(Antoni Gaudi, Pride of Barcelona)

The Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's Magnum Opus

Upon returning from Barcelona, I realized that I had come home with so much more than just a tan. I had a sense of travelling parts of the world that I had never been before, and I came away from it all with a new obsession: Antoni Gaudi. My heart aches daily with the yearning to go back to Barcelona, and I truly don't believe that my experience in this amazing city would be the same without being touched by Gaudi's genius.

Casa Batlló 

Born in 1852, Gaudi truly had an architectural style all his own. He introduced new techniques and materials, and was well known for his work done with mosaics. Trencadis, his most famous of methods, is a type of mosaic made with discarded pieces of ceramic. This is evident in many of his creations throughout the city.

More of  Casa Batlló 

Casa Batlló, built in 1877, is a prime example of Gaudi's complete aversion to using straight lines. Most of the facade features his trencadis, and most of the building has a rippled, flowing look. The local name for the building is the House of Bones, and I can see why based on the balconies that possess a very skeletal look. The roof of the building has a scaly-looking mosaic, which to me resembles the scales of a fish and to many others resembles the back of a dragon or dinosaur. I regret not having the time to actually explore the building as our visit in Barcelona could never be long enough, and am planning a Gaudi-specific trip for some time in the (perhaps very) distant future. 

Casa Milà

Casa Milà was officially completed in 1912, and has a very tame, Gothic look compared to many of Gaudi's other works. Gaudi had planned for the Casa Milà to be a religious symbol, but his original plans were discarded when it was determined that the height of many of his statues violated the city's building code.  Officials ordered the demolition of aspects exceeding standard building heights for the city, including a large statue of the Virgin Mary. The very-devout Gaudi nearly gave up on the project, but was persuaded not to by a priest. The owners of the building gave Gaudi a lot of trouble during the construction of this building, and in the early 1980s it was in very poor condition. It has since been renovated and looks to be in great condition, as pictured above.

 One of, it not the very favorite part of Barcelona for me is Parc Guell. A garden complex that climbs up and up for miles, evidence of Gaudi's genius is everywhere here. From his amazing work with mosaics to the dripping, Gothic elements and modern whimsicalness, this place is really a feast for the eyes. It's also a workout for your legs, if you choose to walk every single step.

Eusebi Guell, whom the park was named after, originally had intended for it to be a housing site. With only two houses, none of which were designed by Gaudi, it was unsuccessful. The site was very prestigious at the time, but with no one interested in purchasing either house, plans were scrapped. Guell suggested that Gaudi purchase the site, and that is exactly what happened. In 1906, Gaudi used his savings to purchase the site and moved in with his family and father. He lived in the house for 20 years, and turned Parc Guell into what it is today. Gaudi's house is now a museum that can be visited, for a fee, during your visit to the park. Entrance to the park itself is free.

There is much to be seen and explored at Parc Guell, and I urge you to take the time to do it. If you get there early enough in the morning, crowds are very low. This would be a great place to pack a picnic and enjoy it from a place where you can really take in the beautiful views that the hillsides provide. 

My favorite element of Parc Guell is this good-looking guy, pictured above. Gaudi's dragon is made with his famous mosaic work, and it's really a sight to be seen. There were tons of people crowding around it to get a photo, and I can see why - it's pretty famous throughout all of Barcelona. In 2007, some jerk beat the heck out of the poor guy with a crowbar. Why someone would want to destroy such a gorgeous piece of work is beyond me. He was restored of course, and looks better than ever. Take that, vandal. There are replicas of the dragon in every single gift shop, and there was no way I was leaving the city without taking one home with me. It now sits proudly in our new tiny studio apartment, and I wouldn't give it up for anything! 

The Sagrada Familia is truly Gaudi's opus. My breath was taken away the moment I saw it, and the insane height of it ensures it can be seen from many spots in the city. Nothing really compares to being right underneath it though; it just makes you feel so small. What's even more heartbreaking about the structure though, is knowing the story behind it.

Construction of the Sagrada Familia commenced in 1882, but Gaudi took over in 1883. Design of the Roman Catholic church was completely transformed, as only Gaudi could do. The structure is rich with religious symbols; an entire side of the Sagrada Familia is devoted to the Nativity. The facade to the West symbolizes the Passion, while the yet-to-be-completed South facade will represent the Glory. Eighteen spires, representing the twelve apostles, four evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and the tallest of the spires, Jesus Christ, were included in Gaudi's original design. So far, eight of them have been constructed; four apostles on the Nativity Facade, and four apostles on the Passion facade. 

