Barcelona: Gruell Park

Modern art is absolutely Barcelona's "thing" which was not super thrilling for me since I have no appreciation for modern art- actually I have like negative appreciation for modern art... Let's just say there has never been a piece of modern art that I have seen that I have actually liked. :)

Still, as my super smart Uncle Brian always says "when in Rome..." So since my Uncle Brian is never wrong about anything, ever, I decide to really try to dig down deep and appreciate modern art, especially since I was seeing arguably some of the best in the world. I was told that it would be like something out of Dr. Seus, and I love Dr. Seus, so I was thinking that maybe that would play in my favor.

Gruell Park was designed by Gaudi (who I had never heard of before) but is apparently ridiculously popular. By the way it's pronounced like gaudy, which I don't think is a coincidence. 

Going to the park is quite the hike- they actually have escalators it is so steep! But the view is quite nice-

This terrace is probably the most famous part of the park-

Along with this lizard fountain thing-

But I thought these weird seating things were, well, weird-

Along with these cavern things-

Along with these paths and the art-

And so were the houses (actually, okay I will admit it, I quite like the first white one)-

I dug deep but I really don't think I came to appreciate it. It reminded me of something out of the Flinstones. Apparently when the wife of the guy who actually paid for this saw it she also did not appreciate it and was actually pretty pissed. I don't blame her- my reaction probably would have been similar!!

Paris: Museum de Revolution & Napoleons Tomb

I started out my day at a museum that had been highly recommended by Rick Steve's but that I thought was awful- the Museum de Revolutionary. I was expecting...I don't know a museum about the revolution?! And was pretty excited since I had just finished reading a book extremely sympathetic to Marie Antoinette and the royal family as a whole, so I was curious to see how the French would portray it. But that didn't happen it was a super boing museum an had one room on the revolutionary time period- talk about false advertising. I guess I can't be too mad since it was free, though. 

Next I headed over to Napoleons Tomb, which my mom had raved about. In the same complex is the Invalids Hospital, which was built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans-today it's a military history museum (yawn!). However it is an amazing building-

This street art was right in front of the hospital, some people are just way to clever-

Then I moseyed on over to Napoleons Tomb-

It was pretty cool, and there is some great history there too. According to legend, Hitler visited and stated he wanted a tomb just like Napoleons - and as he walked around the tomb there were American pilots hiding in the ceiling of it, safely hidden by the French resistance.

My favorite carving inside the tomb

Then I stumbled on my absolute, with out question favorite museum of Paris- the Charles de Gaul museum, which is in the basement of the Invalids Hospital. It was everything a history nerd like me could ask for...interactive! Super interesting! Not crowded... I can not recommend it enough (and it is free!!). I really have never read up a lot on the French resistance and Charles de Gaul, but I want to now! (I always think a really good museum leaves you wanting more, I had the same problem at the Sissy Museum in Vienna.)
On my way to the train station (where I was leaving at 6pm) I happened to stumble on some amazing buildings-

And then I decided to go back to Notre Dame, because I really, really wanted to be impressed by it and I thought maybe the first time I was just being a huge snob... but I was not impressed anymore the second time, either.

I think the back of it is the most impressive part and it still pales in comparison to St. Vitus in Prague:

More impressive then Notre Dame, right? I'm not crazy...right??!

And with that, I was off to Barcelona! 

Paris: Catacombs, escargot & Royal Gardens

One thing on my "must, must do list" was the catacombs -my Dad did not take us there when I was in Paris at age 15...it was creepy and I'm glad he didn't!- so it was something new. An Australian girl in my hostel room, Allison, was also going so we headed over together. On my whole trip, this was the longest line I waited in- about 45 minutes. We ended up taking to the people behind us in line who were young French students and really nice. (so nice that they translated the French explanations for us once we were in the catacombs!)

Carvings as you go into the catacombs.

The entry was a reasonable €4, and I have to say it was the creepiest thing I have probably ever done/ ever will do (I can't imagine anything creepier)...before you enter there is even a sign in latin that says "HALT! This is the empire of death!"

Photo from google search- but it was in Nat Geo (I think) originally. It's impossible to take pictures in the catacombs since there is no flash allowed, but I would google "catacombs pictures" you'll get a pretty good idea of what it was like walking thru them. Like the above picture... except 2 miles worth!

It was really incredibly earie...there is no better way to describe it. The passage ways go on forever- when you think about how many people this is it's mind boggling and made me feel quite small and insignificant. And it's all sorts of people- from the poorest to the richest -Marie Antoinette's sister in law is definitely in the catacombs and some people believe both Marie Antoinette and her husband are as well, which could be true there is certainly no way to prove or disprove it, since they were created up to 1810 and were created by emptying out old cemeteries and mass graves of the poor because all the cemeteries were overflowing and creating a health hazard. 

