Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Nine: Take Care

Chapter Nine
Take Care

I wonder how many applause would suffice to justify how Antoni Gaudí didn't disappoint me with his masterpieces. Certainly, he wasn't called as one of the greatest architects of all time for nothing. Ang mga gawa niya sa Barcelona ang nagpapatunay ng lahat na ito.

I was standing in awe while I looked at the building, Casa Batlló. The oceanic inspired building is boasting beautifully at my sight. There are numerous balconies equally scattered among the six-floored buildings.

The building is themed after bones and reptiles. The balconies' banisters were inspired by the skeletal structure of the face. The roof came out to look like reptile scales – mostly gradient marine green and ocean blue in color.

"Nana," tawag ko nang hindi nililingon ang katabi ko. "Let's take a picture here."

I held her hand while I faced Eros behind me. Diretso siyang nakatingin nang ilahad ko sa kaniya ang camera ko. Tahimik siyang tumango saka itinuro ang pwestong walang gaanong turista.

Behind the camera, I saw him peeking at me seriously. I would have perceived it if only Nana didn't pull me closer to her. Inakbayan ako at napansin ko ang pagtawa niya ng mahina. Napangiti na lang ako hanggang sa si Eros na mismo ang maglahad ng camera ko pabalik.

"Pasok na tayo."

Kaagad kong hinila si Nana sa loob. I looked back to Eros who stood behind with crossed arms. When he caught me looking back, he followed us inside. Mukhang naisip niya na namang hindi niya kailangan magpunta sa loob. Maliban kasi kay Nana ay inimbita ko rin siya. He insisted to just stay in the car but I bought tickets for three people today.

That includes him, of course.

"After Casa Batlló, we'll head straight to Casa Vicens," I confirmed.

Nilingon ako ni Nana.

"Hindi ba tayo magtatagal? Tandaan mong may klase ka pa ngayon, Clementine."

"I know," I said faintly. "We won't take long, Nana."

Tumango siya. "Dapat bago maghapunan ay makauwi tayo."

Here is Nana assuming responsibility of the kitchen again. She really likes to help Xin in preparing. Kahit sa Manila ay palagi niya ring tinutulungan sina Ate Jill.

I sighed and headed inside. The interiors of Casa Batlló are creative and spacious. The glass windows are colorfully tinted, it gave life inside. It didn't also limit with straight lines. The windows were designed with waves and curves. It looked dynamic and lively.

We only walked around and made a use of a device lent to us. The device gave us an augmented reality experience. Kung saan ito itutok, gagalaw ang mga gamit sa loob ng Casa Batlló sa screen ng device.

Kahit nga may nakaharang na turista ay nawala sa screen. When I yawed the device in an oval-shaped window, bigla itong gumalaw at naging pagong na malayang lumalangoy sa katubigan.

"Turtles," I uttered.

I wouldn't realize I sounded like hating it until Eros spoke to me from behind. Si Nana ay nasa may hallway papasok ng isa pang kwarto.

"You have a thing with turtles?"

Nilingon ko siya.

"I have a bad memory with it," paliwanag ko. "A turtle bit me when I was a kid."

I think I spent a day cursing in my mind because of that turtle. I just saw it in a parking space when we're about to go home from somewhere.

Naawa ako dahil nasa gitna pa siya ng parkng way. And it was dangerous for it to prowl around the presence of wheels so I carried it towards the grass garden beside the parking lot. I didn't realize my finger were beside its face kaya bigla akong kinagat!