Day 83 - What I've learnt from the trip

1) Open your eyes big big and you'll be safe.
Like those women outside the Mezquita giving out some branch of herbs. I didn't accept it, but I suspect if you do, they will over charge you. Or the person who solicit donations for disabled children outside the La Sagrada Familia - how come your organisation got no logo or proper letterhead on your sign up sheet? Where's your license? Why are you so persistent at tourists but not locals? Or the fake police with pathetic cloth badges.

Open your eyes big big when you travel and you'll be safe.

2) Spanish Meal Timings - I can't get use to it.
Lunch at 2 or 3pm? That I can get use to. But dinner at 9pm? I can't. But it's an interesting food culture.

3) There is a life outside work
Like the shop owners who close for 2 hours to go home for lunch. Life still goes on what, despite the small inconvenience that wouldn't cost a life. I learn to be more appreciative of others' effort to balance their life with work.

4) Spain is very very very diverse
Like some of the travellers at the hostel in Córdoba put it, it's more like the United States of Spain. Each region is different, and the regional identity is so strong, even though they all speak Spanish, their local language is still very much in use in everyday life (and appreciated if you could attempt to speak some instead of Spanish). Especially in Barcelona, the capital of the Catalonia region - Catalan language is used as frequently as Spanish in everyday life. I was told that Catalan language is a lot closer to French than Spanish. I also hear that the regional identity at San Sebastian is very distinct, and fiercely protected.

5) Know where Spanish dishes come from and where not to eat it
Different regions produced different food habits and food culture. Like tapas came from the Andalusia region, so you're better off not eating tapas at Barcelona as it is likely to be more touristy. I was told that tapas in San Sebastian is very different from what's served in other parts of Spain. Paella, as much as it is seen as a "Spanish dish", is considered a Valencian regional dish (southeast region), but you'll see it everywhere in tourist traps.

Day 82 - España Solo - Barcelona II and back to London

Last day in Spain. When I planned this trip, I wanted to move on to Germany or Paris from here. But the prices are either crazy or the journey is so long, that I've decided that it was more worth it to return to London first before heading to Vienna to visit Shiyang a few days later.

The living room in my "apartment".

After my usual bread and tuna, I headed off to the metro station. Need to take a bus to Girona Airport, which is a neighbouring town about 80km away from Barcelona. What to do, budget airlines are like this.

Nice little gesture on the metro. The red arrow points to where the door would open at the next stop. Then again, it's so one-sided for Singapore's MRT, that I doubt there is any use for such indicators.

The lady at the counter refuse to accept my €50 note. Hello? €12 ticket, no change for €50? None of the shop owners in the bus station were willing to change either. It was when I beg the lady then she dig out some changes. !@£!@$!%!%

1 hour and €12 later, I've finally arrived at small Girona Airport.

I've never seen so many bimbos before! Duty free bimbos somemore!

Cook your own Paella. Pan included.

Finally it's time to board the plane. One problem - there is no passport control to return my departure card to! Ryanair staff suggested that I return it at London.

Flying over the white cliffs of Dover.

Going through UK immigration is always a pain. Sigh.

Day 81 - España Solo - Barcelona

8 hours later, I've finally arrived at Barcelona Sants Station. Well, it's actually a 7 hours ride. But it's DST day, i.e. at 2am on the last Sunday of March, the clock is tuned forward by 1 hour, so that more of day time will have the sun. Great, now the sun will set at 9+pm instead of 8+pm.

Spotted on the Metro in Barcelona. I think it's a great design - the station you're approaching will be blinking, while the station that has been travelled to would light up.

Here in Barcelona, the countdown for the metro's arrival is not by the minute, but by the second! Of course the train didn't reach at exactly 0 sec, about 10-30 seconds.

I headed off to my hostel. The lady at the counter said "why only 1 night in Barcelona? It's not enough!" But oh well, I know what I want to see. The mix dorm room wasn't ready by the time it was time to check-in, so they upgrade me to a twin sharing room for the same price. Nice people.

Immediately, I dropped of my bags and head of to the key attraction of Barcelona - the La Sagrada Familia (The Sacred Family), Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece.

It's still under construction, since 1882

The queue is really long. Sigh. But it moved quite fast. I waited for about 15 minutes. Proceed to rent the audioguide.

Sculptures at the West facing facade, or the Passion Facade. Intentional for the Passion of Christ to be depicted on the facade that face the setting sun.

The Passion of Christ depicted on the facade. The sculptures were intentionally made bare, to express the sufferings of Jesus.