On the fateful day of June 7, 1926, Gaudi was walking along the Gran Via de les Catalanes, when he was hit by a tram. He passed out, and it took a long time for anyone to notice him. He was mistaken for a beggar, with his worn old clothes, and he wasn't carrying any ID. He was finally taken to a hospital, but it was too late. On June 10, Antoni Gaudi was dead. He was aged 76, and at the height of his career. He had spent the last years of his life absolutely devoted to the construction of the Sagrada Familia.


Gaudi never worked with blueprints, and instead preferred the use of three-dimensional scale models when designing his architecture, molding them as ideas came to him. In 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, those models were destroyed by Catalan anarchists. Today's design is based on reconstruction of the models, with the addition of modern design. There are those that are opposed to the post-Gaudi continuation of construction, because they feel that the finished product won't live up to Gaudi's vision. Upon completion which is slated between 2026 and 2028, the Sagrada Familia will be the tallest church building in the world. 

I am confident that I will be returning to Barcelona, because I know I couldn't go my entire life without again being immersed in what I now consider the greatest city on Earth. When we do get back there, I hope to take the time to really explore all of Antoni Gaudi's inspiring works. Until then, this is a great book for more information, and I also found an amazing film on Hulu. Enjoy!




Happy Travelling!

(Cheers! Drinking on the Disney Magic)

This past summer, our Mediterranean Disney cruise led us on many unforgettable adventures. Along with those adventures, we had lots of drinks! Tropical mixed drinks are synonymous with vacation, and for me, one of the best parts. I always love seeing what new and exciting flavor combinations are in store, and Disney doesn't disappoint. The Disney Magic has a Drink of the Day, which I tried many nights between our show and dinner. It was a fun time for J and I to visit different venues of entertainment, such as Sessions or Rockin' Bar D. Take a journey through the world of Disney Magic cocktails with me!

A Bahama Mama at Rockin' Bar D

The only night that we had an issue with the Drink of the Day was the first. The true drink of the day was supposed to be some sort of banana drink made with Bailey's, which I would have liked very much. Instead, our server at Rockin' Bar D insisted that the day's drink was a Bahama Mama. I obliged, and ended up enjoying the drink very much. The bamboo leaf was quite a special touch! J had a beer, and trust me, you will notice a pattern of that throughout our journey.

The Royal at Lumiere's French dinner.

The first dinner that we had on the ship was at Lumiere's, and it had a French theme. The drink that I ordered was off the menu, and it was called The Royal. It consisted of sparkling wine, creme de cassis and peach schnapps. It was bubbly, sweet and very delicious!

A Blue Margarita at Sessions

Sessions was one of my favorite venues to have a drink before dinner. The piano playing was fantastic, and boy did that man have a great sense of humor! He even took a break to come and talk with us, which was an absolute pleasure. On our second night, we attended Sessions and I had the Drink of the Day, a Blue Margarita. J, of course, had a beer. Notice the dark & white chocolates placed at the table. I loved it!

A Golden Slipper at Animator's Palate

The night's dinner was at Animator's Palate, and the theme was Prince & Princess. My drink was called a Golden Slipper, and consisted of peach schnapps, creme de cassis and sparkling wine. I'm only noticing now as I am writing this, that it's the exact same drink from the night before. This one however had a sugared rim, and I just love those!

Pool Drinks on Deck 9

On our third night, we had our drinks on Deck 9 so that we could enjoy the live music. There was a fantastic duo called Northern Lights, and we loved listening to them every chance we got. Unfortunately, I cannot remember what the Drink of the Day was! I remember it tasting very sweet, with a hint of lime. If you can guess what drink it is by the photo, leave it in the comments! Oh and no surprise, J had a beer.

The Renaissance at Animator's Palate

Our dinner that night was again at Animator's Palate, but this time we had the show to look forward to. It's really quite a fun experience, with everything starting out in black and white and then slowly changing to color along with the music. It was fun to guess what movie each song was from, and then look for that painting as it came alive with color. My drink was called The Renaissance; vodka, triple sec, raspberry puree, lime juice and sparkling wine. If the photo is any indication, I enjoyed it so thoroughly that I had to stop myself in order to photograph it. I'm really starting to notice a pattern with the sparkling wine here. Perhaps I'm as bad as J with his beer!

This smile could only come from nachos.

On our fourth night, we did not have any drinks before dinner. Our stop was in Rome that day, so many people were still at port during dinner time. We had gotten everything done fairly early and heard that there was a trivia contest in Diversions, so we headed there. We were the only couple that arrived for the game! One other couple said that they would join us, and so the game began. We lost, but I won't get into that. The best part though, is that J found that Diversions had a small buffet, and they had...wait for it...NACHOS! I thought I'd never eat another nacho until the cruise was over. What a relief!

