I'm sitting in the Amsterdam airport waiting for my flight home. I have a long layover here. There was a nice exhibit from the Rijksmuseum in the airport - 10 paintings demonstrating Dutch realism. I spent the last of my euros buying gifts since I don't think I'll be back in the EU anytime soon and it never seems worthwhile to keep exchanging money.
I really enjoyed Barcelona - it's a lovely city, with very nice people and great architecture and art. I came a few days early to look around but once work started up it was a nonstop, exhausting time until Saturday afternoon. I had time on Saturday to look around some more and there was a huge festival going on in town. I was told it is the largest festival in Spain, but no one could tell me exactly what it was for. Some saint. No one could identify which saint. The streets were packed with people of all ages, with music stages and booths everywhere. I love this part of Europe, everyone out walking and enjoying themselves.
I have become a big fan of Gaudi. He's certainly not to everyone's taste. On Saturday while touring one of his famous houses (Casa Battlo) one of my colleagues called Gaudi "a builder's nightmare" because of all of the curves and extraordinary tiled designs.
I would have posted a few more pictures but on Tuesday my phone was stolen while I was in the subway. I felt the bump and in the few seconds it took to register what had happened it was too late. Oh well. I was thankful that all was taken was my phone; one of my colleagues had his wallet pickpocketed. And I was grateful for the annoying security application that is mandatory on our phones (because we are given access to company email and corporate data from our phones we are required to run some security software) - there wasn't much that the thief could get to on my phone. With the magic of technology, once I got back to my hotel and onto my software phone on my laptop I was able to call my cell phone provider and freeze my phone. Now all I need to do is live with the inconvenience (how did we ever live without mobile phones???) until I get a replacement.
I'm going to try to play my cello when I get home. I really miss it...
3 comments:
I was in Barcelona back in 1990 on a tourist trip with my mom. It was a lot of fun, I had the best paella on Las Ramblas. I believe one has to like the molten wax look to appreciate Gaudi. Some people really hate his work. My mom really liked the Sagrada cathedral. It was certainly BIG.
We were there for the St. George and the Dragon festival. The dragons would have fire and smoke. People would douse themselves with water. The women threw all their handbags into the center so they could keep an eye on them while they folk danced.
Sorry to hear about your cell phone, but like you said, it could have been worse.
Wow, that's too bad about your cell phone! I hope the rest of your trip was enjoyable!
Yes, lucky it was just your cell phone. You are safe, and soon you'll be playing your cello again!
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