Theme/ MACBA

After some thought, I have decided what I want the theme of my blog to be. Obviously I have discovered many differences between Catalans and Americans in my first few weeks here in Barcelona. Specifically though, I want to focus on the differences in the way we view our built environment.
So here it goes! In my first experiences at Barcelona i've noticed that there are far more places in Barcelona's environment for people to hang out, relax, and have fun. Very rarely in the US (at least in the places that I have been) have there been places like this. I find it very relaxing and refreshing and I wish there were more places like this is the US. One place that we have visited that really shows the way the Catalans embrace an open space is the MACBA (museu d'art contemporani de Barcelona). Here are some pictures what a cool public space it is

Mercat Sant Antoni

Jenna discovered today that we live very close to Mercat de St. Antoni so we decided to check it out this morning. We only knew that they had a "market" every Sunday but apparently they have a food market almost all week long, a clothes market several days a week, and a book market Sunday morning. On our way there a street was closed off and there was some competition or performance of traditional catalan dance and a small band. It was really cool to be able to happen upon it and enjoy the sun while watching them.
The Mercat de St. Antoni was built by Antoni Rovira i Trias in 1882 and is in the modernista style. Since we went Sunday morning we couldn't actually get inside the market but hopefully we will be able to go back at some point to see the inside.
some pictures: