Editor’s note: I’ve been wondering what all the hype is about with ChatGPT. As I am enamored with technology, I found myself watching a couple of YouTube videos about artificial intelligence that is at once as scary as it is powerful. Like all technologies, it can be used for good or for evil. After experimenting to find out what it might do, I decided that I would ask ChatGPT to assist at least in part in writing three blog posts for me that I will illustrate with images and comments. This first post of the trilogy features Barcelona Spain’s major tourist attractions as written by ChatGPT in a humorous style.

ChatGPT is capable of serious work or not-so-serious work. Here is the basic set of instructions I gave the program. “Write a blog post about Barcelona in a humorous style featuring iconic sites in the city. Limit it to about 1000 words.“ I copied and pasted into WordPress the article it created and I requested that one site not mentioned in the first draft be added as I have a photograph I wanted to include. That extra paragraph and this preface put the post at just over 1200 words.

The image captions are mine, and you can pixel-peep the photos on my Flickr album here. All of the rest of the text including the title of this post is courtesy of ChatGPT.

Barcelona – Where Gaudi’s Wildest Dreams and Tapas Galore Collide!

Introduction:
Welcome, fellow wanderers and lovers of laughter! Today, we embark on a hilarious expedition through the vibrant streets of Barcelona, where centuries-old traditions dance hand-in-hand with mind-boggling architecture. So, strap on your giggling boots and prepare to be amused, for we are about to discover the whimsical wonders and culinary delights of this enchanting Spanish city!

La Sagrada Familia: Gaudi’s Never-ending Project.
Let’s kick off our adventure with the one and only La Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece that has been under construction since, well, forever! This architectural marvel is so incomplete that it makes procrastination look like an Olympic sport. Gaudi had big dreams for this church, and it seems the builders have taken his vision to heart by never quite finishing the job.

Don’t be surprised if you stumble upon a construction worker napping on a scaffolding or a sign that says, “We’ll be back…eventually.” But hey, at least the cranes have become honorary citizens of Barcelona!

Park Güell: A Playground for the Imaginative.
Next stop, Park Güell, a playground that would make any kid’s imagination run wild! This colorful wonderland is like stepping into a Dr. Seuss book, with whimsical mosaic creatures and twisted architecture that defies the laws of reason. If you find yourself lost, just look for the crowd of bewildered tourists posing next to a giant lizard or attempting to sit on a bench that appears to have been designed by a tipsy surrealist. Don’t worry, you won’t be the first to wonder if Gaudi was on something when he conceptualized this place. Maybe he just had one too many sangrias?

Las Ramblas: Where Street Performers Take Over.
Now, let’s meander down the world-famous Las Ramblas, the city’s liveliest and quirkiest boulevard. Here, street performers rule the day, transforming into living statues, fire-breathing dragons, and break-dancing unicorns for your amusement. Be prepared to dodge human statues trying to spook you into dropping your ice cream or artists selling paintings that make Picasso’s cubism look like finger painting. And whatever you do, resist the urge to follow that guy in the cape and top hat down that mysterious alley. Trust me; he’s not leading you to Hogwarts.

Gothic Quarter: Where Lost Souls Find Themselves…Eventually.
If you’re a fan of medieval charm mixed with an uncanny ability to get lost, the Gothic Quarter is your spiritual home. This labyrinthine neighborhood will have you wandering through narrow streets that seem to defy Google Maps. Don’t worry; getting lost here is a rite of passage. Just embrace it and surrender to the allure of discovering hidden plazas, secret tapas bars, and shops selling quirky souvenirs you never knew you needed. Just remember to bring a compass or a pack of breadcrumbs to find your way back to civilization.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya: Where Art and Fairytales Collide!
Ah, how could I forget the National Art Museum of Catalonia, affectionately known as MNAC? Nestled on Montjuïc Hill, this majestic museum houses an impressive collection of Catalan art that spans centuries. But let’s be honest, the real showstopper here is the stunning building itself, which could easily double as a palace from a fairytale. As you approach the grand entrance, you might half-expect to be greeted by knights on horseback or a red carpet leading to a secret lair. Inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of artistic wonders, from breathtaking Gothic masterpieces to vibrant Modernista works. And if the art doesn’t tickle your fancy, the panoramic views of Barcelona from the museum’s terrace will surely leave you spellbound. Just remember to keep your excitement in check; we don’t want you accidentally joining an art piece in an overzealous attempt to appreciate it!

