Spring Break!!

Though not as long or as "yes, I earned this" as summer, teacher Spring Break is right up there with Christmas and Flag Day as one of my favorite holidays. It reminds you that you can get through the last six weeks of school and, unlike a long weekend, you can travel to somewhere really good! Cue: Barcelona!!

I have been to Barcelona once before so it's not a totally new experience. It was one of many stops in my London student teaching semester when I had two weeks, a Eurail pass, and a desire to go everywhere more than somewhere. I was here for less than 48 hours and have wanted to come back ever since. 

Knowing that there was so much to see and do, I have seriously over-planned the next few days here. The family is graciously playing along but I am expecting them to all need a siesta by mid-day Monday.* This meant that we hit the ground running today when we arrived. 

I got into Barcelona around 12:30, was at the hotel by 1, and we were in a museum by 2:30. As my Dad says often, I love it when a plan comes together!**

AT, Dad, and I left Mom to suffer through jet lag while we headed to Parc de Montjuic. It is the site of the 1992 Olympic Games as well as gardens, walking areas, and a few museums. Specifically, we went for the Joan*** Miró museum. The museum was planned by Miró himself and is the largest collection of his works. 

My favorite:

 Dad contemplating the meaning of Art:

It was Surreal. 

From the museum we walked a bit through a sculpture garden that overlooked the city. 

We also rode the funicular to the top of the mountain where a castle**** overlooked the coast. 

Heading back down the hill we passed a hysterical***** graffiti tribute to one person's eclectic playlist selections. Does this wall need a shoutout in the blog? Maybe not, but how else will we bring Depeche Mode and One Direction fans together?

Tomorrow we are starting our architectural tour of all things Gaudi with some Picasso thrown in for fun! For now- we sleep!

-KT

*There is absolutely no time for one so they will have to fend for themselves on the streets while I cram in more Gaudi. 

**Technically, this catchphrase is stolen from the A-Team but that was never on my Nick-at-Nite lineup so it feels original to me. 

***I can confidently report that it is a hard "J" but it is two syllables and therefore not quite your favorite "Mad Men" character. 

****Castle? Please. It was a fort and we have hit our quota of forts for the foreseeable future. You can't trick us, Spain!!

*****To me, at least.