Bri, my mom, and I got off the first ship in Barcelona. I was glad to be done with this particular cruise and itinerary, considering the previous days. My cold was easing up, and the best part was that I only had two things I needed to do in Barcelona: find a Starbucks (for Cynde) and go to the Temple de la Sagrada Familia. I know there is so much more to do in this vibrant city. The last time I was here, I had three full days and I took advantage of them. I went everywhere I could and saw the most amazing things and squeezed every opportunity, walked for miles. This time, I only wanted to revisit the one place I felt I had not squeezed. Fortunately, there was a Starbucks near the Temple - two birds with one stone.
Cynde really wanted unique Starbucks gift cards, and how better to help her than one from Europe. I looked up which of the cities had Starbucks, and made my plan. There were only a two places where this was likely to work: Barcelona and Amsterdam, because most European Starbucks were in France (at the time of my research). While inside the Temple, I saw a girl with a Frappuccino, so I knew I was close. A perimeter search finally paid off, and I entered the Sagrada Starbucks. The cashier was so nice, and between my pitiful Spanish and her admirable (yet incomplete) English, I managed to get change for a Euro bill, and communicate my need for a card. Alas, she finally understood what I wanted, but they didn't sell them. Apparently, the need for a card for purchasing coffee has not made it into the Catalan culture. I know Cynde didn't quite believe me when I told her I came up empty. But REALLY, why does someone need a plastic card for a $4 coffee!?!? I felt very american and wished (briefly) that Cynde were over here making an ass of herself. I can just imagine the stories the shopgirl could tell...
Back to the Temple. The Temple de la Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous sites in all of Spain because of the amazing, complex, and bizarre architecture, created and inspired by Antonin Gaudi. How to describe Gaudi style: bright, colorfull, mosaic-tilework, with smooth curves and unexpected reptilian and tropical elemensts. Wiki him if you want more info. So imagine what is supposed to be a rich family's church decorated with snakes, Jesus, lizards, the apostles, frogs, crosses, pineapples, oranges, palm leaves, the virgin Mary (with a pieta), and on and on stained glass windows, extremely tall spires (topped with fruit baskets or crosses), and you have some idea of the Temple. It was fabulous!
Cynde really wanted unique Starbucks gift cards, and how better to help her than one from Europe. I looked up which of the cities had Starbucks, and made my plan. There were only a two places where this was likely to work: Barcelona and Amsterdam, because most European Starbucks were in France (at the time of my research). While inside the Temple, I saw a girl with a Frappuccino, so I knew I was close. A perimeter search finally paid off, and I entered the Sagrada Starbucks. The cashier was so nice, and between my pitiful Spanish and her admirable (yet incomplete) English, I managed to get change for a Euro bill, and communicate my need for a card. Alas, she finally understood what I wanted, but they didn't sell them. Apparently, the need for a card for purchasing coffee has not made it into the Catalan culture. I know Cynde didn't quite believe me when I told her I came up empty. But REALLY, why does someone need a plastic card for a $4 coffee!?!? I felt very american and wished (briefly) that Cynde were over here making an ass of herself. I can just imagine the stories the shopgirl could tell...
Back to the Temple. The Temple de la Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous sites in all of Spain because of the amazing, complex, and bizarre architecture, created and inspired by Antonin Gaudi. How to describe Gaudi style: bright, colorfull, mosaic-tilework, with smooth curves and unexpected reptilian and tropical elemensts. Wiki him if you want more info. So imagine what is supposed to be a rich family's church decorated with snakes, Jesus, lizards, the apostles, frogs, crosses, pineapples, oranges, palm leaves, the virgin Mary (with a pieta), and on and on stained glass windows, extremely tall spires (topped with fruit baskets or crosses), and you have some idea of the Temple. It was fabulous!
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