We've had an eventful first week in Barcelona. We arrived last Sunday night in the dark and rain and took a taxi to the apartment. This apartment was one of the first I rented when planning our trip a year ago. At that time, I had read warnings about the danger of renting apartments through individual owners on Homeaway and other websites, so I thought it would be safer to use a rental agency stationed in the US. Big mistake. This was the worst apartment we've rented in the last five months. It didn't look like the pictures I had been shown. The apartment was dirty, dingy, dark, and totally icky. The biggest problem, though, was lack of internet access. Moving on, we found another apartment using Homeaway and the internet access in the café across the street. Three days later we were ensconced in a beautiful, spacious, modern apartment with a balcony that overlooks the Passeig de Gracias (Barcelona's version of Rodeo Drive). We're in the Eixample area of the city, just a block north of the Placa de Catalunya. It's very central and has a subway just outside the front door for easy access to everything. Lesson learned.  Individual people, for the most part, are honest and forthright; rental agents just want your money and have no scruples about not delivering on their promises.   

Despite the apartment hassles, we have managed to see a few of the sights in Barcelona . Of course, everyone who visits walks Las Rambles and we joined the throngs gawking and gazing at each other as they made their way down the famous pedestrian street. We detoured into La Boqueria market and watched the street performers. We've decided that Barcelona funnels every tourist into Las Ramblas and therefore, keeps them out of the way of the people who live in the city. It's a really crowded and crazy scene with thousands upon thousands of tourists bombarded with sensory overload and no idea which direction to turn. Kind of like a tourist cattle drive from one end of Las Ramblas at Placa de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus statue at the other end.

Another day we visited the famous La Familia Sagrada and learned more about Antonio Gaudi, the Catalunyan hero and genius. His architecture is fanciful with soaring columns meant to resemble trees and oversized fruit and bread baskets on turrets. The size and scope of the cathedral is impressive. The stained glass inside casts beautiful colors on the tree-like columns and the space is soaring and massive . We ascended the Passion façade tower and took in the views through the tiny windows at the top. I'm not a Gaudi fan, but this is one massive project.

Much of the architecture of Barcelona is beautiful. As we walk the streets we can't help but admire the old buildings with beautiful iron balconies and tile work. There are many street improvement projects everywhere we go. Barcelona seems very proud of its architecture and working hard to create wide, pedestrian friendly boulevards for everyone to enjoy the beauty of the city buildings.

Yesterday we hopped the subway and went to Barceloneta, the peninsula on the south side of the city that juts into the Mediterranean. We walked along a beach about 2 miles long filled with sun bathers and little shops and cafes. This leads to the Olympic Village built years ago when Barcelona hosted the Olympics. It's a lovely beach and nice walk with wide sidewalks and bike lanes. It was nearly as crowded with people as the city center itself, but it was nice to walk next to the beach. The Mediterranean is a calm, blue body of water just perfect for splashing and playing.

We plan to explore more of Barcelona next week and we'll keep you posted. Enjoy the pics!