Barcelona and Madrid...the grand finale to our Spain travels

long winding mosaic seating at Parc Guell

Parc Guell - all designed by Gaudi

We have now been back in the USA for several weeks (Boston, Cape Cod, Long Island NY and now North Carolina). I did not want to miss reminding myself (and the rest of you) of our last days in Spain where we enjoyed Barcelona, Madrid and Toledo.

After winding down in Santiago for a few days we headed by plane to Barcelona. It is a very lively, beautiful city full of interesting architecture and art. Unlike the time on the camino, we stayed in city hotels which for us was disconcerting. We had been used to albergues with kitchens and very low prices and now in the big city got more luxury, paid more but with much less service. We love being able to make our own tea and snacks without having to go out for meals all the time. On the other hand, we found some really great vegetarian restaurants in both Barcelona and Madrid. Always two sides to everything.

Gaudi architecture

More Gaudi architecture

Neither of us knew much about the architect Gaudi before coming to Spain and in Barcelona discovered his amazing, creative and very different work. It is a very walkable city and so we just went from one great museum or park to another to see his work. The best for us was the "Sagrada Familia" - a church started just about one hundred years ago that is still unfinished. There are no photos that could do justice to this awesome Cathedral.

Sagrada Familia

Sculpture in Sagrada Familia

Impossible to capture this church

Sculpture in Miro Museum, Barcelona

Amazing Water show to Music with lights

Water show to music in Barcelona

We went to both the Picasso Museum as well as the Miro Museum. No matter where you walk in the city there is music, art, water fountains (see pictures) and activity. As in much of the rest of Spain, there is an afternoon siesta and then most of the dinner restaurants open after 8pm and stay open late. By the time we were in the big cities, we were used to the late night eating schedule.

our favorite - roasted peppers with sea salt

going up to Monserrat

A view from Monserrat

our favorite...apples!

We discovered that Monserrat was a 1 hour train ride from Barcelona so we went there. It is a Monastery built high in the mountains among rock formations. It has been another pilgrimage site for many in Europe for centuries. There was a beautiful walking trail, church and views. Gave another view of mountains in Spain that we had not seen before.

in the church at Monserrat

Market in Barcelon

The beach in Barcelona

Right in the city is a beautiful beach for swimming, etc. As it was the summer, it was filled with people and activity. Right along the beach was this Fish sculpture by Gehry (whom we learned about while in Bilbao),

For me, one of the great things about traveling is the artists that I have heard about during my life but whose works I have never seen. Spain is filled with such art.

Gehry "fish" commissioned for
the Barcelona Olympics in 1992

On the waterfront in Barcelona

Prado in Madrid

Madrid is another example. I have always heard about the "Prado" museum. We spent some time visiting the Old Masters....amazing art but not my taste or style. I am glad that I am able to see some that I like and some that I can appreciate for technical expertise but am able to walk away from. (Probably not a statement that will make me popular among my many artist friends!)

Jewish temple which has now been converted
to a church in Toledo....home of three
religions - Islam, Jewish and Catholic

From Madrid we took a day trip to Toledo which was interesting as it was a city that was the home of Islam, Jewish and Catholics for many years....living peacefully together. I wish it could be like that again in this world.

typical jewelry made in Toledo

Madrid

Madrid

After several days in Madrid we decided that we had enough of city life and really were "travel weary". All together this has been 4 months of travel with nearly different places most nights. We decided to head back to USA one week early which was a good decision for us - we needed a little rest before doing the USA family and friends travel along the East Coast.

Mostly we are grateful that we were able to do this incredible trip, see so many things, walk most of the walk that we had intended, returned to the same physical condition as we left, had such wonderful support from all of you, learned some good personal lessons and are here to tell the story.

FYI, we head back to San Miguel de Allende, MX in August and will probably stay there for most of the next 6-9 months.