In Spain

Something used to come to mind and heart when I heard the word “Barcelona.” I thought of a beautiful city by sea, tan bodies and ice cold cocktails, flip-flops and roller skates, ponytails and colorful sunglasses. I felt like I should know it, like I somehow did, through what I’d read, watched, and heard. After a few glasses of wine, I might have even felt like I belonged in such a place.

Our first day in Barcelona was rainy but that didn't keep us nor many others from enjoying the day by foot.

Rainy day in Barcelona

Sometimes I feel like this cat

Thinking about shale gas recovery factors

Apartments by the beach

It doesn't take long to notice how Barcelona truly embraces and celebrates art. There are abundant sculptures and asymmetrical structures throughout the city.

Art in Barcelona

The rest of our days in Barcelona were quite sunny.

More art in Barcelona

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Curvy, cool-looking buildings

Beautiful streets

We didn't get any shots of Barcelona's beach during the day but rest assured that it is beautiful.
Although... we did find the topless women and bottomless men quite distracting.

After five days in Barcelona, we took a train to Sevilla. When we arrived in Sevilla, we immediately noticed lots of women dressed up in polka dot dresses. It was the week of a ritual indulgence called Feria (kind of like a Mardi Gras, but after lent). For Feria, everyone dresses up in traditional clothing and goes to the fairgrounds where families and friends share private and exclusive tents that serve drinks and food... lots of drinks and food.

On their way to the Feria in Sevilla

Feria in Sevilla

Sevilla is beautiful. It had a very local (non-touristy) feel. We stomped around town a lot, taking frequent tapas breaks.

Sevilla, Spain

Lunchtime in Sevilla on a weekday (~ 11am - 3 pm)

One night we saw a Flameco show

After Sevilla, we headed north to San Sebastian, a beautiful seaside town in the Basque region. We spent our days visiting the beach and exploring the easily covered territory.

We made the little hike to the top of an outlook on a hill in San Sebastian

San Sebastian, Spain (looking down from the outlook on the hill)

Down on the beach

In the town

By the shore, on the fringes of the bay

One day we took a bus to the adjacent town of Bilbao to see the Guggenheim Museum.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

Yes, that's a cat

The cat and Sheer outside of the Guggenheim

A Richard Serra exhibit inside the Guggenheim

Back in San Sebastian we enjoyed the remaining days and nights venturing out from our comfortable pension.

The sunset in San Sebastian

The glorious, San Sebastian sun setting upon an adult reading a map and an adolescent girl contemplating meaning, maybe life, and probably boys.

Don't worry young lady... the sun also rises.