What a funny place...

Barcelona

What a funny place! Everyone I know that's been has raved about it, but I just didn't get it. Yeah, there was some really weird stuff by Gaudi there, but that was it.

What have I missed? We visited the Casa Mila, which is an apartment block designed by someone who's clearly had one too many mushrooms - take a look at these chimney stacks:

We also saw the Park Guel and the Sagrada Familia, both designed by the same wacky, mushroom munching genius, and they were cool.

But, the place had no soul. You go to Florence, or Rome, or Lisbon, and these places have an identity, some atmosphere or culture that makes them unique and alive. Barcelona just didn't have that. Hell, it didn't even have any culinary identity - even the guide book said "there's no such thing as local cuisine"!

And don't get me started on vegetarian food ...