Souvenirs at the Catacombs

Also interesting is that you are searched on the way out, since apparently bone theft is a huge problem there. Unbelievable! But after being searched for bones, Allision and I decided to go to lunch (amazing that I had an appetite after seeing loads of bones, but I was starving!).

We went to a French cafe and tried escargot-

Which was actually really quite good. My main meal was a hamburger though- I'm so American :)

Then Allison headed to the louvre and I went to walk thru some gardens before I called it a day-

Paris: Louvre Day & Champs-Elysees

I had strategically planned to go to the Louvre on a Wednesday since its open till 9pm on Wednesday and Fridays (and is still only €10- a great deal in my opinion). I hadn't gotten an advance ticket but the line moved fast, thankfully, and only took about 15 minutes.

& here is a flashback-me at the Louvre with Micah, I was 16-

I'm the one that looks like a boy. I think my looks have improved since then, but I always tell people I was ugly in High School and they are like "oh it couldn't have been that bad..." REALLY? Yes it could have, and here is the proof!

I had planned to spend the whole da day at the museum- but I actually was somewhat disappointed with it and only stayed about 6 hours ("only 6? hours?" ... I know! But I love art museums so that's about normal for me!). The crowds were insane and there were a ton of school groups that were (not exaggerating) screaming at each other down the corridors! It was so annoying and really ruined the experience for me. I did manage to get away from them for part of the time, but it seemed like the entire museum was full of them! I am all about exposing students to museums but their behavior was out of control!

I did manage to see some cool things out of the windows-

and inside, too-

I have seen it before, and it was no more impressive the second time- I will never understand why it's so famous I think it's all a very successful PR campaign, there are loads more impressive paintings in my opinion like this one-


The Wedding, Veronese. This is directly across from the Mona Lisa.
Yeah. More impressive, right? I think so ...especially since it's literally the largest thing painting I have ever seen, I think it's over 12 feet tall.

Side note: I also saw "Mona Lisa's sister" in Madrid, which is exactly the same picture with some coloring differences. Apparently without the PR, because its not know at all (I had no idea it existed) and is exactly the same woman and smile, dontcha think?

The Louvre Mona Lisa is on the right-the one on the left was believed to have been painted at the same time as the original by one of Da Vinci's students... is this a case of the student surpassing the master? Why is this second one not at famous, when I actually think it's better then Da Vinci's AND it was created at the same time? It's like the off-brand Mona Lisa that is actually better then the brand name, but everyone is still too attached to brand loyalty to admit it.

After leaving the lourve I walked down the Champs-Elysees-

 to the Arc de Triump. I would say it was about an hour, but it was a nice walk and I got a crepe (the first of many!). Again, I didn't spend the €12 to go into/up the Arc (I've done it before)-

but it was still cool, and a nice walk regardless. On the way back I walked along the Seine just so I could walk by all these cool shops that are along the river-

Lastly, I have never taken a picture and been like, holy crap that's amazing picture EVER before, but this one I was really impressed with:

I didn't even mess with the coloring or anything- and I took it thru a window! But I think it's my favorite picture that I have ever taken.

Paris: Eiffel tower and walking along Seine

I got into Paris at 1pm, checked into my hostel, and decided to head into central Paris to look around since it was an amazingly beautiful day.

I started at the Louvre-

Then I headed over to Notre Dame (I decided to go there early, to ensure I actually saw it since last time I was in Paris I went to h&m instead and missed it) but ended up at this instead-

But managed to make it to Notre Dame with a little help from some street signs! When I got there I was actually pretty underwhelmed. I mean... It's beautiful but perhaps over hyped? In my opinion St Vitus cathedral in Prague was 10x more amazing architecturally speaking. I didn't go inside since the line was wicked long, (as were all the lines in Paris) so maybe what it's lacking on the outside it makes up for on the inside? But I really couldn't say-

Next I decided to walk on over to the Eiffel Tower...where I got lost...again. You would think the giant tower would be easy enough to follow, but it's actually kind of hard! Although I kept getting distracted by super adorable things that I had to take pictures of-

And of course the Eiffel tower, too-

Seriously who gets lost on the way to the Eiffel tower?! Please be impressed with my poor directional skills! It as about an hour walk (I could have taken the train in about ten but I love walking around, and always walk when I can instead of taking a train, bus, etc.) and I got there right when the sun was setting-

Again, I didn't want to wait in the hugely long line to go up- also I think it was around €20. Actually, I've been up before anyway and here is the proof-

I'm the one with short hair, like a boy. I don't know why I keep posting these awful pictures of my sad 15 year old self, except on some level I think they're funny and it's fun to look back and see how much I've changed in 9 years.

