Barca! Barca! Baaarrrrrca!

And so the journey begins.  After 13:30 hours of travel, we arrived in the heart of Catalan!  As we were on our decent into Barcelona,  I was staring out the window at the Spanish coast that lines the Mediteranian Sea, and I instantly thought, we don't have enough time here!  Having travelled along the French and Italian coast that boarder this magical body of water, I know the treasures that lie within those little villages.  I guess we will just have to come back...  But this trip isn't about a tour of Spain, it's about the wonderful city of Barcelona.

The taxi ride in from the airport was a very quick 25 mins.  As you approach the city centre, the area around you slowly starts to increase in population density.  Most of the buildings are no more than 10 stories high, but gradually you start to see snippits of the contemporary cutting edge architecture that graces the skyline.

Our first impression of the city, was how clean it is.  In this way, it reminds me of what visitors to Calgary always tell me when the visit our city for the first time.

After a little break at the hotel, we wandered out the door, right on to Barcelona's famous La Rambla Street.  This a one kilometre long pedestrian mall that is lined with shops and restaurants.  It was pretty packed for Wednesday in November.  I can't imagine what it's like on a hot day in August....

About 5 mins walk from our hotel is on the of coolest spots on La Rambla, La Boqueria Mercat.  Past readers of the Frog will know that there is very little that I like more than a European market.  This market may actually trump the incredible Borough Market in London.  We hit it around 6:30, when most of the vendors were already closed, but the bit we did see was awesome.

 

Jucielona! 

This is the most elaborate leg shaving operation that I have ever seen.  I think they sell the home version in a lady Bic.

I am sure that there day started like any old day, until...  "Hey guys, look at the this cool mesh looking thing, let's check it out!"  Further proof, that not everyone is a born leader....

The mushroom selection was awesome.  You can almost smell the garlic and hear the sizzling...

I can pretty much guarantee that everyday we are here will start with a visit to La Boqueria Mercat.  I read on the plane that a market has existed in some form here since 1217.  Hopefully those mushrooms aren't originals....

We checked out a cool old church just off of La Rambla.  

Well this first night isn't like any other first night on our travels.  Normally we would wander around for a bit, have a bite to eat and call it a day.  But not this time.  Tonight we had a date with 99,786 Spaniards at the storied Camp Nou Stadium, home of Futbol Club Barcelona.  The stadium is the largest in Europe, and although it feels relatively new, it opened in September 1957!  Looking around the grounds, it didn't look like there was a bad seat in the house.  Now here is the crazy thing, somehow they manage to move almost 100,000 people out of there quicker than calgary can move 17,000 people from a Flames game.

Fin ready to grace the terraces of the Camp Nou, sporting his new Neymar Jr jersey.  "Dad, who is Neymar Sr?"

Waiting for the Metro to the game.   It was an 8:45 kickoff, who stays up that late?

Hello Camp Nou!

B sporting her new Messi jersey.  She wouldn't let me get it spelt Messy.... Sometimes the truth hurts. 

Amazingly, this photo took about 5 mins to take.  apparently it sucks to have to coordinate with your sibling to hold up a scarf.  But from Fin's great smile, you can tell that he was ok with it.... 

Wednesday night Champions League football.  What every fan and player wants their club to be a part of.

We had front row seats on the fourth level, and they were spectacular.

I'm not going to lie to you, about 18 mins into the first half, I was about as tired as I have ever been in my life.  But a riveting game, and a weird Spanish sausage at half time helped me make it through.