La Boqueria

How many fruits can you identify? As for me, not all of them for sure! I have no idea what those reddish brown bunch in the front are, neither the green ones on its left, the yellow ones seem to be pears but I may be totally wrong. The only thing I am certain are the strawberries! Kidding aside, I can also name those in the rear of course, for they happen to be tropical fruits. A girl from the tropics only accomplishment in this amalgamation of colorful juicy goodness.

This, among other wonderful yet curious things in the famous market, La Boqueria. Yes, we visited a market in Barcelona! How can a market be such a draw to tourists and visitors? This idea was a bit strange for me back then. When back home, a market is where you get your fresh produce (depends however at the time of day) at a lesser price than grocery stores in malls. Then, a market as an attraction? But make no mistake, I love markets. I find the thrill in going to local markets, the fact that you can do a bit of haggling, the vendors who already know you well (this applies to my mother) and just simply the buzz all around you. Of course, getting a more bang for your buck is always a good thing these days.

Maybe, that's why La Boqueria appeals to the passers by. The familiar hustle and bustle common in markets, yet you'd see the uniqueness and certain differences. And it's right smack at the center of La Rambla. Its history goes back to the 13th century. How can you not be intrigued by it?

Parc Güell

We continued getting physical after our "tiresome" Camp Nou experience. What else? But a hike into the mountain! err I mean hill! To adhere to our adrenaline rush, we chose to scale Carmel Hill where Park Güell is located. However, this park is not your typical park where you can lounge on the grass, have a picnic, and watch the world go by. It requires you to break a sweat instead. Being a hill with uneven terrains mind you, ascents and descents are a given. But aside from this physical challenge, we were also treated with out-of-this-world (but in this world anyway) structures along the way, like the photo above.

Perhaps, the main reason for us in heading to this park is to witness again the works of Antoni Gaudi, after seeing his brilliant work in Sagrada Familia the day before. Yes, he is really a legend in Barcelona. And yes, I was just feigning on the adrenaline rush. Apart from these mind-boggling yet interesting structures, an overlooking view of Barcelona at the top was just as breathtaking.

Our Camp Nou Experience

Més que un club. More than a club. This is the first thing you'd see, if coming from the stadium's museum, as you make your way outside. The only word of the FC Barcelona motto I understood that time was club. When in fact, it means that it's more than a club. But it wasn't the only faux pas I had done because to begin with, I am not a football fan nor a fan of any sports for that matter. I even quipped to Breinn that FC stands for "feeling close". I know, I am just hopeless. haha

My early recollection of football or soccer in my side of the world (because we are heavily influenced by America) was during college. I have a friend who was in the varsity team of my university and I remember clearly the black and blue bruises she got after practice. The university canteen is also facing the soccer field and in some few instances, I switched my attention to the players in the field. The expanse of the field that the players had to run back and forth was so daunting for someone like me who has no sports inclination whatsoever.

I have been always a wimpy kid, attributed by my countless scars in my arms and legs. I stumble easily even on flat surfaces and my endurance into anything physical is poor. With this realization early on in life, I never bothered to get my hands into sports. And I can go on and on self-deprecating when it comes to this aspect of my life. :p

However, this does not stop me from doing the Camp Nou experience. So how was it for me who almost had no clue on what she's getting at?

Port de Barcelona

After Sagrada Familia, my cousin and I went around more of Barcelona, perhaps trying to make sense of the bizarre familiarity. Or has it only been an illusion? It might have been just because we were delirious after our overnight train from Paris. Of course, knowing how to count in Spanish by heart isn't something of great importance. Besides, the Catalan language is more widely used here, being the capital of Catalonia.

I don't know if at the end of this post, I will be able to figure out something. Or I won't. But maybe, it's already irrelevant, now that this Barcelona visit already happened over a year ago! I think my backlogs are chasing me like a mad man.

Before this imaginary mad man catches up with me, here are photos of the marina during our first dusk in Barcelona.

2014 Travel Roundup

I guess I will never tire of sky photos. If only I could choose window seats and fly during daytime all the time. But alas! Reality kicks in when I only have to settle with budget airlines that fly in the wee hours of the morning. So if such rare opportunity comes up, most likely, my face will be glued on the window. (Reminds me to proactively put on sunblock next time.)

I took the above photo on my way home during the Christmas holidays. Yes, I am back to the daily grind sooner than I would like but anyway... In 2014, I felt like I weaned on travel partially. I have only been to relatively fewer trips but it's not that I am moping about it. Certain circumstances that cause eventual priority shift just happen. In life, we gotta roll with the punches and come out stronger than ever.