Things I Love, Hate and Have Noticed About Paris

Love - Everyone dresses nicely even when just going out to buy some groceries. Highheels are a staple for every female (even 70+ women). Maybe that's why Paris is associated with being chic - sweatpants and tennis shoes are solely reserved for working out.

Hate - When the weather is forecasted to be "sunny" and "partly cloudy" but actually means "cloudy with a VERY slight chance of seeing something resembling the sun". At least it does not mean rain : )

Have Noticed - Homeless people have pets...you think that if they cannot even support themselves that they would not want to have an animal on top of it all. They also have strange pets such as rabbits, cats, and sometimes even have more than one dog.

The Goodbye

After 3 full days of fresh orange juice, infinite sun, 60 degree weather, and flavorful wines and tapas, it was time to go back to Paris. Jihane and I walked along the waterfront and back up Ciutat Vella and the Barri Gotic to say goodbye to this lovely city. It was an amazing weekend, but it had to end because our feet and legs could not take anymore exploring by foot : )


Along the water front on Rambla de Mar.

Many rows of sailboats at Port Vell.

Parakeet in the bare tree in front of the hotel.

Mercat de la Boqueria

Nuts and chocolate covered anything stand.

Full row of gelato ice cream - I got lemon mixed with forest berries, mmm...

I had never seen dragon fruit before and found both the exterior and interior fascinating!

My heaven - the Mexican spice and food stand. I bought some much sought after tortillas (2 packets for 5 euro). They also had other delicacies such as salsa Valentina, jalapenos, refried beans, pinto beans, etc. I told the vendor that I couldn't find any of that in Paris and he simply replied with a smile, "They just don't know what good food is"... amen to that!

Gaudi Architecture

La Pedrera - once an old house, this typical Gaudi building is now a small modern art museum.

Outside Parc Guell (the top of the buldings are much like those at La Sagrada Familia).

At the main entrance of Parc Geull.

Next to the "Dragon" - one of the many fountains running down the entrance stairs that have mosaic reptiles.

Park Guell

This park is located outside of the main city but well worth the metro ride. It was initially a commissioned project by Antoni Gaudi for Count Eusebi Guell. However, due to lack of financing and popularity, the project was stopped. Later the city of Barcelona bought it and it is now a public park (read: free for all to visit!).


Main terrace that overlooks Barcelona. The park grounds, which take up over 5 acres, continue behind me.

Circular columns that support the walkways were also made to facilitate bird nest building.

One of the fountains (mixing mosaic tiles, warped rocks and plants).

Posing in front of another set of swirling and leaning columns.

Barcelona Cathedral

Interior courtyard with fountains and foliage.

Geese and fish live in the center fountain.

Font de Sant Jordi: fresh water fountain - rare in Barcelona - with drinking spouts.

Small chapels and figures of saints surround the ancient courtyard.

Modernism Architecture

Mosaic ceilings at Park Guell.

Facade of Palau de La Musica.

Mosaic tiles on the columns of the Music Palace.

Intricate interior of the Music Palace.

Carnival!

We were very lucky to have been in Barcelona for all the Carnival celebrations. They officially run from the Thursday prior to Ash Wednesday through Mardi Gras (it's done to welcome in the 40 days of Lent).

In Barcelona they party in a large way: each district has their own choreography, costumes, traditions and music and they parade throughout the city center to show off and compete against other districts. Three prizes - Best Costume, Best Choreography and Best Music - are awarded by the city and up to 5,000 euros are given to the 1st place winners.

Basically it's like Halloween in the United States extended over an entire 6 days. Needless to say I saw a lot of pirates, clowns, spidermans...


Large procession of students (high school and elementary) playing music, dancing, wearing elaborate costumes and throwing confetti.

Spanish Queen that represents that district of Barcelona.

A group at night that stopped traffic and had fire crackers and torches.

Since we didn't have costumes but didn't want to be left out, Jihane's friend Heather (a Rhode Island School of Design student currently studing abroad in Rome) painted a peacock feather across my eye.

Barcelona Sights

Placa St. Jaume: City Hall & the Capitol Building

St. Francesc de Sales. The church grounds take up an entire block because it used to be an old monastery, but this is just the church itself. Designed by famous modernist architect, and teach of Antoni Gaudi, Joan Martorell.

The Spainsh Arc de Triomf.

Placa Espana with the Palau de Congressos on the left, the Palau de la Metal-lurgia on the right and the Palau Nacional de Montjuic (now the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) in the far back.

Sagrada Familia Decending

View of the "fruit bunch" mosaics decorating the top of each tower.

The gold Risen Christ that sits at the entrance of the church overlooking everyone that comes in.

The never ending swirling stair case to reach the bottom.

Sagrada Familia Towers

The narrow windows make a cool relief effect that highlights the other towers.

View of the coast and La Torre AGBAR

Jihane and her friend Heather peeking out the windows at the top of the tower.

On one of the narrow passes in between the two front towers.

Sagrada Familia Interior

Stained glass windows at the entrance.

Colorful light reflects on the solid walls of the church.

The main seating area still under construction. Insanely high beams and arches.

Men casting molds for the unfinished beams (a sort of workshop that tourists can witness and understand the entire process of building this church).