Barcelona, Spain (06/13/2018 - 06/17/2018)

This was the first time visiting Spain as an adult, having briefly lived there as a baby.  A conference brought us to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, and the city of Gaudi. A surprisingly livable city - clean, good climate (except summer), amazing food, warm people, and low cost of living.

While our immediate desire was to try tapas of every shape and form, what really left an impact for me were the few works of Gaudi I had a chance to see. I would have seen more and spent more time were it not for being really sick during this leg of our trip.

I was moderately aware of who Gaudi was but never have I seen his works in person, and they've left an impression on me I can't forget.  The first place I visited was Casa Batlló, which was quite surreal - it looked like the house had been carved out of a giant gnarled tree, with not a sharp corner to be found inside or out... but was left me speechless was the Sagrada Família.

Oh the Sagrada Família - I had never seen such a magnificent building in my life. It is so startlingly beautiful yet so alien - it felt like it was grown not constructed, moreso than any other of Gaudi's landmarks.  The attention to detail was stunning, hidden messages and treasures to be found on every surface. The branching concrete pillars, meant to symbolise trees, were genius.  It is no surprise that the church is still under construction, and has been for 137 years.