Ain't No Groundhog in Barcelona

I'm not sure how Barcelonans acknowledge the shift from winter to spring. There definitely isn't a man with a monocle in an oversized trench coat waiting for a groundhog to run from its fearsome shadow. So far, there hasn't even been a fashion change - no local would dare wear flip flops or short sleeves. All I know is that spring is here, just in time to give us sunburn and T-shirt weather before we fly back across the pond.

The energy has grown along with the leaves. Just by walking down Las Ramblas or towards the Port, there seems to be more people out and about. Gelatto places are overflowing. The line for Bo-de-B is out the door and then some. The street vendors walk up to you with dollar beers and offer "cerveza beer, something else?" Trees are somewhere between green and purple or both. This is the Barcelona weather we've been waiting for.

Yesterday, we were so excited that the weather was finally nice that we decided we didn't need sunscreen at the beach. Bad idea.

Here's something worth noting - in Spain, Frisbees are like UFOs. They never throw them and they're scared when one comes towards them. We've busted out the frisbee the last two weekends, and more people than you can count stop to watch this foreign, flying disc. I think they're amused by how much we like it. In Europe, father and son don't go out to the backyard to play catch...just to play kick I guess?

A day at the beach in Barcelona is like a day in the bazaars in Morocco. If you ever want to be in a situation where you can buy beer, coconut, henna tattoos, shawls, five euro massages, or maybe some sort of suspicious drug without getting up from your beach towel, Barcelona is the place for you. Who knows, you might even get to see the token naked weirdos walking up and down the shore. It's no doubt great for people watching.

The DeGennaros at Parc Guell. One of the first days of springlike weather we've had!

Dave and I in what seems to be a posed conversation at Parc de la Ciutadela. 

Walking towards the port and we ran into this funkadelic bridge. Who would have thought that it would swing out sideways to let a boat go through. 

These are the types of trees taking over the streets nowadays. Pretty cool, I must say.

Plazas getting more and more crowded.

Kelly and I at the Plaza of Parc Guell. Palm trees make it look like home!

One of the more famous views from Parc Guell.

Steve roughing out back surgery 3 days before coming to Barcelona. You wouldn't know it from this picture!

Gaudi's two Gingerbread-like houses presiding over the entrance to Parc Guell.

Megan in front of Gaudi's famous lizard!

Me and Megan at the cross atop Parc Guell.

Even the apartments look like spring!

Around this time of the year, you start seeing some of these big people walking around on the weekends. 

One of the worlds largest super yachts - Anastasia - at Port Vell. We stopped and starred at this for a good 10 minutes, and we thought about bribing the crew to let us on. I'm sure we weren't the first.

One of these is not a tree. Try and figure out for yourself.

Me, Dave and Alex at Ciutadela.

Grass grass grass!

With 10 days left in Barcelona, I plan to take advantage of the perfect, 70 degree weather forecasted for the rest of my stay. After that, it's off to Italy for a week...let's hope the weather is on our side there too!