Tibidabo & Picasso

As the end of our month-long vacation is nearing, we are trying to make the most of the few precious remaining days before it's back home, to work, school, routines and schedules.  The kids had been begging to return to the highest point in the city, Tibidabo, the site of a visit of ours earlier.  We metroed a few stops to Placa de Catalunya then hopped aboard the "Tibibus" for a trip up the hill to the park.  The kids, of course, weren't enamored with the views but interested in returning when all of the rides were open.  Today was our day, while Erica and Maryann went off for some more cultural enlightenment (see below).

I honestly cannot imagine an amusement park with a more inspirational view.  The roller coaster, Muntanya Russa was pretty cool too.  Next time I'll open my eyes and have a good look.  M & H each had 4-5 rides.

There are about 25 rides total, all nestled on the hillside at 6 different levels.  To me, half the fun was sorting through what each ride was about, as some things were quite different and a bit of a throwback to us.  We did just about everything except the "Hotel Krueger" as seen on the sign board above.  Apparently a horror "spectacle".  I did enjoy watching M & H navigate lines and ride instructions from the workers, all while having no idea in hell what they were trying to tell them.  Some useful perspective for them to have.

This is "Alaska", a sweet and gentle log flume-like ride complete with ball-balancing seals, penguins and polar bears.  Henry and Sully enjoy the thrill.

Here our two older monkeys (with their arms outstretched, to the right) enjoy "Diavolo".  Simply watching them spin around made me dizzy.  Followed by the unique "Castell Misterios", a horror/fun house that may have emotionally scarred Sully for life.  I escaped with some rug burns on my elbows and knees suffered while extricating him from a long, crowded, spinning carpet-lined cylinder.  Soon after this we had treats:  ice creams for kids and another local "Estrella Damm" beer for the dad.

Here the view of the city and the sea is enjoyed by all, at least for a nanosecond.  We did dream about a long, fast zip line all the way to the beach.

Sully waits on "La Granota" with a few friends.

Before heading for home we visited the Museu D'Automats, a fascinating collection of old automated machines.  Sure I liked the roller coaster and skiing scenes but it was interesting that the first one the kids were dying to show me was the "French Execution" during which a beheading occurs set to lively period music.  The mechanics of some of the machines (nearly 100 years old) were intriguing but equally so were cultural themes of the times.  In one of the machines, several African people were playing music, as were very similar-looking gorillas in the same scene.  Just not something that would pass the political correctness standards of today.

Without too much difficulty I was able to convince/coerce the crew back to the Tibibus for a ride down the hill.  After some dinner we met Erica and Maryann at the Font Magica for another light, sound and water show amongst the throngs.

-N

Once again today my mom and I snuck off for some adult time, this time at the Museu Picasso.  Picasso grew up and studied here in Barcelona before he moved to Paris in 1904.  He helped to found this museum in 1964 (the only museum devoted to his artwork that opened while he was still alive) and donated a lot of his work to the museum.  The museum covers most of his life, but focuses on his early work and influences.   This is another spot where I visited 20 years ago, and it has grown and changed since then.

It has been really fun and special to see all of the Barcelona sights that I saw with my sister when we were just out of college, now again with my mom.  After the Picasso museum, we tried to see the Miro museum in Montjuic, but it had closed early on Sunday.  Instead we walked around the Olympic stadium and surrounding area, including the other Olympic swimming venue.

The final piece in the tour of Barcelona for my mom before she leaves tomorrow morning was the Font Magica (magic fountain) that we had visited last week.  We met Nik and the kids there after they returned from Tibidabo.  We watched three sets of music at the fountain (the fountain and lights are choreographed to the music): the first was movie music, including themes from Titanic, Gone with the Wind and Star Wars, the second was music from Disney movies, sung in either Catalan or Spanish, and the last was... 80's music, including Video Killed the Radio Star and Forever Young.  Loved it!  As Nik said, you can't make this stuff up!

It is sad to say good bye to my mom; we have had a great time with her here.  We will see her in two weeks back in Portland though, after she returns from her travels.  

Not sure what tomorrow will bring, but we definitely need to swim in the Mediterranean again before we leave.

- E

Yesterday in Parc Guell; Gram and Sully among the Gaudi columns.

Parc Guell palm trees and bougainvillea.

Our apartment building; we are the 2 balconies on the 4th floor.