Yesterday we set off for our weekend getaway to Barcelona. We drove to Cologne-Bonn airport, flew into Girona, rode the bus to Barcelona, then (thanks to the help of some strangers) found the metro to get to our apartment. (We used two T10 cards which cut our metro ticket cost almost in half).  The boys did surprisingly well on the flight, but we almost got trampled getting form the terminal to the actual plane. We had to squeeze into a shuttle and when the doors opened to get off people stampedes out and there was a mad rush to get to the plane. We all survived, however, and made it to the apartment in one piece.

The next day I had planned for us to take the hop-on/hop-off bus tour, but the hotel's reception did not put the correct number of tickets in the room and they were out of the office today. I was very frustrated because they had also forgotten some other things, but we were determined not to let it ruin our day. We went to a little cafe for breakfast, but I don't think Dad was prepared for the European size of a regular coffee.

After breakfast we hopped on the metro to find the Barcelona Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (long name) during it's free hours. The cathedral was beautiful and includes a garden called the Well of the Geese.   It was completed in 1450 and is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, a 13 year old girl who was martyred during Roman times. She is buried in a crypt under the alter and there are always 13 geese that, in the past served as an alarm system, but also to honor the girl.

Outside, Maddox and Carson gave an angel some money and got a couple blue jems that they held on to all day long.

Afterward we walked around in circle for a few minutes before I was able to get my bearings and lead us to La Ramblas. We wandered down Las Ramblas on our way to the Aquarium. We past a Dunkin' Donuts, so of course Ben had to test them out and get a "coffee regular". So far none of the European Dunks have made it correctly.

At the end of La Ramblas we saw the monument that commemorates Christopher Columbus' first voyage. At the top there is a 24 foot statue of him pointing to the new world.  We crossed the street, and went to the aquarium. The boys loved the underwater tunnel with sharks and big fish. The were enchanted by an angry octopus who was swimming around his tank trying to fight with another one. They had a great time playing in a mini-submarine, climbing on giant sea turtles, and inside of a whales mouth to see jelly fish.

We stopped at McDonalds after the aquarium and Carson fell off of his chair. Thankfully we were at the end of the meal and there was a quick exit to an outside walkway nearby.

The next plan was to head to Placa Espanya and see the magic fountains at the base of Montjuic. Unfortunately the fountain show didn't start until 7pm and it was only 5. We walked up the stairs, past the dry fountains, towards the National Art Museum of Cataluyna. There was a pop singer filming a video on the steps and it was funny to watch the girls shiver in the cold between takes then turn it off when the cameras were rolling. It was really cold out, so that took some serious skill. We got about three quarters of the way to the top when we came to a refreshment stand selling churros and cervezas. Ben kept going to the top to take more pictures while the rest of us decided to relax. The cerveza was good, but the churros don't compare to the mexican version.

Around 6 we called it quits and left the area. As much as I wanted to see the magic fountains in action, I knew the boys were tired and cold. We needed them to be in a good mood for more sight seeing tomorrow, so we didn't want to push them too hard.

We got off at the stop for La Sagrada Familia church and got a couple good shots of it lit up in the night before walking the rest of the way home.
The plan for tomorrow is to try to get those missing bus tickets!