Baggage claim in the Madrid airport.

We had a multi-hour layover in Madrid on the way to Barcelona.

I spent a while tinkering around with my new camera.

Stationary objects make good practice subjects.

My PhD advisor, Wes.

Wes in front of the ROBOT coffee shop in the Madrid airport.

Wes in front of the ROBOT coffee shop again.

In the Madrid airport, you're only allowed to smoke at these "smoking points."

The problem is, there's no extra ventilation or anything, and they are everywhere.

Wes at the Barcelona airport.

A view of the Barcelona airport.

At dinner that evening, they served us this "vegetable pudding," which I didn't touch.

A pretend-policeman who walked into the intersection and started juggling.

Still juggling.

Street art: toilet paper suspended above a subway vent.

A big fortress of a shopping center near Placa Catalunya.

The next morning: our room from the outside.

Another view of our room from the outside. It was nice, but noisy.

View down Gran Via from near Placa Tetuan.

Big intersection on Gran Via.

Fountain and greenery at Placa Catalunya, where we were meeting Carlos and Eric.

And there they are, Carlos and Eric! They came from Madrid and Delft, respectively.

Walking down La Rambla.

A human statue on La Rambla.

On La Rambla.

View down a side street into Barri Gotic, from La Rambla.

Apartments in Barri Gotic.

Catedral de Barcelona.

Every cathedral I ever see in Europe seems to be under some sort of construction.

A blurry look inside the cathedral.

Another view inside Catedral de Barcelona, which is quite large.

Flowers in Catedral de Barcelona.

Crypt of one of the founders of Barcelona in the cathedral.

Stained glass window in the cathedral.

Outside, a street artist was setting up a puppet show.

We came across the cathedral's courtyard.

Apparently, geese have been kept in the courtyard for hundreds of years.

Goose and fish in the courtyard.

Another look at a goose and some fish in the courtyard of Catedral de Barcelona.

The main spire, from the courtyard.