Burning Passion

No minute has been wasted since touching down in Barcelona. We danced all night and immediately upon waking up went sprinting to the beach. We got the lay of the land from no more than a screenshot and stopped along the way for croissants from the critically acclaimed Baluard. The crisp hot croissants exploded with chocolate and being satiated we downed some coffee embracing the fact that we made it to the first stop of our european tour. The beach was calling and once again sprinting we shoved through the catalonia freedom fighters, found the beach, dropped our towels, and plunged into the cool water. Most beaches are similar but the hot sands and the calm water of Bogatell beach is second to none. All the wading, sunbathing, and volleyball with the locals helped us work up quite an appetite. And we devoured tapas in the shadow of the 14th century Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea. The pimientos and then the potatoes reminded us of why catalonian cooking is so widely renowned. Much still to be done, we rushed through the streets after another coffee stop and stood in awe of the grand Sagrada Familia, a church decades in the making and one of the biggest buildings I've ever seen. It will not even be completed until 2026. Words mean nothing while reflecting on this church and we sat nearly speechless in the wake of its magnificence; gaudi architecture never fails to excite. We, now, have finally made it back to the flat where I have received the wifi necessary to publish this brief update. But now we must leave for the houses of gaudi and the fountain of monjuic, our adventures In barcelona have just begun. Tomorrow we are off to Rome where Italy shall know our velocity as well.