This year’s trip started in Barcelona with Takoma Park friends, Hugh and Maureen. (Seven years ago, Hugh married us.). Our flight on United was uneventful. We both tried out new neck wraps hoping we could sleep with cradled heads, but alas, shoulders, knees, bottoms are so uncomfortable on overnight flights that sleep was minimal for Maurice.

After dropping luggage at our apartment, we began the quest to stay awake until evening. Our accommodations were a short walk to two of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous houses. We had tickets for mid-afternoon entry to Casa Batlló, so we visited Casa Milà/La Pedrera that morning.

Built between 1906 and 1912 for the Milà family, the six story apartment building housed the Milà clan on one floor, leaving the remaining space for renters. Sunshine streams through windows emphasizing organic shapes and curved walls, all a fascinating visual treat. The roof was a highlight, with chimneys formed to look like sculptures. We were told that Darth Vader’s costume was inspired by the chimneys of Casa Milà. If you have seen the film ” Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (Woody Allen), you have seen this roof.

The next phase of staying awake was lunch. We chose a nearby restaurant, La Pepita, recommended by Lucy and Dan (who visited Barcelona last year while we visited Shay and Bridget). Inventive tapas and friendly service in Spanish, English, and French were the tonic we needed.

Back to Gaudí, this time to Casa Batlló, built in 1877 and another Unesco World Heritage site, considered one of his masterpieces. Typical of Gaudí, there are no straight lines, no corners, sometimes not even flat floors. The tourist has to restrain herself from righting pictures hanging a bit askew or from sliding off slanted chairs as she catnaps in a hidden nook. Gaudí’s love of nature is evident on walls, lights, windows with their leaves, flowers, shells, tendrils, turtles, dragons, bulbs… and, like his American peer, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gaudí also designed furniture.

Our ticket to Casa Batlló included a portrait of weary but still smiling travelers, as they might have appeared 90 years ago at the Milo residence, sharing a pot of tea.