Arc de Triomf and Montjuic

Arc de Triomf

Day before yesterday we visited the neighborhood of La Ribera and saw the Arc de Triomf, which is at the end of a large park called Parc de la Ciutadella.  Follow me!

The park is so charming, with lots of random statues and really picturesque buildings scattered around.

There are a couple museums and a zoo in the park, but the highlight for me was The Arc de Triomf:

It's at the end of this long stretch:

Pretty statues:

So pretty!

Montjuic

Yesterday we went to the neighborhood of Montjuic in style:

Let's back up.  We grabbed a cab to the neighborhood of Barceloneta, which is near the water, in order to catch the:

Aaron got snap-happy in the cab:

Saw this random loopy thing:

Then we got to the sky lift thing and got tickets:

and waited in line:

Then went up the elevator:

We had to wait in line again at the top and it was HOT!  Since a lift only comes once every 10 minutes, we didn't get in for about 30 minutes.

This is the very high-tech pulley system:

We finally get on and off we go!

Hey, there's the loopy thing from up high:

The ride was about 7 minutes, but super fun and kinda scary because you really feel like you're hanging by just a wire.  Once we got to the other side of the city (Montjuic), we walked through a park:

The park was gorgeous.  It had a view of both the water and the city.  It was the perfect bird's eye view.

I forgot to get a picture of the water, but it's just to the right a little bit.

Can you spot La Sagrada Familia and La Cathedral?

La Sagrada Familia:

La Cathedral:

We walked through the neighborhood and passed a theater:

and another park with fountain steps:

until we got to Museu National d'Art de Catalunya:

We were here a couple weeks ago, but it was nighttime and hard to see.

View from other side:

We were there for the fountain show, La Font Magica.  Here's the fountain before the show:

Here's the crowd:

This city is beautiful:

Those are fountains on both sides of the street:

On both sides of the street are these bridges:

and they were packed with people:

While we were waiting, we gave churros a second chance.  

This one was different.  It was fresh and piping hot, but completely plain.  You pour the sugar on yourself.  It was weird, but not bad and no cinnamon.

Time for the show!

It was fantastic and we loved it!  I took a few videos (it was a 25 minute show!):

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

There's a reason they call it a magic fountain show.  It put all other fountain shows to shame (I'm talking to you, Bellagio!).

It's such a great show that my Lonely Planet guide book actually put it on the cover:

Say what?!?

We went back home and I made pasta:

and to end the night, we went back to our favorite bar one last time.

Aaron and Caesar:

Aaron and Luca (aka Robin Thicke):

Since David wasn't working that night, I'll include a picture Aaron took a few nights ago:

Coolest bar with the nicest guys.  Speaking of nice, just for Aaron they opened a special bottle of Macallan and gave him a free drink:

I took one whiff and passed out.  Whiskey is NOT my thing.

I ordered the Summer Collins, which was a rip off a Tom Collins, but so different.

There was actually a tiny bowl made of ice with fruit in it on top:

Adorable!    I lost the picture I took of the menu, but here's the old one I took before (Summer Collins is at the bottom):

This bar is seriously amazing!

Aaron ordered The Gentleman:

It was a little sweet (from the rum and chocolate) and a little bitter (from the coffee) and oh so fancy!

Thanks Casa Gracia!  We will miss you!!