I recently visited Barcelona for the fourth time. This was a work trip so I didn’t have much time for sightseeing, but I did get to spend a little time in what has become my favorite city in the world.

I don’t drink coffee, so usually when I land in a new city I go in search of a grocery store where I can buy Coke Zero (preferably Cherry Coke Zero). This being Sunday, my store choices were limited, and the one I did find that was open had no Coke Zero (they did have Diet Coke which still works).

What they did have was Coke and Coke Zero premixed with Jack Daniels.

It says that it is “perfectly mixed”. I’m not so sure about that, as it also says “5%” alcohol. I prefer a one to four ratio of Jack to mixer. Since Jack Daniels is 80 proof, or 40% alcohol, a “perfectly” mixed drink would be closer to 10%.

No trip to Barcelona would be complete without seeing the Sagrada Família, the famous basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí that is nearing completion. I was staying several miles outside of the city center, but like most European cities it was a short trip on public transit to get to it. Unfortunately, being Sunday, the area was extremely crowded.

I stayed around just long enough to admire the new, central tower dedicated to Jesus, and then I decided to take a walk.

I set Dry Martini, one of my favorite bars, as the destination. It was a beautiful day for a long walk. On the way I passed a “Normal” store.

I just found the name funny, so I had to look it up to figure out what they sold. It is a Danish brand selling pre-packaged food and personal care products. Cool name, though.

Even though Gaudí is best known for the Sagrada and Park Güell, you’ll come across his work all over the city. On my walk I passed Casa Milá, also known as “La Pedrera”, which was a private residence built in the early part of the 20th century. It looks really cool, despite being on a major street.

I finally made it to Dry Martini.

As expected, none of my friends from ten years ago still work there. In fact, the vibe of the place was completely different - much more touristy. They also now have their own brand of gin, vodka and rum. In any case, I was thirsty so I stayed for a drink and some tapas before heading back to my hotel.

When I mention that Gaudí is everywhere, I mean it. Next to my hotel was the Pavellons Güell, a smaller work commissioned by Gaudí’s most famous patron, consisting of stables, a lunging ring, and gatehouses.

I didn’t have time to figure out how to take a tour, so I just wandered around outside. The roof of the lunging ring was cool:

but the most awesome thing was the dragon gate.

My pictures really don’t do it justice.

One night while walking to dinner I passed yet another Gaudí creation, the Portal Miralles. I literally walked by it until I thought, oh, cool wall.

When I visit countries that have such a long history, I often think to myself why don’t we combine utility with art anymore. But then I realized that these works are, at most, 150 years old. I guess we, as a society, just don’t care to create such things, mainly in the name of speed and cost.

Then again, if I had a contractor like the one building the Sagrada, I might have to have a word on that whole “speed” thing. (grin)

If you ever get the chance to visit Barcelona, I strongly urge you to take it. Be sure to build in enough time to discover all of the city’s treasures, but then, that may take more than one trip. I know I discover something new every time I go.