Walking and visiting Europe seem to go hand-in-hand. It is a wonderful exercise, especially when you get to wander through Park Güell in Barcelona. I am sure I walked more in one afternoon at the park then I do in a week back home in Athens, Georgia. From the metro, or underground, I walked up at least 8 sets of moving steps (escalators) and then two sets of stairs before reaching the entrance to the park. About halfway there I looked over at all the steps going down from the park back to the underground station. Knowing I had to walk down all those steps I decided to look for an alternative pathway out of the park!

Park Güell was designed by Antoni Gaudi, a famous Catalan architect. It was developed in the early 1900s for Eusebl Güell to be a residential park with 60 single-family residences. The project was not successful and the park became a city property in 1923. Although unfinished, it is an amazing park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During my visit I walked only a small fraction of it. It is interesting to see how his designs were inspired by nature both in the park and the famous La Sagrada Familia which is one of Gaudí’s most famous works in Barcelona. It is an enormous Basilica that has been under construction since 1882. The reflections of nature are easily seen inside the basilica.

I think we need more vacation time in the U.S. so we have more opportunities to travel to cities like Barcelona, get our exercise walking, and be inspired by nature and through the many works of artist Antoni Gaudi.  Around the U.S. and in other countries there are many opportunities that encourage all of us to walk more. Walk Georgia is one of these opportunities. Check it out.

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