More to come...

I have more to share about Gotland but I am unable to upload any more photos on to the blog.

I am trying to figure out how to fix this problem and hopefully I will be able to post more soon! 

Welcome to Visby, Gotland

CIEE took us to Gotland, a small Swedish island located in the Baltic Sea. Gotland is an adorable tourist/vacation spot for Swedes and non-Swedes alike. We stayed in Visby which is the largest city on the Island. Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably the most well preserved medieval city in Scandinavia.

The trip started off with a walking tour of the Visby.

Visby Glass = Delicious Locally Made Ice Cream

So colorful!

 We stopped for Fika at a small cafe where there was a poetry reading going on in the garden. So Swedish, the woman preforming was dressed like a fairy and was playing the violin.

 

Kladdkaka

 After Fikaing we continued our walk around the city.

Barcelona- Food

Lots of delicious food was consumed. Much of it went unphotographed. 

Here are the things I did snap a photo of...

Strawberry Gazpacho

Pan con Tomate.

 BRUNCH!! 

First time having brunch since coming to Europe.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Cool graphic.

Fried Eggs with Toast, Jam and Salad.

 On my last night in Barcelona, Michaela and I decided we were in the mood for some fresh fish. We did a little online search and decided on La Paradeta. It got great reviews and seemed like a perfect choice. 

We turned down a side street to see a line forming outside the restaurant (always a good sign). There were probably 10 people ahead of us and after about 25 minutes of waiting we steeped in to the restaurant...

 There in front of us was a spread of the freshest fish you could find. You told the guy what you wanted, they wrapped it up and sent it back to the kitchen to be cooked to order.

 Our order.

Plate full of Boiled Shrimp with Bread, Romeco Sauce and Beer.

Calamari for Michaela.

I also ordered two jumbo shrimp things which were sauteed to perfection. 

They had an amazing texture and delicious flavor.

Yummy!

Demolished.

Barcelona- Gaudi

Gaudi's architectural design can be seen all over Barcelona.

Gaudi's love for nature is expressed in all of his works. The beautiful, flowing organic shapes, pattern and design breaks up the square, rigid and grid-like cityscape.

Le Pedrera by Gaudi

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

I did not end up going into either of these museums. The buildings alone were absolutely breath taking. I did however go into the Sagrada Familia...

View from across the street.

The Passion Facade.

I am still at a loss of words for how amazing this place was. The lighting, the colors, the unbelievable design, the feeling I felt inside, the fact that it is still being built and may never be done... its... unbelievable. 

Just look.

Nativity Facade.

 

A model.

Creating the Model.

I did not want to leave. I just wanted to sit there and absorb the beauty and genius design.

I am pretty sure if I had visited when I was younger I would have decided to be an architect.