Viaje a Portugal&Espana

This has been a very-rewarding time for me!!

I have learned more about my usual travel-interests, History - Architecture - Art. But also have felt more of a connection with real-Life amongst the Portuguese and Spanish-people, even with the language-barriers ;-).

And have added a whole new element to any of my-travels, the enjoyment and exploration of Gastronomy :-).

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My-biggest impressions of Portugal are, the 5-reals!!

RealLife+RealSimplicity+RealStruggles+RealWarmth+RealSadness.

Here comes a test, for anyone who reads the blog, to pronounce this statement in Portuguese:
>"Proxima paragem....Lisboa, estacao Santa Apolonia."

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And as for Espana (said in a very-deep voice), after 4-weeks moving my way from North to South. It's a land of great-contradictions.

Most people in-Spain are very athletic, but yet they smoke like chimneys?!
They speed like maniacs, but have mastered/invented the Paseo?!
Their cooking is plain/fridura, but has some amazingly spicy-moments?!

Most of all they have accomplished much as a Country, but still they are a collection of distinct&diverse-regions?!

And now the test for Espanol.
>"Atencion....AVE, destino Madrid....Puerta de Atocha."

Adeus/Adios :-(

Started off with La Seu, the Catedral.

Before exploring L'Eixample-district, and the Modernisme-sites. First was La Manza de la Discordia, a block on Pg. Gracia-street that contains several of Gaudi's-works!!

Then a metro-ride to Hospital Sant Pau, designed by a compatriot of Gaudi.

Onto, La Sagrada Familia started by Gaudi, under-construction for 125-years, all by donation!! A monstrosity, that will be twice as-tall when done, there are real-fears it could be damaged by the high-speed rail-lines underneath :-(.

And finally, after a few miss-starts during the week, I was able to see the fantastic water/light/music-show of Fuenta Magica on Montjuic, very nice way to wrap-up!!

And one last-pic of Gaudi's La Pedera....my-copy of a postcard ;-).

Had a very-long and enjoyable day ;-). Went by train to Figueras, to visit the Teatre-Museu Dali, talk-about off the wall/planet.

But I did gain new respect for the man's vision&style, he dabled in just about every art-form.

Then a lunch-break, before heading back towards Barce, but with a stop in Girona.

Cool little-town, with impressive-Catedral, confusing Jewish-quarter, and a 2-km walk of the walls ;-).

Did-not get rolling until after 2-pm, But that was good, because when I got to the Picasso-Museu there was no line-up ;-).

In-depth view of the Artists work from a young-man until his death.

Then finally had Churros-con-Chocolate, not to bad, a been-there done-that moment.

Then some more walking around, this time in Barri Gotic, the oldest-part of Barce.

And some more shopping at ECI LOL!!

OH, and here are some pics of the hotel, not very-pink ROMALOL.

Today after getting up at 11:00 LOL. I explored La Ribera, one of the older sections of Barce, visited a Mercat, > Market, then a Church, and the very-large Parc de la Ciutadella.

If you notice the spelling of some-words has changed, this is because they are in Catalan, not Castellano/Spanish. After a rest in the park, I walked the water-front, and visited the Museu Martim de Barcelona, then explored Las Ramblas or pick-pocket-heaven ;-).

They have a huge-market on this street, but was packed, so instead headed to El Corte Ingles for some shopping :-). This evening I attended a concert at Palau de la Musica Catalana, over 100-years old Art-Deco, very-cool!!