Tarraco-The Old Capital

the program that I am studying through in Barcelona takes the whole program on a field trip to the ancient city of Tarragona. After the hour bus ride from Barcelona, we arrived at a beautiful monastery on a hill. We toured the grounds on a rainy day so the water trickled through the cracks and ancient architecture of the bricks.

 We then went into the city of Taragonna, which was built by the Romans when they conquered Catlaonia. The Roman influence here is prominent with all the buildings following a similar style and structure. The city was not big and is still not huge but the city scape is absolutely gorgeous. Taragonna was used as a key port in Catalonia during the Roman times and was inhabited by merchants, lords, and working class people alike.

  Like many Roman built cities, they also had an ampitheater, but they built one on the sea which leads to some spectacular sunsets.

 Our time in Taragonna was short but it is very rich in culture and has an impressive history. What I found surprising was how well the Roman artifacts were preserved especially in and around the Circus which was a hub of activities ranging from chariot races to shopping for citizens.

I was lucky to get these photos because of the clear skies and beautiful sunlight that the mediterranean climate provides. 

Madrid

When I came to Spain I knew that at some point I would have to go see the capital. I was surprised to find different architecture when I was there but after learning about the history of the region and the different Arab influences on the city it became more clear to me why Barcelona looked so much different.

The streets were more narrow and it seemed like everywhere you went in the city there were people or cars trying to get through the crowded plazas. We even stumbled across a political protest for the Podemos party.

They were protesting government censorship and the oppression of free speech in Spain in addition to other issues

We explored the city during a walking tour and then found a great local spot to eat a big dinner early for this country (American habits die hard).

I spent an hour listening to these three musicians play in the park....they were very talented

I enjoyed the city of Madrid for the most part and the nightlife was very fun but expensive. I was glad when we came back to Barcelona because thats when this city became "home" for me. 

Park Guell

On one of the first free days I had in Barcelona, I decided to head up to Park Guell and see the view. I had been there before but I wanted to bring my camera to get better photos this time. I think it paid off because we were able to catch a very colorful sunset on a warm day. January is usually filled with snow and siting inside so it was a more than welcome exit from the ordinary for me.

The sun drapes over the western part of the city

The thing that amazed me most about the park was how Gaudi took the time to design something that would be walked over and abused by the element outdoors. The city that I fell in love with a few years ago reminded me immediately why I enjoyed it so much with its gritty beauty and sweeping landscapes.