(*Living and Dreaming in Spain)
Ever since I attended art college and studied the vibrant, inspirational art of Antonio Gaudi, I have wanted to visit Spain. Culturally-enriched, historically-embedded and just beautiful, with great food, vibrant people and the distinct sounds of Castillian words and Flamenco guitar, Spain is a feast for all of the senses.
Hey! This isn't Mexico! El Chapulín Colorado in Madrid
Several years after college and two years after I started studying Spanish, I made my dream come true, visiting Barcelona and Madrid in December with a loose itinerary and a few solid goals: Antonio Gaudí's Parc Güell and Sagrada Familia, Picasso's Guernica at Reina Sofia, and both stadiums: Futbol Club Barcelona and Real Madrid. (Solid goooooals, indeed!)
Making a dream come true on the famous bench in Parc Güell, Barcelona
Parc Güell is incredible, with colorful, curving mosaics that seem to go on forever around an open park. Nestled on a grassy hill with a beautiful view of Barcelona, the Parc draws hundreds of people who seem to lose all angst when they see the curvy gingerbread roofs of the tiny buildings and are greeted by the tile-covered gecko at the entrance. I loved it so much I visited twice, the second day meeting an Italian guitarist performing for a small audience, earning his keep in Euros tossed into his case. Liberating!
Mi novio nuevo de Italiano en Parc Güell "thank you, baby!"
Sagrada Familia is a monumental, breathtaking effigy, as incredible inside as it is out. Outside, strong stone men hold up the foundation and huge doors bear carved names and scripture. Inside, color dances from light through stained glass windows and Gaudí's lifelong dream towers above the visitor. Although there are final plan drawings viewable in the basement, one may wonder if it will ever stop being built, or if Barcelona would love to see it go on forever.
Up and up and up... Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
In both Barcelona and Madrid, I took the METRO everywhere, which was a huge plus. Not only is it fast, efficient and very inexpensive (get the unlimited 3-day Tourista pass for €13), but you get to see how the locals live, where they shop (El Corte Ingles - one place I learned from a bag!) and what everyday life is like in the cities: my favorite part of traveling anywhere.
SOL: The center of Spain, marker point zero. Great shopping, too!
Reina Sofia, a huge art gallery housed in an old hospital, is home to Pablo Picasso's famous piece, Guernica, a black-and-white mural created in response to the bombing of Guernica in the Basque Country. Having only seen this painting in books, I was moved by the beauty and awe of seeing it in person, as I believe was true of most of the viewers. The room was very quiet and people stayed for a long time, taking it all in. No photography is allowed, so "you have to see it in person to understand", as one art history teacher used to say to me. So true!
Beautiful day for a museum visit in Madrid
No visit to Spain would be complete without a visit to a futbol stadium, or in my case, the top two in the country: Camp Nou, home to Futbol Club Barcelona and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. The museum at Camp Nou is incredible; I enjoyed hours of viewing historical items, including trophies from 1910, the Gamper cup, Copa Macaya, trading cards, shoes and sweaters.
"More than a Club" Gorgeous greens at Club Nou, Barcelona
Also included with the museum ticket is a full tour of the stadium (inside, outside, behind the stands), a visit to the locker room, press box and tiny players' chapel. The fantastic gift shop offers just about everything in red and blue at reasonable prices.
Massive, monumental Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid
Rivaling FCB as usual, Santiago Bernabéu was just as spectacular, a regal stadium with massive 2-story gift shop, novelty interactive games and merchandise for fans of any age and size (onesies and mini-goalkeeper shirts!). I found myself perusing for hours before finally deciding on regalos para mi amigos. The only question now is which team to pull for - I love both places and my heart is torn: Real Madrid players are mas chulo, but Barça has más rápido mueve. What's a girl to do?!
Noche de luces: Christmas Eve on La Rambla in Barcelona
Since returning, people have asked which city I prefer, and honestly I adore them both. While Barcelona is curvier and more artsy, and Madrid is metropolitan and fast-paced, both provide endless opportunities for sightseeing, museum-going, historical monument-spotting, dining, dancing and just enjoying life, mingling among Catalonians who clearly love where they live.
Madridlanos know how to have fun! gràcies als meus nous amics
Check out my reviews under my TripAdvisor profile, Chula_Cabrita: earning "contributor badges" while having fun writing about hotels, restaurants, sights and more. Making my dreams come true + guiding others on their way to theirs = win/win.