While staying in Barcelona, we took a day trip to hike Montserrat, a mountain north of Barcelona. For many visitors, this trip is a pilgrimage to the monastery that sits atop the mountain, but we were solely going for the hike and the vistas.
The train to Montserrat was so crowded that we were standing during the entire one-hour ride. To reach the trailhead, we walked through a narrow residential street lined by balconied apartments. In front of us was a couple walking their dog, and that set off "alarms". Meaning, every dog living on that street rushed to their balcony and barked at the intruder below. It was actually really funny, and we could still hear the “alarm system” even after reaching the trailhead.
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Dale had a one-week break in his teaching schedule so we decided to visit Madrid. We rode the Renfe high-speed train, traveling between Barcelona and Madrid in less than 3 hours, enjoying free wifi and a silent car. (As a side note, we really wish US cities would offer more rail transport. Fewer cars, less traffic, less stress--life without the expense and pain of owning a car has been maravillosa!) We took a taxi from the train station to our Aloft hotel on Gran Via, in the heart of the city.
Even knowing that Madrid is the largest (capital) city in Spain, we were still surprised to see the streets absolutely packed with people and traffic. Unbeknownst to us, we had arrived on a weekend that encompassed Halloween, the All Saints Holiday, and a festival of lights, so the crowds were intense. The Covid-wary introvert in Darcie was no feliz.
Antoni Gaudi was a famous architect whose works appear throughout Barcelona. His style is very modern and we think, whimsical. Two of his projects, La Sagrada Familia, a church, and Casa Batllo (once a residence) were close to our hotel. We also visited Parc Guell, a park designed by Gaudi in the early 1900's.
We headed to Barcelona for the remainder of our Europe stay. We had visited Barcelona years ago, but only for a few days, and loved the vibe: great weather; friendly people; big, walkable city, and beach access. On this trip, Dale taught his on-line classes from the hotel room while Darcie attended immersion Spanish classes within walking distance of the hotel.
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