Barcelona Day3

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Today we decided to visit El Corte Ingles (a giant department store like Maceys) where we had a very nice lunch at the top we a scenic view out the window, then walk along Las Ramblas, a boulevard crammed with stores, booths, entertainers, and lots of other people. Most of the entertainers were the "living statue" type, something that seems to be taking hold in alot of the tourist spots. People suit up as some character (anything from a knight, to a goddess, to the creature from Alien), usually all one color as if made of gold, bronze, or silver, and even paint their faces, hands, and hair to match. Some of them will stand perfectly still for several minutes until they have an audience or at least an especially curious tourist, then they move, often spooking people! They of course expect tips, and some will go as far as to hide their faces if you try to take a photo without paying. We also wandered through the main open air market and gawked at all the fresh fruit, fish, meat, etc. From there we took the metro northeast to the Parc Guell. This place is awesome, although you best be prepared to walk uphill alot, unless the Bus Touristic, which we decided against forking out the 18 Euros each for, takes you closer somehow. This park is a combination of serene nature and mindboggling Gaudi style. The coolest part is the serpentine bench, the longest single bench in the world, all tiled in Guadi´s colorful tilework. There are a lot of other artworks, a Gaudi Museum where he lived, and a couple of other houses, all in Gaudi´s fanciful style. Dinner tonight was a wonderful assortment of fruit from the open air market and cheeses from a nearby mini-mart. Will try to upload some pics tomorrow at train station.

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Photos

SagradaFamilia
La Sagrada Familia

SagradaChata
Chata from the Sagrada Familia Tower

SagradaChata2
Chata from the Sagrada Familia Tower closeup...see, she was really down there!

BarcelonaHardRock
Barcelona Hard Rock Cafe (for Tanya)