Too much Barcelona for a single post.

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Let's see where did I leave off? This week in the hostel has been pretty good, nice place, has its own bar on the first floor for meeting other travelers, and is pretty much in a perfect area.

WiFi has been atrocious, however, making it hard to get work done and also keep thing here updated and I'm afraid things have gotten a little out of hand. So, I'm giving up n giving a day by day accounting and just gonna let you all know the highlights, and even that might be too long.

Ciutadella Park is like a mini Central Park. It has a zoo, and sculpture garden-esque things, includeing a sculpture called 'Grief' by Josep Llimona, whom I may need to look more into.

The Barcelona Aquarium is the point when I really got serious about my Spanish, I went through all 20+ tanks only reading it all in Spanish, then cross checking myself on the English translations. They had a really fun final tank that was 35M across and 5M deep with sharks that you actually walk through a tunnel under it. Pictures when I get back.

The Picasso Museum increased my respect for old Pablo Ruiz. I'd only ever seen his later works from the Cubism days, and frankly, I don't much like cubism. But I was really enthralled with his earlier works. Particularly one called Wagon that is a picture of a wagon in a barn - sound bland but really well done, and google images is denying me at the moment. I took the time to stop and draw it and will scan my humble results later.

Gruell Park is up on a hill overlooking all of Barcelona, great view . Saw the Gaudi museum and am quickly becoming a convert to his works.

Museo de Historia: So, a museum is cool in and of itself, especially if you are a history nut like me. This museum was the palace of the counts of Spain in the past, that was moved here for the worlds fair. When moving it they found Roman ruins underneath it and began excavating, but then a civil war hit and they were temporarily forgotten. Just recently (in the 90's) they began excavating the basement again, but since its a museum they put an elevated pathway through it. There is a 4th-5th century early Christian Church, and a earlier winery and fishmonger, about 6-8 feet below that. At first it can be disorienting cause the way its excavated makes it look like they were gutting fish in the chapel. All this is underneath the adjacent Paca del Rei!

Barcelona Cathedral, Inside Sagrada Familia, walking along the coast, Actually finding the four existing Roman columns that no one has directions too (hint, they are beside the millstone embedded in the pavement marking the highest point in Roman Barcino, walk uphill.)

Too much to get into, just amazing. Today after walking along the Mediterranean for abotu five hours I found the street artist who had caught my eye last week. I bought original pieces (for peanuts). None are completely original but I liked this guys style. The guy selling was actually the nephew of the guy who painted them. I realized as I walked away that it was actually a different artist that had caught my eye my first week here, but it turns out I like what I bought more. They will be gifts for three people, and two canvases for myself.

Last night I was supposed to go to Passia the, purportedly, best club in the city with two new Norwegian friends, but I fell asleep and woke up way too late. Ah well.

So, the adventure continues. I fly back to NYC tomorrow, where I have about a day and a half before I head fro Washington D.C. to see William officially wed. After that the nose goes back to the grindstone. I am closing out old clients, getting my new assistant up to speed, and need to launch 2-3 side businesses, but this trip has very much affected my future plans.

I've joked about getting a houseboat or some mobile means of housing, my brother suggested an R.V., but I am beginning to think boat is the way to go - something that can cross the Atlantic, satellite internet, working on my art, working on the web, doing my thing... this deserves some thought.

The other thing this trip has taught me is more about the value of my time. If I am in a reasonable financial position to be doing things like this on a regular basis, the price of stress just went up. I have a decently secure job that lets me do stuff like this whenever I want (within reason), why am I still taking sidework that I don't much care about?

Thats it for now. See ya'll next in the States.

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