Barcelona

Gaudi. He was an architect that colored out of the lines. He painted nature's math into buildings. His most famous work is the basilica of La Familia Sagrada in Barcelona. Started 1883, the basilica is still not completed. The current estimate to completion is 2036 or 2040. On approach to the building, the spires raise in latticed grandeur while the facades tell the stories of the Christ's youth and crucifixion. Various spires hold enormous collections of fruit. The characters on the facades are in different styles, from realistic to cubist, even including a cubist version of Rodin's "Thinker". Instead of gargoyles, Gaudi carved lizards and snakes. The flying buttresses so common to cathedrals look more like gangling spider legs supporting the heavens-reaching edifice.

The inside of the bulding is even more impressive. The ceiling soars high above as sunlight pours through the numerous skylights. Even the concrete surrounding skylights and lights is edged with rays of light. Interior columns are topped with capitals unlike any in the world. The museum describes these capitals via nature's mathematical interpretation of cones and cylinders. Sprouting from them, girders grow like branches to hold up the ceiling far above us. Gaudi's masterpiece contains familiar cathedral highlights: a beautiful stain-glassed rose window, a pipe organ, a choir. However, his artistic flair shows through in a choir that is high above the ground, the use of rolling, wave-like lines instead of straight and a wall-sized plaque with "Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread" in multiple languages. Buy the La Familia Sagrada + Museo pass; and, you'll also get entrance into the museum that was once Gaudi's house in Guell Park.

Spanish food. In just over 24 hours, I managed to eat all my favorite Spanish food. If you're lucky enough to travel to Spain, try the paella. Since Spain is a peninsula, the seafood is fresh and flavorful. Paella is made with seafood and rice. We ate paella with mussels, crawfish, and shrimp. Delicious! A simple breakfast or lunch in Spain consists of a bocadilla with jamon iberica (Spanish ham) and queso (cheese). You'll specifically want to ask for the jamon iberica. This thinly sliced, cured pork is unlike anything that I can find in the States. Finally, for the sweet tooth, Spain provides chocolate (hot chocolate) con churros (long, donuty columns). The chocolate is dark and thick. Dip your churros into the chocolate for a great sweet, any time of the day.

Hotel. Adding this in as an after thought. However, Bonanova was in a great location to the sites. However, I remember thinking that it was too expensive. My idea of "expensive" has probably changed since then. https://www.bonanovasuite.com/