A Melon Mojito at Parrot Cay

We had our tropical themed dinner that night at Parrot Cay. My drink was a Melon Mojito, and it was great! Very refreshing, but better than a regular mojito. I always like a little added flavor in a mojito because the mint can be a bit much for me, and melon is one of my absolute favorite flavors. It was a perfect drink for me.

Captain's Mai Tai at Sessions

It was finally Pirate Night! My favorite night on the Disney Cruise Line's schedule, Pirate Night is a blast. I love dressing up for the night, and I absolutely love the festivities in the dining room and on deck. The Drink of the Day was a Captain's Mai Tai - spiced rum and tropical juices topped with dark rum. It was so delicious, even Mr. Beer couldn't resist...

J forgoes the usual beer for a Captain's Mai Tai on Pirate Night

I actually thought that I would mix it up a bit for dinner, and got a glass of red wine. I believe that I asked for a Cabernet. I'm not sure of the exact wine, but it was very good. The pirate festivities were beginning up top, so we raced through our dinner to be a part of it! 

Taking advantage of the free drinks

Planning very wisely, Disney made our only day at sea into Formal Night. The second best night on the cruise ship directly followed the first! In honor of the captain, they were serving free drinks all night in the lobby. J and I took full advantage. There were times when we had too many drinks to hold between the two of us. What?! Don't judge, they were free. 

J loves anything free!

We drank....

  

                and drank....

I'm not even sure what we were drinking, to be honest.

With dinner, I had wine. Two of our beautiful table mates had drinks off of the menu. The left is called a Tuxedo; sparkling wine, vodka and Chambord. The drink on the right is the Red Carpet, and consists of bourbon, lime juice and cranberry juice. Both looked very good!

Chardonnay at Palo

On our final night, we dined at Palo. Both J and I had an Italian Chardonnay with our meals. A lighter drink is an absolute necessity at Palo, just because there is such an overabundance of food!  Our drinks were delicious and our meal very pleasant. It was a good ending to a beautiful cruise, but also a very sad one. 

I hope that you have enjoyed drinking through my Disney Cruise with me! Just a few things to note, as I have noticed some popular questions on a lot of discussion boards. First off, the Drink of the Day is not discounted, rather just a fun way to enjoy your time before or after dinner on the ship. The quality of the drinks are great, and in my opinion, do not skimp on alcohol at all. As far as the (many) free drinks are concerned, it did not seem that they were weak as far as alcohol is concerned. Undoubtedly, the drinks that you pay for have a more generous portion, but I do not believe the free drinks to be terribly watered down. I found that I spent more on a glass of wine ($10-12) than I did on a cocktail ($7-9) throughout our journey. 

Do you have a favorite drink on the Disney Cruise Line? Comment below!

Happy Boozing!

 

(Port Review: La Spezia, Pt II)

The train to Corniglia, with the village in the distance.

When last I left you in La Spezia, we were headed to the village of Corniglia, next on our hike through the Cinque Terre. I had explained that the pathway to Corniglia was closed due to some maintenance. In my tired state, this was such a relief. Thinking back, we hadn't even done that much walking (so in case I'm scaring anyone off, I just complain a lot). I'm not sure why I was feeling exhausted, but as I said, the train was a welcome mode of transportation. The trains are great and I would readily recommend them to anyone visiting any area of Europe. If you're not from a city or place that forces you to be familiar with public transportation, I'll bet you'll leave here loving it. It's clean, easy, and fast. While I found the trains in France to be the most beautiful, all encounters that we had were perfectly acceptable.

The 382 steps to Corniglia, with the train station in the background.

After a quick ride to the next village (upon which I was quite happy with myself for not having to walk), we made it to Corniglia. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the train station was at the bottom of the village, and that visitors must walk the famous 382 steps to reach it. I have a feeling J had done the research on this, and somehow forgot to tell me what lay ahead. If you visit during the hotter months, I absolutely recommend that you have a bottle of water to get you through this little hike. I know that I'm a bit sensitive to physical activity, but I saw many people sucking down their waters on the way up. I promise you though, the walk is worth it. Corniglia was one of my favorite villages along the Cinque Terre, and soon you'll see why.

A view from the top of the steps.

First off, there's the view at the top of the stairs. It's a great place to catch your breath, and I took full advantage. Inhale, exhale, enjoy the view. Get ready to move, because the walk to the village is still upwards!