Barceloneta Beach: Sun, Sand, and Saggy Speedos.
No visit to Barcelona is complete without a visit to Barceloneta Beach. Here, you’ll witness the perfect blend of sun-worshipping locals, exuberant tourists, and retirees determined to turn their speedos into a fashion statement. It’s a place where bodies of all shapes and sizes proudly embrace the Mediterranean waves, where sandcastle architects hone their craft, and where vendors tirelessly offer questionable beachwear and sangria served in buckets. Just don’t forget to apply sunscreen liberally, or you might return home looking like a boiled lobster!

Conclusion:
Barcelona, a city that knows how to tickle your funny bone and leave you in awe. From Gaudi’s perpetually unfinished masterpieces to the endless surprises of Las Ramblas and the labyrinthine streets of the Gothic Quarter, this city never fails to entertain. So, pack your sense of humor and appetite for adventure, and let Barcelona whisk you away into a world where whimsy and laughter reign supreme. Just be prepared to come home with a collection of stories that will have your friends laughing for years to come. Viva Barcelona, where even the streets have a sense of humor!

Epilog:
This is John again. As it turned out, ChatGPT chose sites in the city that we visited during our two-day stay there. The only site I asked the program to add is the museum as I wanted to share that exterior shot. I will have more from our trip to Barcelona in future posts, but I’ll be writing them myself. Next week, the post is written by me but it concludes with a poem written by ChatGPT.

Feel free to comment on the story, the photos, or the concept of using AI tools in general. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

John Steiner

On our recent visit to Barcelona, we booked a tour through Viator, a company we learned about through Trip Advisor. Viator is a tour aggregation company that arranges with local private tour companies to book tours. I’ll have a couple of semi-reviews of our tours in Barcelona and Rio in upcoming Travel Tuesday posts.

Carrer del Regomir is a historic street located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, Spain. The street is known for its lively atmosphere, narrow alleys, and picturesque architecture, and it is a popular destination for tourists visiting the city. It is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as a number of historic landmarks.

The name “Regomir” is thought to come from the Latin word “rigomellum,” which means “small stream.” In the past, the street was situated along the banks of a small stream that flowed through the area. According to an Internet search, most people in the city speak Castilian Spanish but over 50 percent of the population speaks Catalan as well. The Spanish word for street is “calle” and the Catalan word is “carrer.”

About the photo: The image was captured through the windshield of our tour vehicle with my Samsung S23U. I imported it into Adobe Lightroom where I used the perspective adjustments to straighten the tilt of the buildings. I sent it off to Luminar Neo where I removed some power lines crossing the street and erased a trash bag laying on the ground next to one of the buildings. On the left are a scooter and e-bike rental outlet and a ladies’ clothing store. Regomir Street is too narrow for vehicle traffic, but we were able to save the shoe leather and drive slowly down the street bypassing the barricade that was in our way.

Our tour vehicle has a distinctive blue license plate, unlike the normal plates of Barcelona vehicles. As taxis and other commercial vehicles have similar plates, I didn’t think anything much about it until our tour guide showed us the magic.

As we drove downtown in the heavily pedestrian center of the city, the driver pointed the car toward Regomir Street where there was a large round post in the street’s entrance. He stopped at a call box and communicated with someone in Catalan. Moments later, the barricade descended into the street with its top flush with the pavement. You can see the top of the retracted barricade in the photo above.

Many of the downtown streets have similar barricades, but not all of them have call boxes. Those blue license plates are the key to an automated system. The driver told us that there is special training for those who are allowed to drive on the narrow streets. Small tour vehicles, taxis, delivery vans, and other special-use transports are assigned those blue license plates. When our vehicle came within a few feet of a barricade, it lowered automatically on those streets where there is no call box.

I encourage fellow bloggers to create their own Cellpic Sunday posts. I never have a specific topic for this feature, and the only rules are that the photo must be captured with a cell phone, iPad, or another mobile device… If you have an image from a drone or even a dashcam, that’s acceptable as well. The second rule is to link your challenge response to this post or leave a comment here with a link to your post in the comment. Oh, and, you don’t have to post it on a Sunday.

John Steiner