The Trip that was: October 8, 2016/2017/2018

 2016

Views of Rotterdam, along the Maas River. 

Erasmus Bridge

Balloons over Rotterdam.

2017

Breakfast in Bakkeveen. He's a magic man, mama!!

We returned to Zwolle to go to the Fundatie Musuem.  The "egg" blends so well, it disappears into the sky.

They look like they're staring at the landing of the Mothership!! And yes, there is a golden bird on the roof of the museum building. A T-Rex would have been more interesting.

A recently authenticated Van Gogh! It's an odd piece for Van Gogh,  with the figures dominating the foreground. You can read a bit of the controversy about it here.

2018

Flying out of Rotterdam Airport to Barcelona.  A pocket full of Potter's.  These nasty little bits do indeed taste like that nasty boy and his wretched Gryffindor House were blended into convenient, little black pills. 

All checked into our hotel! This was the view...

First stop...Mercado de la Boqueria! Such beautiful  jamón ibérico ! 

So, where do you go your first evening in Barcelona when you're exhausted and starving? A Jewish Kosher restaurant?!?!?! Maccabi...it was close, beautiful and on the Ramblas. 

We spent a great deal of time wandering around on the Ramblas.  This wide, pedestrian lane runs through the heart of Barcelona. It's filled with stalls, vendors, tourists and pickpockets!  

It was a beautiful night, so we kept walking...looking for our the Gaudi House that I was most excited to see...Casa Battlo!  WE had early entry tickets the following morning, so we knew how far we had to walk from the hotel. And it was BEAUTIUFL lit up at night. It's a Unesco World Heritage site, and a beautiful design from Antoni Gaudi.  Gaudi took of the redesign of this house in 1904 and completed it in 1906. The inspiration was a watery, marine environment, while the roof  was inspired by the story of St. George and the dragon.  The roofline, with it's iridescent tiles is the dragon's back, and in front, the cross stabbing downward, is the pommel of St. George's sword, to slay the beast.  Most people call it the "house of bones" for the balconies, or the "dragon house".  Call it what you want, but I call it ethereal and perfect. 

The house next door, Casa Amatller,  is equally beautiful, but in a completely different way. It's so typically Spanish, Catalan Nouveau.  Threre's a passageway that leadsto the Amatller Chocolate shop...quite a grand passage, don't you think?

Walking back to the Ramblas.

Tomorrow, more in Barcelona! A memorable trip to the Casa Battlo, and the amazing Sagrada Familia. 

Tot Ziens!