The Old City of Girona

We arrived early and it was a bit overcast. Nevertheless, it was gorgeous.

We visited the old city of Girona a few weeks ago and it was so colorful and green. It is situated on the banks of a river and somewhat reminded me of Venice. The locals have painted the house these incredibly vibrant and warm shades of red, oranges and yellows.

The town is covered in Catalan independence flags, which was quite a sight, in and of itself.

We only had time for a walking tour - not to enter the city's main sights such as the Cathedral, museum, or enjoy the view from the old city walls but it left such a strong impression that I am eager to go back. Here are a few photos of its charm.

The Cathedral

Details of the Cathedral

A freaking cool modern door.

Walking through one of the plazas, enjoying the shade.

The narrowest of walkways.

Large keys being sold at an outdoor antique market.

Outside the entry of one of the churches, there was this decoration in the cobblestone.

We started climbing the wall but turned back after we realized how far up it is.

The church tower from the walk to to the top.

A door suspended on the city wall. I wonder where those stairs lead.

Antoni Gaudí's Casa Batlló in Barcelona

At first, modernist architecture did not appeal to me much but with time, it's growing on me. This week, I was able to visit Casa Batlló with my friend Roxanne and it was gorgeous! Every room was different, unique and full of subtle details. The visit comes with an audio guide, which provides helpful insights into these details that would otherwise be missed. These are just a few snapshots from our visit.

Also, fun fact: the verb "gaudir" means "to enjoy" in Catalan. Que gaudeixis!

Spine-shaped wood and ergonomic handrail at the main entrance of the home.

There are no straight lines in this home; every surface is curved.

The chandelier from the room with the mushroom fireplace.

This living room has a very sea-like theme - the ceiling reminded me of a shell.

Some of the shades of blue from the living room.

The tiles on the lower levels are a very light blue whereas the higher you climb, the darker they become. This has to do with the need to lighten up the space based on how close it is to the natural light.

Here you can see the darker tiles. The windows also became smaller on the higher levels.

Gaudi used recycled pieces of glass for this detail.

Gaudi-style flower pots on the patio.

Some roof details...

If you decide to visit Barcelona, I highly recommend visiting this site. For more information, visit the official website.

A view of the exterior of the home on Passeig de Gracia (it's third from left).

A *free* walking tour of Madrid's main sites

Here are some photos from our one day in Madrid before the Baha'i Youth Conference, which I'll tell you about soon, and if I can find even more time, I will write more about Madrid!

Beautiful architecture on Calle Mayor

Loving the colorful buildings

One of the entrances to the Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor

Cute little bookshop on a side street (near Puerta del Sol)

Kilian in the Plaza de Oriente

Palacio Real

Alumdena Cathedral

Exploring Madrid's side streets (Plaza de la Villa)

Parque del Retiro

Parque del Retiro

Parque del Retiro

Puerta de Alcalá