Having lived in London since late September, one weekend--in desperate need of sunshine and vitamin D -- I went to Barcelona, Spain for a quick 3 day trip. I didn't find the UV exposure I was hoping for, but I had a fantastic time frolicking about the city in the rain taking in as much Gaudi architecture as I could handle. This visit was my second one to Spain, first one to Barcelona, and I became quickly obsessed with the colors, the forms, and the contrasts of this architecture-lover's wet dream.

My first stop was La Pedrera, which is known most for its decadent rooftop and innovative, organic archways. This photograph shows a small portion of the terrace with a shot of the Sagrada Familia in the background.

Another of Gaudi's houses, the Casa Batlló, was one of my favorites. A bit older than La Pedrera, it used similar organic shapes but had many more distinctive elements. The facade undulated like the surface of the ocean, and many of the decorative and structural components mimicked skeletons, particularly the arches of the attic that gracefully recreated the rib cage of a whale.

The rooftop of Casa Batlló was not as expansive as La Pedrera's, but it had quirky, cartoonesque ridges that looked like the back of a dragon.  For a while I couldn't decide if Gaudi was a genius or a crack-pot Disney animator who was just ahead of his time.  But the level of detail and the truly original lines, curves, and patterns convinced me of his brillance.

The next day, I was off to see the most famous works of Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. As you would imagine, the Sagrada was absolutely spectacular with its crazy combination of Gothic and Modern/Art Nouveau architecture. From the classic vaulting/buttresses to the massive central columns resembling large tree trunks, you cannot go to Barcelona without taking in this architectural feat that is still under construction (it is currently estimated to be finished around 2026). This project is primarily funded through donations and tickets purchased by tourists, so the € 11.00 you pay to get in helps ensure that the construction will continue.

I ended the trip with a stroll through Park Güell.  Rain aside, I could have spent days wandering through all of the meandering pathways.  Unfortunately I had to leave this Gaudi fantasy land and return to my regularly scheduled life.  But whether you have weeks or just a weekend, Barcelona has plenty of shapes, hues and textures to fascinate and inspire.

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Katy Quissell is based in London and is Galavanting's co-founder and connections editor. Her passion is working in reproductive and sexual health and rights, and she has had academic writing published in the Women's Policy Journal of Harvard and Reproductive Health Matters.

Katy has caught the travel bug—and not the kind that makes you incontinent. She aspires to travel and explore as much as is humanly possible.