Barcelona isn’t at all what Cheetah Girls 2 made it out to be…

            While I haven’t personally seen Cheetah Girls 2, I have no doubts that Sara’s sentiments about Barcelona were largely the norm in our group. It had been talked up as though it was the best place in Spain, if not Europe, and frankly, that’s just not the case. That’s not to say that we didn’t have a good time – it’s merely to say that Madrid > Barcelona. We have a busy evening ahead of us, so I’ll try my best to be brief. (You know me – brevity’s my middle name!)

Things that were cool in Barcelona:

1. The Mountain of the Jews (Monjuic) – I love the Jews and I love these views:

2. Gaudí – He is the father of modern architecture and basically created all of the structures we went to visit in Barcelona.

 a. The Sagrada Familia – By far my favorite church we have visited thus far. Gaudí believed that in the coming years, people would lose their faith and very few would actually enter into churches – because of this, he “wrote the bible in stone” around the outside on the building. He believed in nature moreso than mathematics (although the two go hand in hand, no?), so nature was where he looked to design his buildings. He used the “natural arc,” or the arc between our legs which support us to support his buildings. He also made a model of his building upside-down, using a series of strings and weights. The inside of the church is made so as to look like a forest – I love this guy. It has been in a constant state of construction for more than 40 years and doesn’t look as though it’s going to be ready too soon. Unfortunately, Gaudí died an early death in an unfortunate tram accident (really? He got hit by a tram?) so has not seen all of his work carried out. How ironic – a man ahead of his time getting killed by a piece of modern technology. At least it earned him a place of honor at Jesus’ right hand in a sculpture on the wall which was completed after his death. I’d take it.

Flip this bad boy over and you'll have the structure of the church!

b. Casa Batlló and Milá –Saint George is the patron saint of Barcelona, and since he was into fighting dragons and whatnot, Batlló is supported by what looks like bones and the balconies are made to look like mouths so as to pay homage to his hard work. (Fighting dragons take a lot out of you…like a leg or two.) Milá – lots of stairs but worth it, as always. Very cool and confusing roof.

Do you get the dragon vibes?

Worth excessive amounts of stairs?

c. Parque Guell – Cool dragon, cool plaza, cool music, cool Hansel and Gretel candy house (or something.)

3. Sardana – You know I love any opportunity I have to dance. Every Sunday at noon, in front of the Barcelona chapel, the masses gather to participate in a big, group circle dance called la Sardana. I tried to jump into a pre-formed circle, but was glared at by old people so backed off. Margo, Anne, Perry, Robyn, and I did manage to make it into one as it was forming though, and thanks to the help of the old man next to me (“try be a little more…smooth”), I think I eventually got the hang of it.

4. Las Ramblas – The superwide (40m!) streets have a large sidewalk in the middle which is lined all the way down with vendors selling art, flowers, and…canaries? I could dig it.

5. ¿Qué Pasta? – Awesome restaurant because: Spanish puns are funny; pasta is delicious; we’re preparing our bodies for Italy?

6. Perry’s 21^st Birthday! – A delicious dinner (best. croquettas. ever.)  A Harry Potter shot (most interesting bar ever? – over 100 shots…Perry tried two of each. Just kidding – we’re clearly too cheap for that.) A group of people I’m obsessed with. What’s missing? A McFuffin, but they don’t have them here. I tried.

Oh, you know. Just making some new friends.

7. Somehow snagging first-class train tickets in a nearly empty car on the way home – We’re clearly the favorite students.

8. Beach – Self-explanatory.

Things that were not so cool in Barcelona:

1. Hostel location – Right next to hookers and drug dealers? People getting offered cocaine? Having to go illegally down a one-way street in the cab on the way home because the police were writing up tickets for said drug dealers/hookers?

2. Not safe – everyone who says Madrid is less safe is a dirty, dirty liar. Number of people robbed in Madrid over the course of a month: 0, Number of people robbed in Andalucia in 6 days: 0, Number of people robbed in Galicia in 5 days: 0, Number of people robbed in Munich (AT OKTOBERFEST!) in 3 days: 0, Number of people robbed in Barcelona in 3 days: 3. (Madrid > Barcelona)

So, the next time you find yourself watching the Disney channel (be honest – you’re probably already watching), if Cheetah Girls 2 comes on, be warned: Barcelona isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (although it definitely has crack.)