A letter to Barcelona

"Barcelona - it was the first time that we met
Barcelona - how can I forget
The moment that you stepped into the room you took my breath away
Barcelona - la musica vibros
Barcelona - y ella nos unio
And if God willing we will meet again someday" Freddie Mercury & Mike Moran

Dear Barcelona,

Why did I ever think that spending one entire day with you would be enough? From the moment we entered your labyrinth of one way streets, I knew we were doomed. For two hours we searched for our hotel, round and round your phallic Tour Abracsas.

You would not reveal your glorious complex self to us in such a short time! You would only tease us with a glimpse of what we could have known, what we should have experienced together.

We tried to pay homage to your native son, Antonio Gaudi. We really did! Please let me explain...the only reason we didn't get off the bus to see Casa Batllo and Casa Mila was so that we could spend our precious minutes touring his still unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia and stroll through his most amazing Park Guell. But our plans were foiled! The two hour lineup that wrapped around Gaudi's love left us standing in the cold, admiring its brilliant intricacies from the outside. Not to worry, we thought, we still had Park Guell to enjoy. But that too, was not to be. We missed the stop for Park Guell and could not return. Instead we strolled along Avenida Tibidabo, the street of the fictional Aldaya mansion in Shadow of the Wind and then through the gardens of the Royal Palace. We walked along Las Ramblas and explored your historic centre, the Barrio Gotico. We laughed at the snow white geese bathing in the lush inner courtyard of the 13th century Cathedral and reveled in your beauty with a 360 degree view from its roof.

But it was not enough. Not enough time for museums or Montjuic, el Pueblo Espanol or the waterfront. They will have to be for another time.

Oh Barcelona, forgive me for thinking it could be done...for thinking I could penetrate into your modernista soul in such a short time!

Until we meet again...