Reflections on Life: Barcelona

Buenos dias y bonjour :)

We're in the French Riviera, after two days in Barcelona, which is an incredible city. According to legend, Prince William the Harry slayed a dragon and was given the city. He is the father of Catalan, the region of Spain where Barcelona lies. The Barcelonans are super passionate about being Catalan, speaking their own language, flying Catalan independence flags out of all their windows, and very proud of their culture.

Dragons are in many Catalan legends, including the one of Saint Geordi (George), who slayed a dragon in North Africa and was named the patron saint. They memorialized him in a sculpture. This same legend exists in multiple European countries, including in most of the Baltic countries, which also memorialize him with legends and statue. So we're wondering why each country thinks the story is their own, and who started it. Did dragons really exist?

Fun fact: the city also has a law against buying and selling marijuana, but not against growing it or smoking it. So the seeds were sold on the street.

A favorite Barcelona place was La Sagrada Familia, the cathedral that Gaudi built. It's absolutely unbelievable. He is definitely my favorite architect of all time. It's unbelievable to see his works all throughout the city, as common life for the Barcelona locals. Gaudi expresses unparalleled creativity in his works. Dr. Suess may have taken some ideas from him. Gaudi's works are sometimes so childlike; other times, incredibly majestic; and most times, unfathomably grand. Check out a few pictures.