After the ‘never ending day that turns into night and back into day,’ that is normal European air travel, we land at the stunning contemporary Barcelona airport. Customs, while not particularly friendly, is uneventful. The Catalan dialect is distincly different from the only Tex Mex Spanish we posses, so conversation is limited to sign language and disturbing moans that emerge from our mouths. A short cab ride into the city delivers us to the B-Hotel located near the ancient bullfighting arena. The room of our hotel wraps around a sleek glass orange box bathroom that seems to float and glow in the center of the room. Finding our lighting and air conditioning is a continuous challenge, but the boutique hotel’s architecture is visually arresting and surprises at every corner. We overlook our helplessness and increasing meltdowns induced by sleep deprivation and vow to return to this place. We think that the Catalans give the Italians a run in aesthetic excellence.

A cab ride to the Barri Gotic confirms that our decision to divide our upcoming tour into two parts that we planned for our group of twelve is a sound one. Pictured below are scouting photos that we took on Day One in Barcelona for next week’s architectural tour. The tour: Part I Barri Gotic, the old Gothic Quarter inside the old Roman walls of “Barco,” (Barcelona’s orginal Roman name); Part II Modernisme, Catalan’s unique Art Nouveau Movement as sparked by Antoni Gaudi.

Photos: Panaroma of city throughour hotel room sunshade; Catedral de Barcelona, one of the doors Barcelona’s Gothic Cathedral; Catedral’s arched buttresses and gargoyles; other Gothic and Romanesque architecture of the old Gothic Quarter. The modern area of the city where many Sycamore trees that line the boulevards look strikingly similar to Gaudi’s inspired Casa Batllo; and Casa Batllo does not disappoint. It’s even more inspiring than we imagined. More to come, when we get a little rest. (Photography credit: Stephanie Chambers)