SchoolArts in Barcelona

This was my first trip to Spain and I tried not to have any preconceptions of it. In the US you hear so much on the news about Spain's economic problems but we didn't see any evidence of that. Spain's countryside was incredibly beautiful and the cities seemed very clean and orderly. People were friendly and kind and everything we ate was fantastic and fresh.

Barcelona was our first stop and we started at the Park Guell, designed by Antoni Gaudi. His work is so playful and fanciful and he is definitely the aesthetic muse of Barcelona. We also visited his unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral and some of his apartment buildings.

In the afternoon we explored the food market (sheep heads seemed to be a particular delicacy), visited the Picasso Museum, and wandered in the neighborhoods around it. Many of Picasso's very early works are in the museum, including some from his childhood. His amazing talent was obvious early on.

The photos here show the Park Gruell and my Aunt Dot. Dot is 81 years young and a retired classroom teacher. This is the third time she has joined us on trips to Europe. She is a watercolor artist and a great inspiration to us all.