We had two days in Barcelona. We dedicated Thursday to Gaudi and Friday to the old town.
Our first stop was Gaudi’s basilica, “Sagrada Familia” or “Holy Family”. Construction started in the 19th century. Now almost all of the construction is finished. We saw the church under construction when we were in Barcelona years ago. The difference is astonishing. It is billed as the tallest church in the world. That doesn’t do justice. Imagine standing on the floor, looking up, and seeing the ceiling more than 500 feet above. I have never experienced a church this large and open. On a sunny day, huge expanses of stained-glass windows bathe the interior with colored light. Here’s a picture you might not see on the web.
Our other stop Thursday was Guell Park. Gaudi intended this to be an exclusive community for the rich English. It included every comfort for the 18th century gentleman. Unfortunately, it was at the top of a hill that was too steep for horse buggies. It struggled to attract buyers and was finally killed off by WW I. Today it is a famous and well-loved park.
Friday we went to the original core of the city. We visited the cathedral, which is undergoing some critically important repairs. Here’s a pic from the roof of a mischievous monkey threatening to spit on Danita .
Then we visited the archeology museum to see ruins of the original city, with walls dating back to 500 BC. Here’s Danita discovering the 2500 year-old, church-owned, winery
We wanted to visit La Rambla, but our energy had been entirely drained by two days of walking in 90 degree heat. That’s too bad, because La Rambla is still an amazing place to visit.
Today we are enjoying a relaxing sea day. I hope this finds everybody doing well.