I took the Funicular up Montjuïc today, and wanted to explore some of the parks they have on the mountain. I got off the funicular, and waited by the bus stop to make the usual rounds. As I waited, two men from South Korea came up, and asked me for directions, in very very broken Spanish. I asked them, in Spanish, if they spoke English, and they said yes, much better than Spanish at least. They asked me where Park Montjuïc was, and how to get to it from there. I simply looked at them and magically waved my hands up and said "This is Park Montjuïc!" They looked a little confused. I then went on to explain to them that the entire mountain had many parks on it, and they all collectively were Montjuïc. They understood, and asked me how to get to the top. I told them that would be the castle, which I proceeded to take them to. Via bus. There is a cool cable car that goes there too, but it costs 10 euro for a one way trip, which is really ridiculous. (They also had Metro cards, so that was good, I told them it was included, and they were sooooo happy.) After I was on the bus with them to the castle I bid them farewell and good luck, and I continued on in search of the mythical Botanical Gardens...
After the nice guys from South Korea left, I stayed on the bus for a bit... And a little longer... Then I realized it had already gone past the botanical gardens... And I had a derp moment. I decided I'd just take the bus back to Plaça Espanya, and figure it out from there.
On the way back, I ran into some English speaking tourists. (Sounded like they were from America, but I'm not sure) They were really confused, and were trying to decipher the buildings around us on the way back, so I helped them and told them what was going down. The bus system here in Barcelona is so confusing, but that is what makes it so much fun! You just simply hop on a bus, and then you are somewhere you have never been before. Its like a game of Map Crunch, except its real life, and instead of the airport, you have to find the Metro station! (If you find a Metro station, you are golden, because that system is much, much easier, and your stop is usually within 30 minutes, if not less, of anywhere in the city)
After guiding the confused English speaking tourists, I waited for the bus to depart again, and took it this time around the first part of its route. The stop for the botanic gardens came up, I pressed the stop button, and got off. This place looks really cool, and after my long adventure, I walked up, and found out... It was closed. Oh well, it was fun getting there. (I also learned it is free after 3 PM on Sundays! Woohoo!) I decided to wander down the mountain from there, and see what was on the way. I saw some abandoned/under construction complexes, a school nestled away in the side of the rock, and finally made it back to the... Funicular!
But I wasn't finished. There was still 2 hours of daylight to burn. So I headed off into the park that was by the funicular, one that I wanted to see, but was too preoccupied to actually visit before today. It turned out to be this huge complex built in 1918, or so, to help improve Barcelona's image and reputation. I saw on the signs arrows that kept pointing to "Font d' Got", and I wondered to myself "What in the world does this mean in Catalan? Its a fountain of something..." After seeing some cool fountain waterfall things, and meandering around hedges and paths, I came upon the fountain. It immediately clicked on what it meant.
Off in the distance were some cats, actually a lot of cats, sitting on a ledge, just chillin' out. I looked at the name... "Font d' Got". I said to myself out loud "Font d' Got... Got... Gato... Cat! Its the fountain of cats!" And thus another chapter is fulfilled of my Catalan reading experience.
I then frolicked around some more fountains, and saw some cool sculptures. I eventually found the entrance to the park, and it had all these really cool sculptures in it too.
I eventually found the cats again too. They were doin' their thing.
After my adventures around the Font d' Got I decided to finally go back home. I made my way via Metro back to my apartment, cooked my dinner, and relaxed and reflected on a good day.
-Nick Ford
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