Barcelona, Spain
November 6 - 14, 2006  

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Hello Sangria, wanna dance ?
See Trip Plan Below

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It was a work week in Barcelona. I took the opportunity to see the city nightlife every day after work. Unfortunately, I didn't know that they started work very lately, like at 10am, and took 2-hour lunch at 2pm, and left work at around 8pm. So most of what I saw in Barcelona was after 9pm.

La Ramblas got to be the most concentrated street for street performers in Spain. From stand-still artists, clowns, pianoistd, violinistd to fake musicians, crooks that scam tourists' money, side-walk cafes, newstands, pet stores that sell chickens, I saw it all every night for a whole week. I was lucky enough to have a gorgeous weekend there to visit their beaches and Port Olympic. I also watched a soccer match of FC Barcelona vs Zaragoza. It was a come back 3-1 win for Barcelona.

Food was unbelivably great in Barcelona. I especially loved dinning in those patio cafes and I had my sangria everyday. I gotta go back a few more times to enjoy the south coast of Spain.


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Landed in Barlcelona Airport, I just had the most wonderful sleep on this flight.
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Metro ... in Barcelona
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La Ramblas

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Hey, not just Asians will sell live chickens on the street !
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This used to be a palace of some nobles.
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Mercat de la Boquería

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This is what I called history in the middle of modern technology.
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I almost attended a Spanish Guitar concert in this church (I should have bought this ticket, now I regret).
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My room at Hotel Sant Just

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Cheap booze ...
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Seafood pacella

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Olive Oil, ... no check it shopping cart, it is so smart, they should bring these to north america.
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Another sangria .... =) I am so happy ...

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Check this out, believe it ? (9.3 MB file).

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Gaudi time, this one is Casa Mila
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Along Passeig de Gracia
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Casa Batllo

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I am going in ....
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The theme of Casa Batllo is "arches".
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Rooftop of Casa Batllo

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The hollow part of the building to allow natural light to come in.
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Arches, & more arches

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One of the rooms, the theme is the source of water.
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Hello, Nicolas Cage. Even the windows are curvy and archy.

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See the water room. (3.4 MB file).

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It starts getting weird ...
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The biggest room in Casa Batllo.
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It is actually an apartment building, people do live here !!

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... Look down from 6th floor ...
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... they are elevator .... wow !

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By the time I finish, it was already so dark ...
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Artist drawing Gaudi's architecture ...
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I loved these side walk tapa cafes.

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Busiest meeting point of Barcelona - Placa Catalunya
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Me @ Placa Catalunya

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... Did you get my postcard ? ...
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Lost or working. Who cares, Sangria time !

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Camp Nou, home stadium of FC Barcelona, I was going to see a footbal match here.
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?? No, I am not GUAL
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This was the best stand-still artist I saw in Barcelona.

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Sagrada Familia
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Fine Details ...

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Still being built ....
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Foundation stone laid in 1882 (100+ yr ago)

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Entrance of Sagrada Familia.

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Massive scaffolds inside to support the building process.
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This was Gaudi's design too, just in case you don't know.

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You will see these sprial staircases everywhere here.
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Even the ceiling has special architectural design.

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I took the elevator up to have a high view ...
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Looking southeast ... of Barcelona

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It is a very strange feeling. Standing in a church that will take 250 yrears to build.
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Everything is so detailed, inside or outside.
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This spiral staircase resembles a seasnail.

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Hello Barcelona.
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Staircase is actually wrapped spirally around the column structure. Make you dizzy yet?

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Jesus .... hang tight, I will call someone to help you.
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This is the column that I went up in an elevator.

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Massive back doors that were made of bronze...
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Who is Gracies ?

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Jesus, dont jump, ...the firefighters haven't setup the safety net yet !

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A structure that takes this long to build obviously need lots of money. These are the fund-raising campaign posters year by year.

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Museum of Picasso...
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Funny enough, I've never read anything about him at all. Good time to get acquainted with him.

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Arch de Triumph in Barcelona
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Don't be shy, come on in and spend some money here.
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KILOOOOOOO

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It should be "Arc de Triumf"
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Haven't seen this for a long while.

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This for sure will get me the championship in the shopping cart race tonight.
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Listen ....
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Again, .. pacella and SANGRIAAAA ~~~~

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You have to see this, the most amazing street musician.(3.9 MB file).

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Bicycle Tour stopped in front of the Cathedral.

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It's riot time. Nah ~~
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Catalunya in Spain is like Quebec in Canada. They always to go independent.
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Just a peaceful demonstration and lots of yelling.

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1L of freshly squeezed OJ for my breakfast.
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And some chorizo, spanish of course.
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Spanish Omelette.

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Ahhhhh, .. bottom up .. yeah.
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walking towards Maremagnum.
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Fishy ~ Fishy ~, how clear the water is ?

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I wish they build the board like this in Vancouver.
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Guess how I took this picture of myself ?

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I missed these rooftop antenna, I grew up with it.

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Can you see what my buddy see ?
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One of Barcelona beaches

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Hope this is not Gaudi's design.

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Nice and clean beach ..
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There is a section steep like this.

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I love these boardwalk restaurants.

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... a table for two please ...
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walking towards Port Olimpic

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Restaurants on Port Olimpic
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From the right, EU Falg, Catalunya Flag, Espana Flag, dunno the last one.

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Another interesting building.

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Magic ?? No ....
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Listen ....

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Listen careful. (7.3 MB file).

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Por Una Cabesa. (6 MB file).

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Cathedral ... being renovated.
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Look at this gate at Museum of Diocesa.

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Football match. FC Barcelona vs Real Zaragoza.

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The official store of FC Barlceona.
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Can't wait to get in.
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I am sure they got their football fans.

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Camp Nou Stadium, 95,000 seats.
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No. 10 Ronaldhino.
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It's not X'mas yet.

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Me at Camp Nou.

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Half time ...
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Goal .... 1-1 tied

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Moments before the 2nd goal by Ronaldhino. (2-1 Barcelona)

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Third Goal .... (3-1 Barcelona won). (1.9 MB file).

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Walking to Port Olimpic at night.
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I had dinner here (La Fonda Restaurante)!
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Tight parking spaces here as well at the marina.

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Seafood platter at La Fonda Restaurante.

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My last sangria at Barcelona
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Complimentary sweets and Scotch!

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Tapas at the Airport before I left Barcelona.

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Deep crystal blue at 35,000 feet.



Location: Barcelona, Spain





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