For Sale: Smug, athletic husband who thinks 382 steps are fun :)

It was after noon, and we were starting to get a bit hungry. We didn't really have a plan for lunch, so were pleased to find a small market with fresh fruit to our right once we entered the village. I had been yearning to try some of the wine grapes, so grabbed some and brought them inside to pay. The man inside weighed the grapes and I believe that we paid by the pound. It was an inexpensive snack and a very refreshing one. Be careful though, the grapes have a lot of small seeds in them!

While Corniglia was remarkably similar to the other villages that we had seen along the way, I preferred its atmosphere and general feel. We saw a lot of hikers, and many people who had come to sunbathe along the rocks below. To fully enjoy the Cinque Terre, I think you need to do a lot more than we did, or at least have a plan. We didn't fully enjoy the foods that the villages have to offer, and we sort of breezed through.

I think that Corniglia was perhaps my favorite because it was the village that we spent the most time in. Also, because that is where we ate. Anything with food pretty much seals the deal for me!

We stopped in a small place that resembled somewhat of a bakery, and grabbed some sandwiches. I got salami and cheese on focaccia bread, and J had ham on the same. We got our sandwiches toasted, so they were served warm. I actually think I would have preferred the sandwich much more had it been cold, simply because salami gets a bit greasy when cooked. I can't complain too much about fresh sandwiches in Italy though, right?

My favorite part of the meal, though, were the chips! They were called Groggys, and I grabbed them because the photo on the package looked like a dinosaur. I really love my dinosaurs. In any case, it was a good thing I picked them because these things are delicious. They are light and airy, yet salty and satisfying (mine were flavored with paprika). They were definitely the best part of my meal, and if anyone knows where I can purchase them, do tell!

Once we were done exploring, it was back down the steps to the train station. Let's face it, you couldn't have paid me to walk to the next village, especially since I was told that it was a true upwards hike. If you plan on doing the full hike, come prepared! The 382 steps were much more friendly going down, and the benches at the train station were beckoning me for a nap. By the way, see the bottle of Coca Cola in the photo? It tasted weird. Like super sugary sweet, not refreshing (not that I ever recommend hydrating with soda).

The 4th and almost-last village is Vernazza, and this is the place where my grumpy attitude started to turn around. I think the fact that we got gelato had something to do with it. I got a watermelon gelato, and it was the most refreshing, energizing thing I had ever tasted at the time. It was like an instant spark of energy, a second wind. When ordering gelato, you do it by the scoop. If I remember correctly, the particular gelateria that we went to allowed up to 5 scoops, and each can be a different flavor if you so choose. I choose the aforementioned watermelon, alone with mint chocolate chip (a steady favorite of mine). J had something delicious and coconutty, as well as strawberry. Yes, I'm definitely double-fisting gelato in the photo above, and no, that's not even mine that I'm eating. I had to hold J's so that he could take a picture. I was helping!

Vernazza was definitely the most happening of the villages that we had gone to. There was tons of activity by the water, and they even had somewhat of a little beach! I enjoyed the atmosphere that Vernazza had to offer, and have been told by many that the final village, Monterosso al Mare is the busiest one of all, tourist-wise. I have also learned that the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso is by far the steepest, so unfortunately we did not venture out to do it. I had been fully exhausted from the day.

During the length of our trip, I had insisted that La Spezia was my least favorite port. I complained about the Cinque Terre and just thought about how exhausted it had made me feel. While I still stand by my statement that the stop was my least favorite on the trip, I am so thankful to have experienced it. For every complaint that I have about the Cinque Terre, I have a hundred amazing memories. I have beautiful photos that make people long to visit such a place, and I was in the middle of it all. I am so blessed to have been there, even if it isn't my favorite place in the world. Heck, thinking it over now, I might even want to do it again someday. Who knows? And if you're the opposite of me, which means you aren't lazy and you may even be athletic, you will probably really enjoy it here. It also may help to visit during a time of lower temperatures.

If you' have been to the Cinque Terre, or you'd like to go, tell me all about it! I'd love to hear about the adventures that you have had or hope to have!

Happy Hiking!

(A Pirate's Life For Me)

While we are still going through many boxes and eliminating many possessions to fit into our cozy studio apartment, J and I are very much enjoying our new home in DC. I wanted to check in and ask how are you? I hope everyone is enjoying our transition into fall.

While I'm still busy adjusting to life in the city, I wanted to leave you with a wonderful memory from our recent Disney Cruise in the Mediterranean. It was Pirates IN the Caribbean night, and J and I had just picked some yummy looking treats from the dessert buffet. We wandered to Deck 9 Aft, away from the commotion of the party, and felt as if we had the ship all to ourselves...

Anthropologie Cropped Striped Tee | Kate Spade Piper Shorts | Vintage Nautical Knot Earrings | Double Finger Anchor Ring (not pictured) | Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl

Happy Work Week!