Anyway, it was still gorgeous-

Then I hopped on the train back to my hostel. One of Josh's friends, Will, had mentioned he loved Rick Steves podcasts so I had downloaded some before I left and listened to them on the train back which possibly was a mistake, because I heard this

Rick Steves: "is there anywhere in Paris that is dangerous where you would tell travelers not to go?"

Tour Guide: "well, the 19th district* but there would be no reason to go there..."

...why yes, my hostel WAS in the 19th district!! :)

*Paris is split into 20 "districts" -Arrondisment as they're really called-in a pin wheel shape with one being the center, 20 the least. I was in the 19th, but that was about 15 minutes by train from the 1st district (where the lourve is) which so it's not like anything is super far away regardless of what district you're in. I think the Eiffel tower is in the 7th district. 

Hostel Generalizations

Now that I have spent basically 3 weeks staying in hostels (I guess it's not that long but it feels like it...trust me) I feel that it's time to make some broad generalizations about some characters I met over..and over... Don't be fooled the majority of people I meet are amazing and so cool. Some are...not so amazing. But still good for a laugh :)

"it's all about me"

This person somehow did not get the memo that multiple people are sleeping (or were sleeping before you turned on the light, started playing music and getting ready for your big night on the town at 11:30pm). Or maybe they got the memo and just disregarded it... Whatever the reason, this person acts like a total jerk... And there is no stoping the behavior. Hints like "please turn out the lights" and "I am sleeping" usually are met with "I don't speak English." Really? Because you did an hour ago when you were hitting on me. I hate you.

"the nudist"

Even odder then the "it's all about me"-er is the person who thinks that for some unexplainable, incomprehensible reason it's okay to walk about the hostel room nude. What?! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD COVER UP!!! I know this is Europe but I don't think that's normal. Some clothes, please!! Please please please!!!

"au natural"

No shoes? No shower? No problem. While I have much love for those who choose to embrace mother earth in ways I never could-like by giving up soap for example. (I'm from Portland, after all!) I don't want to smell you. It's not personal ...except maybe it is. I dont want to be able to smell your person when I have to sleep 4 feet away from you. A clean person is a happy person, and makes for even happier hostel mates!!

"the slammer"
Somehow anything that can be slammed at 2am, will be slammed. How how how is it possible that you make a loud noise with every single item in your bag?! Crinkle, crinkle, crack, slam, crinkle....it would be your theme music if your life had a movie soundtrack! I would be impressed if I wasnt trying to sleep.

"the thief"
Not only stealing belongings- I was lucky enough to not have anything major stolen, but I am super neurotically careful- however I did have a pair of shoes get stolen (while I was sleeping, no less!): nikes size 6, anyone?! (for the record: I'm not upset about it right now, but I will be when I am tromping thru the snow in Germany in my toms-the only other pair of shoes I have.) But moving on... besides belonging theft, people that steal beds really are annoying. Even though hostel beds are assigned, I've found that it's more of a first come first serve free for all...and I somehow always end up with the short stick (bed near the door, bathroom, top bunk, near hallway, etc) even if I was assigned a much better bed. I wish people would just take their assigned bed! This is the rule follower in me (thanks mom!).

"the couple"
Since I somehow ended up saying primarily in mixed dorms (ugh, would not recommend if you can avoid it. Why I ended up staying in them is another story though.) I was lucky enough to be exposed to couples also in the mixed room. Aww how sweet. NO! Not when they cuddle up on a bed above you and (I'm pretty sure) have sex. AWKWARD. And that is why I don't reccomend mixed dorms.

"the know it all"

"You're going to Marrakech ...why?! That's sooo touristy. It's fine if you don't want a real Moroccan experience..." "you're going to the lourve? I prefer more off beat museums, but I'm sure you'll like the lourve..." "trains are for people who have money, I prefer to travel with the real working people on buses..." all real comments that have been made to me! Seriously, nothing is more annoying then people who think your travel experience is somehow not as good as theirs or try to insinuate that the way you're traveling is "wrong." Highly aggravating. 

I want to end this by saying there are lots of great hostel types, and some of the best travel times I have had have been just hanging out talking to other travelers. Some of my favorite positive gerenalizations are:

"the 5 minute friend"

 You're going there? I'm going there! Let's go together! Let's be friends. Viola! New friend. So simple, I adore it.

"the experience sharer"

Different from the "know it all" because they're not a total jerk, always ready to talk about cool things, places and people without judgment on your own travel experience. So fun to compare places and feelings about places with other people-and get ideas for new things to do. 

"the great roommate"

I say hello, you say hello, we exchange pleasentries, you don't wake me up at 3am when you stumble in drunk... oh, a considerate human being. You outnumber the annoying people 5 to 1, thankfully... thank you normal roommate for restoring my faith in humanity.