A picture of what the La Sagrada Familia would look like from the top.

The current spires representing the Apostles and Evangelists are already so tall (about 100+m). Yet, the tallest one that is planned(the one with the huge cross) has yet to be built. It's suppose to represent Jesus, at 170m. Gaudí planned it to be shorter than a representation of God elsewhere in Barcelona, as according to Gaudí, nothing should be higher than God.

My favourite facade. The headphones were from the audioguide. The facade was suppose to feel like it's made of bones.

No, it's not Sudoku. According to the audioguide, no matter how you add up the numbers, it will be "33", the age which Jesus died. And no, the 2 sculptures are not kissing lah. It's from the scene where Jesus told Judas to do what's suppose to do, i.e. betray him.

Words from the gospels, with key words about Jesus being highlighted in gold.

Beautiful stain glass. The blue represents water, while the red represents life.

Instead of flying buttress, modernist Gaudi mimic the trees of a forest to design the pillars. It's suppose to symbolise how the religion "shelters" the flock, and to induce a contemplative state as well. Notice that the pillars are of different colours? Well, cause it's made of different stones. Stronger stones, bearing heavier weight are at the bottom, while weaker stones, bearing lighter weight, are at the top.

The East Facade, or the Nativity Facade. A lot more joyous and elaborately decorated than the Passion Facade. It depicts the birth of Jesus mah, of course must be joyous! Intentional that the facade which depicts the Nativity faces the rising sun.

A mountain tortoise. Why got a sua ku here? Well, there are 2 tortoises here in the facade, "supporting" everything. The one that faces the sea is a sea turtle, while this suaku here faces the hills of Barcelona.

See the greenish thing in the middle of the 4 spires? It represents a cyprus tree, with a dove on it, symbolising the eternalness of the religion. The "bridge" between the 2 middle spires have a bronze carving of Jesus, symbolising his ascension.

I thought this facade is a little too much for the minimalist me, but it's still beautiful nonetheless.

Gaudí did not use equations to design the La Sagrada Familia. Instead, he hung weights on strings, like this, to determine how the structure should be like to support the weight. If you invert this around, you'll notice that it looks like the design of the temple. No, it's not an excuse for you not to study your maths.

Still under construction. There is suppose to be a Glory Facade as well, as planned by Gaudí. I wonder what it would be like.

What can I say? I'm blown away by the architecture and the symbolism. The audio guide was really worth every single cent - I spent 3 hours with it! But what struck me most is how religion motivate and inspires Gaudí to create such a wonder. And I think the beauty of this place is not it's size or height, but the little symbolism and "codes" added by Gaudí. Too bad he died before it can be completed. Oh yes, your admission ticket? It goes into the fund that finance the construction of this temple.

Next I head off to Parc Güell, another Gaudi's work. As usual, it's filled with tourists.

A park with mosaic galore, along with curves, nature-inspired modernist designs of Gaudí

Basker playing a "Hang". It sounds like a Caribbean steal drum.

View from the top. See if you can spot the La Sagrada Familia, with the construction cranes. Much of Parc Güell is out of bounds unfortunately.

Tree-inspired design for this walkway. I was told this was used for Meteor Garden 2, but I didn't watch it, so I don't know.

More mosaic beauty.

I thought Parc Güell is a little over-rated. But a wonderful view of Barcelona. So no complains lor. Continued walking down to explore central Barcelona.

Casa Mila, or La Pedrera, another of Gaudi's modernist work.

The famous La Rambia.

After walking for like 5km? I took a break. Chocolate (pronounced as Chor-co-la-teh) con Churros, a Spanish breakfast thing. Super-thick hot chocolate with dough fritters. I mean really thick.

I went back to the La Sagrada Familia for night shots. On the way, encountered a duo who pretended to be fake police to attempt to scam me. But sorry, your cloth badge that looks like it was bought from Golden Mile covering your details in your IC is just too suspicious to be true. They said "if you don't show me your passport, I'll call reinforcement". Call lor. Besides, why would you demand for my passport before checking that I'm a tourist? In the end, he took out his phone, dialled some numbers, and said that I could go, while he retained the "tourist" who was asking me for directions before those 2 popped out. Strangly, he showed them his passport and had it returned, yet he was retained? They walked away together, which I suspect that they are a team, and that "tourist" is there to keep me in place and feel that it's ok to pass them my passport. Please lah, want to scam people, can be smarter or not?

The Passion facade at night. It really looks like it's made of bones.