(Port Review: La Spezia Pt I)

The port of La Spezia

While many cruisers choose to use their stop at La Spezia to visit Pisa and Florence, we instead opted to visit the gorgeous Cinque Terre. The prospect of having to travel 2-2.5 hours by train to Florence made our decision easy - and I believe that it was the right one. Just one look at the pictures to follow, and you'll see why.

Cinque Terre, meaning Five Villages, is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site along the coast of the Italian Riviera. Built atop high cliffs, visitors to the Cinque Terre can choose to hike from village to village, or take a very convenient train.

The Village of Riomaggiore

This particular port requires a tender boat, which means that the cruise ship docks as close to the port as it can get, and smaller boats take cruise passengers to the dock. My advice, if you choose to venture out on your own as we did, is to get to the Buena Vista Theatre (where you line up for the tenders) as early as possible. The earlier you get there, the less people there will be (we were the first crazy people there!) and the sooner you can get off the ship and start your day.
It's a short walk through the center of La Spezia to the train station. It's a beautiful little town, and the walk goes quickly as you have much to look at. There are many shops along the way, and the locals hustled about during the early morning hours.

the port of La Spezia

When we got to the train station, we requested two Cinque Terre tickets. While many of the clerks do not speak English, don't be intimidated; just tell them where you need to go and they will get you on your way. There are a lot of signs telling you which train you need to take, and the time of the train's arrival. This train station in particular was very crowded, and the woman who sold us our tickets gave us a map of the Cinque Terre as well as information on which train to take to the first village. Your Cinque Terre ticket, which costs an affordable 10 euro, is basically your key to the world. You can use it at each train stop along the way, and you must show your ticket at the beginning of each new village, even if you choose to hike it.

The first village was Riomaggiore. Dating from the early 13th century, this was in my opinion the most quiet of villages, and probably my least favorite. It may have been due to the earlier morning hours, or simply due to the fact that I was incredibly grumpy that day, but our visit here was quite short.

One thing of note from Riomaggiore were the fragrant lemon trees. We saw many villagers out in their gardens tending to the trees, and it was fun to imagine what it would be like to lead their seemingly peaceful lives.

The Via Dell'Amore, connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola

Whatever you do, don't take the train from Riomaggiore to Manarola (the next village), or you will miss out. The most charming of paths is called the Via Dell'Amore (Lover's Walk), and it's a must-do. Connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola, this is an easily walkable path, with virtually no up or downhill climbing. It's definitely my kind of walk - mostly because I'm lazy, and incredibly non-athletic.

Along the way, you will see beautiful cliffs, clear-blue waters, and many many padlocks. And zipties. And anything else that visitors to Manarola choose to leave along the path. The path is called the Lover's Walk because it really is meant for lovers; from all over the world, folks in love place their locks along the gates to immortalize their love. Along the way, there is also a lot of graffiti and such, with names and dates etched into every possible surface.

Jess loves Pete...and perhaps Ruby is their dog?

While it was all quite sweet, my favorite remains my new little buddy here...

much love for my man the dinosaur.

A friend of ours told us that her and her husband didn't have a lock, so she left a hair tie instead. I really wish that I had thought of that, and then taken a picture. Instead, we just observed. After the half-hour walk, we reached Manorola.

Another beautiful village, I liked this one a bit better than the last. Again, we mostly just walked around a bit and took in our surroundings, and didn't do anything of note on our visit. I honestly think that if you try to do too much, you'll just tire yourself out too quickly. Just have a seat, take it in, and enjoy the gorgeous views.

the viewe of Manarola.

The path to the next village was actually closed due to some construction. Created on steep cliff sides, I am comforted to know that the paths go through maintenance every now and again! We took a walk as far as we could get on the path anyways, and the view of the village from this side was easily the most breathtaking.

ah, such beauty!

During our short time on the path, something jumped out of the bushes and bit my arm. I had a welt the size of a golf ball for the remainder of the week. While I have no idea what it really was, I spent the rest of the day insisting that I was bit by a snake. J kept saying that I was exaggerating, but the way that whatever it was popped out of the bushes, I couldn't think of a better explanation! On a serious note though, be careful!  I really don't know what it was that got me, but it hurt and it came out of nowhere. You just never know what kind of bugs/animals can be lurking out there in the bushes. Maybe don't get too close, yeah?

Corniglia in the distance.

The next village up is Corniglia, but you'll have to wait til next time to hear all about it. We actually spent a good amount of time in this village, and I have lots of great things to share with you. Until next time!

Happy Hiking!