Hi all,
So I don't quite know where to begin. It's been a while since I've blogged anything!
To be honest, I have tried to write one long chronological blog about my trip to Europe this past summer, but it's been hard to find time writing everything in one blog. So instead, I've decided to blog about my trip in a series of blogs, and not bound to a strict timeline.
This one will focus on the beginning of the trip, and Barcelona.
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THE START:
We took a journey, my brother, sister, and I. Really, we lived the experience of a lifetime. One of the best parts of it was that our uncle from the Philippines whom we haven't seen in person in a long time came along with us, too. Together, we traveled 6 countries in Europe: Netherlands, Italy, Vatican City, Germany, Spain, and France (my luggage did 7, with a pit-stop in England, but I'll talk about that later lol).
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| The night we left Sacramento, CA to start our trip. Bye USA! |
A lot of preparation went into this 2 week trip, yet, perhaps, a lot more effort went into internalizing how extremely blessed I was to experience anything like this. In fact, a recurring prayer that went through my mind throughout the trip was "God, you're showing me so many beautiful things. How blessed I am, my Lord. Thank you so much... I can't put into words my gratitude".
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| A little reading on the plane to Amsterdam |
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| In-flight movies while over the UK. |
At one point, nearly 12 hours of flying from lift-off in Sac and after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, we were above UK. And I hadn't been on a plane in at least 8 years.
Wow, I'm really, seriously flying over England right now! Right below, I thought,
is a beautiful country... All the dreams I've ever had about the UK flashed in my head.
The River Thames, Big Ben, London Eye, home of the Beatles, Dickens, T.S. Eliot, and Gabrielle Aplin. The Station Sessions. It's all below me! Yes, this novel feeling of surreal gratitude never left me... enhanced my trip... and made my trip really :)
BARCELONA:
Barcelona, Spain.
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| Aeroport de Barcelona |
Arriving in Barcelona marked the last couple of cities before the end of our trip. And my goodness was Barcelona beautiful.
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| Barcelona Cathedral |
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| The beautiful Gothic ceiling of the Barcelona Cathedral |
Having already been to Italy at this point of the trip, I've seen the most beautiful Baroque and high Renaissance Basilicas, but the most beautiful Gothic cathedral wasn't in Italy. Or France (although nothing beat having Mass at Notre Dame, which itself was a close Gothic cathedral second). It is in Spain.
The Barcelona Cathedral was the ethereal Gothic cathedral. Being in there, I was simply full of awe. I think what really made it stood out was that its piercing reverent atmosphere. I looked up at those ceilings and felt the emptiness of those high raised ceilings. Unlike ceilings colorfully adorned, they were bare. It was its simplicity that struck me and brought tears to my eyes and peace to my soul. This is what people 400 years ago saw. This is what strengthened them during difficult moments, I am sure.
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| Gaudi's Casa Batlló |
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Gaudi's Sagrada Família
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| Barcelona Olympic Stadium |
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Group Picture in front of Camp Nou, FCB
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| Machiatto on the Beach of Barcelona |
A very special moment in Barcelona was while ascending the stairs to Gaudi's Park Güell and taking a quick break and sitting down on a park bench in a small plaza. A group of young children were playing football, and their parents were watching them besides their makeshift field. Families were spending time together outside and enjoying their day.
I left Barcelona with a serene sense of happiness.
