Nov 1- Sea, Sky and Dreamers

The Austrian GIS guy (chris) and I wandered around beach, saw even more strange buildings, (the Catalonia’s are all about the weird buildings). I had a really strange sense of deja vu when walking along the beach and seeing a piece of public art, but didn't really thing anything about it. Then I caught the skyrail from the beach to a really high mountain. From on top of the mountain I went to a military museum, and was blown away by the view while drinking cheap beer from a clifftop patio.

After that I wandered down the mtn into town, and then continued back to my hostel. Not being particularly fond of it (my room essentially was a box) I decided to move to a beach front Hostel that cost less, and had wireless internet! I also met a founder of ecoresonance, a communications platform for sustainabilty. So we talked sustainable development, and drank cheap white wine (1.20 a bottle..... the most expensive wine is 3 euro) then wandered the beach at night.

Oct 31 - Modernity in an ancient city

Today I did the touristy stuff of Barcelona, mainly the moderest/avant garde movement. I hit up the Piccaso gallery. After a hanging in a line full of brits for about an hour I finnally wandered around. The gallery is chronological, but it seems to miss the period between 1920-1950, I was a little mad. (I really wanted to see guernica) After a quick lunch and a few more galleries, I hit up some building by the eccentric architect Guadi.

I first went to the Sagrada Familia, essentually a church that will take 200 years to create. It's so intensely complex and avant garde I spent an hour staring at the thing. Guadi mixes organic and religious styles to make something that I think Dr. Suess would approve of.

After the Sagrada Familia, I walked to Casa Mili La Pedera, a house that Gaudi did. Then continued down the street to Casa Batilo and other buildings. Once again with Gaudis trademark "Dr Suessness"

I continued onto the shopping district (which is intensely high fashion oriented) then back to home.

I met a GIS consultant and went for lunch in the ritzy La Ramba Street, then had a cheap but pretty luxurious pellea. (local seafood dish)

After a few beer on that street I went home.