespa, but we had a great walk around downtown.

After our first stop- Gelato- ha ha ha- he took me to a cafe called Caelum. Apparently during war time, there were little windows off the street (level with the street) where people who drop food into so that if they were attacked, they would have food in the basement. Anyhow, this shop had so much history. Upstairs they were selling cookies, wine, and other foods made by nuns. They also had a cute little coffee shop. Downstairs (pictures below) was this darker restaurant/cafe that was once used as a shelter. Sergio was mentioning how he often visits this place, because it helps him escape from the city. He was right- being down there was like being in a different city and a different point in time. You could sit and have tea or coffee and then there was a table that had a variety of the desserts they sold upstairs that you could try with your tea or coffee. We didn't have time to sit and experience this place, but I definitely want to go back. I loved it!

We continued walking around the Gothic quarter (I think it's what it's called). I finally got to go into the Cathedral. If you remember about a week or two ago, I passed it, but I had a tank top on so I was not allowed in. Luckily today, I was able to head in with Sergio. Seriously, this guy is a wealth of knowledge. He was telling me about all the different saints and stories about the Cathedral. I have a bunch of videos, but they are kind of boring- just some stuff that I wanted to have so that I could remember the experience. I have a Catalan version of "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow" if anyone wants to see/hear it. I know it sounds obvious, but it was just really neat to hear a song that I have been singing since I was 5 sung in a completely different language.

The cript was one of the creepiest parts of the church. It is right in the middle and it's where saints from cities around Cataluna are buried (this is my understanding of what I was told by Sergio- I do not hold any of this historical knowledge as fact, but rather as my understanding of his explaination). The best part is, it's super dark, but for .50 euros you can turn on the lights and see inside- HA HA HA! I made a little video about it, but it is kind of "wrong" so I have chosen not to include it with my blog.

After we left the church, we crossed La Ramba and walked around heading towards Example. After Sergio had a drink, I headed home for some of the best tacos that I have ever had. Seriously, I told Jen last night, I need to find a man who can cook like her. Nothing that is extremely fancy, but everything is delicious and pretty fast. Thanks Jen! And thanks to Cristina for continuing to work with me on my Spanish. We walked around our barrio (neighborhood) looking for a bookshelf. It was fun to try and speak to her in Spanish the whole time, but still frustrating that I needed to be writing it down to see it, because speaking it did not help it stick in my brain.

Hoy fue un buen dia! Buenas noches!


Me gusta gelado- Hoy he (I had?) platano y Kinder (I had to- it was really good. I found out it's called Kinder because it is made from Kinder eggs). Sergio had something boring like fresa and Catalan cream- the Catalan cream was good (but seriously- fruit gelado- no thanks - give me the sweet stuff).








Sergio on the stairs heading downstairs to the basement of Caelum- why hasn't he finished his gelato yet?
















A view from the middle of the stairs. This is the downstairs of Caelum. Really cool, right? (Sergio- the picture above- was to the immediate right of this photograph)







<------ Sergio was here







Another view downstairs.

















Una senora viejo reza a un santo (An old lady prays to a saint)
















Stain glass per Brad's request.

















More stained glass per mi hermano mejor.

















Stunning, right? I had to add in the red roses- I wanted some color. My hand almost got stuck in the bars while taking this picture- I got a little frightened I was going to lose my camera.















Part of the courtyard in the center of the Cathedral. Do you like the archways?
















This picture was taken per Sergio's request. After seeing it on my computer, I realize he has quite an eye for cool stuff. My idea of a picture is typically very obvious things- This picture is actually of something quite far away- I am just lucky my camera has a great zoom.










Finally, inside the Cathedral.














<----- This is where the crypt is.


The Crypt.





<----- This is the box that you can pay .50 euros to turn the lights on.






Jeff wanted to see it with the lights on! (I must stop talking about myself in the third person)















WHOA! Creepy! This scene reminds me of this terrible movie that I saw with Kurt DeMars. I wish I could remember the name of the horror movie, but this is like the basement (where the killer stored people). Okay nevermind- I should be more respectful- Each area (individual red curtain is a buried saint from villages around Barcelona.




Apparently, I am becoming really original with my pictures. Let's go over how someone takes a picture like this- IN A CHURCH.
After looking up and seeing the beautiful ceiling and wanting to get a good picture of it, one thinks... "hmm, how can I get an original photo of this". You then think, "Maybe I can lie down on the floor to take the picture." Then your conscious says, "no, it's a church, you can't do that, plus the floor is dirty. Jeff, what are these people going to think?" Then you say to yourself, "who cares, I am never going to see these people again." So, you lay your backpack on the ground. After laying on your backpack, you ask your friend to stand in the middle of the picture, because you realize that just the picture itself is boring.




I bet you all know why I took pictures of the stained glass : ) I love you, Brad!











I LOVE THIS PICTURE! This is walking out of the Cathedral back into the garden.
















Another picture request from Sergio. It seems that he also likes taking pictures of doorknobs and doors- we were talking about each of our collections.















Again, I wish I had a better memory of where things are. I know the area, but I can't think for the life of me what the area is called. Okay- next trip- I need to go withe someone who can tell me the name of the Barrio I am in and I will write it down with each picture, because this is getting ridiculous. I can, however, point to it on a map : )












Cool- egh!? Yep- Sergio request!

















Jen shared with me some advice- Centered does not mean a good picture- I need to work on my composition. I didn't like this picture because I am not in the middle of the doorway, but she informed me that, that's why it is a cool picture.

"Walking" into la Placa Reial.












La Placa Reial












It was way too serious of a day, I had to let loose- what better way than to jump onto a tree.

"El Mono"