Shopping Time

One of my favorite casual things to do around Barcelona is go shopping and admire Modernist buildings and trendy storefronts. I'm always running into new eye-catching shops.

If I were younger, single, unexpecting of children, Gracia is where I'd live. It has small streets, hip restaurants and lots of independent fashion shops.

A feast for my eyes.

Oooh...pretty natural decor. I learned not to eat at any Asian restaurants without a reference.

I saw this map for a child's room, and I had to go in and ask for the price. It was 150 euros! Now that I'm getting the hang of my sewing machine, I promised to make one of my own...someday....

We headed for a "pijo" area, or a posh area of the city. This is a typical, ample intersection in the Eixample Izquierda district. My mouth waters every time I stroll these streets.

I love these facades. They're everywhere.

Cat was always a fun roommate. Good times.

This store shoes major events in Spain in years past. 2002 - Their native Pau Gasol joins the NBA.
The Camper store. Those light fixtures are sheer, white trousers.
Johnny had sworn that when he was browsing alone, there was a nautical theme in men's Spanish fashion. I only was able to catch one store front.
The Spring 2008 looks seems to be draped-on, loose-fitting fabrics.

Desigual is a famous Barcelona brand known for it's flashy, assymetrical designs. It all looks Gaudi-inspired to me.

Cat tried on some fabulous Spanish brand shoes which she was crazy about...

...and Johnny was exhausted from all the shopping.

Friends and Paella

Last Sunday we headed for the beach. A bunch of us went to Catamaran, a restaurant owned by relatives of our friend (and former roommate) Ale.

It was sunny but still chilly enough to wear coats and sweaters.

Our favorite Nottingham-ans.

Oh my gosh. I think this was the best paella I ever had. Angel taught me that the delicious crusty bits at the bottom of the pan is called "sucoret" in Catalan. It finally has a name. So yummy!

Ale's aunts twisted our arms into ordering profiteroles. We split it into six, but I could have eaten it all.

They also gave us some shots of Moscatel of on the house. I toasted with water of course. 

Sandra sips the sweet, pleasurable dessert. Cheers!

Bits of the Sagrada Familia

Another trip we made with Cat and Johnny was to the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction since 1882. Designed by famous Antoni Gaudi, this breathtaking Catholic Church is one of the most important landmarks in Barcelona. 

We admired the striking facade on all sides. It looks like they recently constructed where Gaudi left off.

They were having Sunday Mass in a temporary temple inside. We were able to sneak in and gaze at the soaring interior structure.
It has three facades: Nativity, Glory, and Passion. Below is the Passion Facade, which was designed by another architect due to Gaudi's death mid-project. 

There are mixed feelings surrounding the gaunt features of these figures.
The Nativity side.

These towers point to Heaven.
Keys! This was a subtle theme of our wedding. It's an emblem of St. Peter as the keeper of the pearly gates. We were meant to be here!

Belly Update: 28 Weeks

Third trimester is here. Yikes!! There are about 12 weeks left 'til we meet our baby. 12 weeks! She's arriving mid-June. Our darling is kicking quite regularly, but it never hurts. Now that there is added weight on my belly, it's starting to put pressure just under my abdomen, making it hard to be very active for long amounts of time. And I'm still gonna grow. All for love!

In May, we'll be moving to a 3-bedroom apartment, and I can finally start nesting permanently. My parents have already bought their plane tickets for the whole month of June to help us out and welcome their granddaughter. My mom is already preparing a suitcase full of baby girly things for the wee one. 

My Utmost Favorite Park

Wow! Did we have a great weekend! One of my old roommates in Sevilla, Cat, was in town with her boyfriend Johnny. It's been 5 years long overdue since we've seen each other. They're from Nottingham, England.  Our first touristic stop on Saturday -- the stunning Park Guell.

We were challenged to go uphill to get to the park. Thank goodness there are a few escalators to help the weak ones like me.

I've been to the park several times, but I've never seen it from this view. The multileveled park sits on the side of a hill.

Eager tourists climb the entrance steps of the park.

One of the two buildings at the main entrance.

The swarms of visitors move around the other building.

The park was designed by the infamous Gaudi, a modernist architect who skillfully uses nature as inspiration to create unusual shapes and designs. 

A band plays among the twisting pine tree trunks made from rock.

There is a walkway above these faux pines.

Cat and Johnny played peek-a-boo.

Once the house occupied by the famous architecture, the converted Casa Museu Gaudi houses a collection of his fresh designs of furniture, drawings, decorations and other artful pieces.
A very Gaudi-esque scupture in the garden of the museum.

I love this shaded and romantic walkway.

Girls only.
We climbed up to the terraced area of the park where you can get yet another spectacular view of the city. Multi-colored mosaic seats line this large resting area.

We were lucky to get a quick rest on the colorful tiles.

These terraced walls have birds nests to house our feathered friends. 
Doric columns support the roof of the lower court which forms the central terrace.

Vibrant tiles adorn the ceiling.
I really love it when visitors come to town because I get to spend time in the most charming parts of the city. More touristic posts to come! No more parks for awhile though.