Two weeks.

It is officially the two week mark since my arrival in Barcelona, well 15 days to be exact. I am finally feeling comfortable. I know my way around now- I walk a lot in a day, probably a few miles. I am starting to notice things I didn't notice the first week I was here. I see familiar faces walking the streets and I even found a coffee shop I love- Petit Pot. It's awesome- they have yummy bocadillos (sandwiches) and the best espresso (cortados, cafe solo & americanos are what I like). I drink espresso like it's water here.

This weekend Mary and I visited Parc Guell- Antoni Gaudi's park in northern Barcelona. It was built in the early 1900s with the intentions of it being a "garden city" for Mr. Guell- a wealthy factory owner. The park is breathtaking. From the top you can pretty much see the entire city and the coast. We brought little mini cava bottles into the park and sat on the beautiful mosaic seats- it was magical.

 The breathtaking view of the city and the coast.

 Mosaics and columns when you enter the park.

Sagrada Familia in the distance (my apartment is about six blocks from that monument).

Gaudi's "el drac." There is an old Spanish legend where a Catalan soldier rescues a girl from a dragon- dragon references are seen in a lot of Catalan art.

I have been learning so much amazing things in my architecture & painting class- I have a whole new appreciation for Spanish art now. To learn about these works in class, the meanings, the movement and the history just gives me a whole new outlook seeing it in person. 

It is still surreal to me that I am in Europe, I wake up everyday and am so grateful to be able to experience something this amazing. I miss home but it really isn't very hard getting used to this place. Until next time...