Back To The Market

Spend the day hanging around the market and eating.  Met a French lady who quit her job as an investment banker in New York and is now traveling the world in search of the best local food.  We have made plans to hit a few spots later this week together.

Dali Museum

Took the train up to Figueres on Thursday.  Was a little disappointed in that the majority of his more famous works were not there.  However still had a good time.

Yes Sir

Finally found a place in Paris.  Another craigslist ad from a 27o journalist for the Paris version of Rolling Stones.  Seems like a really cool guy from the few emails we have sent.  Will be flying there on the 1st of Sept.

Downloaded a French language audio cd and started learning today.  Was pretty amazed at how many English words are derived from French.  After I finish this course should be pretty comfortable making my way around Paris.

Tomorrow I will take the train North up the coast for 2hrs to Figueres and the Dali museum.  Spend the day there and then head back to Barcelona in the evening.

Earlier tonight as I was heading back from a bar 3 Pakistanis? stopped me and asked for directions in English.  I found my self replying in Spanish.  That caught me off guard.  There were only a couple of blocks from their destination and along with my hand gestures I pretty sure they found it.

Parc Guell

Things and Stuff

More pics...

Comfortable With The Heat Now

I can now cross off seeing both Arc de Triumphs in the world on my things to do before I die list.  After which I headed over to Mercat de La Boqueria.  This place puts Pike's Place Market to shame.  What I would give to live next to this place.  Had lunch there and will be heading there at least once a week while I'm here.  Then I hoofed it over to Museum de Pablo Picasso.  Still gonna have to go with the Van Gogh Museum in Holland as my favorite but this ranks #2 now.  The museum centered around Picasso's interpretations from Velazquez's Las Meninas which were on display at the Prado Museum in Madrid that I visited as well.  There were also a few works by Dali but not enough.

Out side the museum a couple of musicians were playing.  Spent some time listening to them and ended up buying a CD from them.

Also got a pic of the huge penis building, Torre Agbar, which is also just a 10 minute walk from the apartment. 

Sunday Aug 3rd

Spent the first half of the day exploring the area around Casa Mila, another Gaudi building no too far from where I am staying.  Then left with the roommate for a Capoeira get together with some of the other schools of various methods here in Barcelona.  I believe there were 4 diiferent schools all getting together at the park to "play".  It started out only about 15 of us and then quickly grew to over 120 people.  Basically Brazilian music and play fighting expedition for over 2 hours.  

Day 2 Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia originally designed by Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) and scheduled to be completed in 2026.  A Roman Catholic Church yada yada yada...you are all capable of using google.  Nothing like this in the US.  Bought some sandals today.  Sometime this month sister you will be receiving a care package of wine and half of my backpack contents.

Barcelona>Madrid

So day 1 in Barcelona has been pretty good so far.  Ended up walking from the hotel to my new apt which took about an hour.  The metro lines here do not connect underground like the ones in Madrid fyi.  The apartment here is night and day compared to my Madrid home which will now be referred to as Jarrod's dirty little hole.  

Miguel, originally from Atlanta, is a very nice host.  Apparently I will have the place to myself for 2 weeks later this month...ohhhhh yeah.  He also has a French lady staying in another room here for another week vacationing as well.  I forgot her name 2 sec after she told me and are awaiting Miguel to get back and hopefully use it before the night is over.  She made us all lunch then she and I headed out to a swimming complex "right near da beach man".  I must say doing laps in an indoor pool and then looking up at the glass wall at one end and being 50 yards from the water is pretty sweet.  The beach pics are from the deck of the outdoor pool right next to the indoor one.  Spent about 3 hours there and then we headed back into town for groceries.  

Currently awaiting Miguel's return from his job where he teaches capoeira so we can cook he and some of his friends dinner.  He also said he has several friends in the restaurant industry that may give me a part time job or at least an opportunity to learn some new skills in exchange for some free grub.  What's that...my Estrella Damm is calling.  

Adios mi amigos que no estan aqui