New Year’s Day we started with the international mass in the Crypt of Sagrada Familia. After lighting a candle athe end of the service, we gathered the crew together to head to the zoo.
Walking to the zoo, we went along areas which felt we were in people’s back or front yards. There we small kids out on their scooters, others on bikes, and more babies going by in strollers. We passed the urban playgrounds of swings and slides as we made it to the Arc del Triumf, which looks very similar to its cousin in Paris. This one was built in 1888 as part of the World Exposition which also created their Park de la Ciutadella, their large Central Park. This is not where many tourists where. Instead we saw families having picnics, more bikes and strollers, and one person doing tai-chi like movements.
The zoo was at the end of this long park, and we enjoyed seeing the elephants which had all been rescued from a circus and were all being rehabilitated. As we checked out the large Komodo dragons, Siri and I got to reminisce about seeing them up close on Komodo Island and how then we just had to buy a goat, well we also had to rent a boat.
In the zoo, we took our family Christmas picture on the traditional Tió de Nadal, or commonly known as the “shit log.” We thought our guide had been kidding us about this local tradition of kids beating a large piece of wood with sticks while they compel this log to provide them presents like candies and nuts. These are placed and then magically found under a blanket covering the log’s backside. Seriouslu, look it up. I guess it is no different than trying to explain a pińata to a stranger.
After the zoo we headed to the beach for our afternoon tapas and paella. We just had dinner here the night before and it was dead around 8 pm, because everyone was still preparing for their fancy New Year Eve’s parties. This was not the case in the early afternoon on New Year’s Day. The beach and boardwalk was crowded along the popular Barcelonetta beach. We caught another colorful sunset as we headed to see another of Gaudi’s creation, the Casa Batllo.
Gaudi had a rich patron, Count Gaell, who allowed him to create his dream places in what is now an amazing park. Due to this fame, other wealthy industrialists also hired Gaudi to create their family home as a showpiece to others. Casa Batllo was actually a remodel of a plain, flat four-story building. He created it into this curved, bright, whimsical building that doesn’t seem to have any straight lines. Gaudi got his inspiration from nature and he worked hard to emulate God’s creations, like a curved ceiling and staircase like a nautilus shell, or the spine of snake. The front facade looks like it is in constant flowing motion as if it was melting before your eyes. We all enjoyed finding such fun creations around every corner and were impressed that his was created over 100 years ago and still brings joy to the senses.
The fun parts included the attic, used by the hired staff, which he created to be light and airy, unusual for that time period. It was a good way to finish our family New Year’s Day, in a fun home.
Back at the house, we finished up our card game of hand and foot, which provided more family time and conversations well into the night.
Siri and David Adventures 