Bumped into a Korean lady who asked if I could help her take a picture with it. I used my tripod. Then she offered to help me do the same. Hehe.

Nativity Facade at night.

Bumped into the same Korean Lady later. Did the same thing.

I then walk back to the hostel for a break. The hostel is arranged in an apartment manner, where a few rooms share a kitchen, 2 toilets and a living room. Turns out I'm sharing a room with a Vietnamese girl who's studying in the States and doing exchange in London. Along with her are 2 Chinese girls who are studying in Singapore and are on exchange in London as well.

Had a long talk. They were telling me how their paella was crappy here (thank goodness I had it in Córdoba) . I felt uncomfortable sharing a room with the Vietnamese girl, so I offered to sleep on the sofa, even though she's fine with me sharing the room. Then 4 spanish guy came back, asking if I mind that they watch TV. No problem. They were even nice enough to smoke outside at the balcony, even though it was cold. But the only problem I had was that they were watching soft porn on TV. Luckily they were only watching it for 1 minute before switching to some Spanish comedy.

Day 80 - España Solo - Córdoba II

Zaki and I woked up early to have breakfast at the hostel. Most importantly, we want to head to the Mezquita for the free entrance period.

But there was a slight problem at the Mezquita. They don't allow big bags like my backpack in. So I had to walk back to the hostel, who kindly let me store my backpack securely for free, and walk back to the Mezquita. I have no idea why they don't allow my bag in, and there was no cloakroom somemore. I guess it's disrespectful to bring such a big bag to a religious site. Then again, probably the lady at the hostel is right when she said "They were probably worried that you'll steal the Mezquita with your bag"

By then, Zaki was almost done with the Mezquita, and was rushing off for the bus to the Medina Palace.

The famous forest of pillars in the Mezquita. It's suppose to evoke the feeling of palm trees.

I'm a sucker for Arabesque designs.

A Cathedral in the middle of the Mezquita. When Alfonso the (can't remember the number) re-conquered Spain from the Moors, he stressed that the architecture of the Mezquita must be retained with minimal changes. Indeed, much of the Mezquita has been remained.

I think it is this wall that points to Mecca.

There were other panels depicting stories from the Bible, but like I said, I'm a sucker for Arabesque designs.

The huge courtyard within the Mezquita.

I'm not sure if this is a modern addition, but I love how Arabic and European elements integrate on this gate!

I'm so in love with the Mezquita.

Next I headed off to the Fortress of Alcazar, where the Christian Kings resided. Unfortunately, all the descriptions were written in Spanish, so I couldn't learn more about the place.

The huge Gardens of Alcazar. An unfortunately drizzly day.

Ponds leading to the fortress.

I went on to explore Córdoba.

And you thought the Merlion was the only "vomiting" fountain.

Think this wall would be gorgeous when the flowers are in full bloom in summer.

A small synagogue in the Jewish Quarters. Strangely, Arabesque designs were used.

Spotted this poster on my way to Plaza Corredera. A tribute to my fellow Machas.

A welcome break from my usual bread and tuna - Egg sandwich.

The market. Seems familiar doesn't it? I was wondering why there was a rabbit hanging from a stall. And I realise it's a butcher selling it.

1 pm at Plaza Corredera. Why so quiet? Cause Spanish lunch time starts at 2pm odd. Many non-eating shops in Córdoba follows the Spanish tradition of closing their shop to go home for lunch, and reopen at about 3 or 4pm.

Spontaneous dancing. I have no idea what's the occasion, but there were more of these travelling bands of men in black and red sash today.

Bar Santos, as recommended by Lonely Planet. Good place to try cheap Tapas.

Spanish Omelette. It was good, and only €1.50!

I was done exploring most of Córdoba, and decided to head back to the Mezquita area. I've fallen in love with this wonderful small city, that ooze so much charm.

More travelling bands. I seriously have no idea what's the occasion.

The courtyard of the Mezquita. Sunnier weather at last.

I basically sat around the area to wait for night fall, for night shots and my overnight train. In the meantime, I became the official photographer for 7 groups of people. :P

The Mezquita at night. It's just so gorgeous.

The Roman Bridge at night. I wonder if they'll turn off the lights for Earth Hour today?

The very modern Córdoba train station. Bumped into Zaki here, who's taking an earlier train. He complained about the palace being "nothing much" and poorly maintained. Thank goodness I gave it a miss.

Getting down to the platform. Due to the 2004 Madrid Train Bombings, you have to have your belongings scanned before going on to the platform.

I think Córdoba is my favourite European city now. Off to Barcelona!