Oh my Gaudi!!

It has been a crazy last few days. Sunday we spent the day all over Barcelona by way of the Metro (that's an L.R.T. in Edmontonian:) The whole city has been touched by the hand of the famous architect Gaudi, as his work is sprinkled throughout Barcelona. We visited his Park Guell, home, several apartments he designed as well as the colossal unfinished church La Sagrada Familia. It's construction began over 100 years ago, and they are still gathering funds and building it's main 300' foot spire today. As we stepped out of the metro tunnel and into the shadow of this magnificent work of architecture, we were dwarfed by both it's size and amazing blend of old and new to the finest detail. Our next conquest was to climb Montjuic. This is a mountain housing the olympic stadium, Museu Nacional d'art de Catalunya (a huge museum  that looked like the legislature building sitting on the butter dome), and Castell de Monjuic ( a Spanish castle with all the usual fixins, ie. giant cannons overlooking the bay and brick floored hanging squares.) It was awesome, we treated ourselves to a gondola ride to get down. Monday was destined for greatness, the busy hustle and bustle of the local shops was sure to quiet as locals returned to work and Sarah planned to efficiently shop at all the designer stores we had seen so far on our travels. Or so we thought. As it turned out, it was Spanish valentines day (Festa Di San Marco)! We got a number of explanations from the locals, ranging from a princess falling in love with rat, to a dragon slayer who collects blood that becomes a rose. At any rate, the girls get flowers and the boys get books. Every street corner was decorated with red and yellow striped tables crammed with books and roses. Wall to wall people on the street, shoulder to shoulder. No one In the shops, everyone on the street.  A pickpocket nightmare for two curious tourists.  Right now it is Wednesday April 25, 2012. We have been riding a train for 16 hours on our way to Venice. We're almost there. We took a night train and got rested up while chatting with some friends we made from LA. We're skimming through our lonely planet book and starting to make a plan for Italy, and what do we see? A local festival, in which men and women exchange books and roses on the street corners Ina wild festive party. Hold on to your bags, Here we go again!!! Stay tuned, pics to follow, our connection here is a little slow. Pat and Sarah