Barcelona - Last Day

This is our last day in Barcelona.  It started out overcast but cleared up and is sunny now.  We took the metro to the Park Guell.  Once we got off the metro, there was a ¡short¡ (emphasized best way I can since I don't know how to get quotes) walk that was all up hill.  I made it but my legs sure felt it.

The Park Guell was originally going to be a middle class housing development that included the park for the residents.  It would have a covered market area, park play area, entrance with porter;s lodge, gardens, Nature Square for a public space where celebrations and sports events could be held, aquaducts for water collection, and land for houses.  The venture failed and what was already built was turned into a public park area.  It used to be open and free but, within the last year, has been closed and you must now pay a fee to get in.  You also are assigned a time slot and must go in during that time slot.  Once you are in, you can stay as long as you want but the fact that it is now a paying attraction is just another sign of the financial times.

Gaudi used a lot of tile in his decorations.  He used broken pieces from demolitions and rejects from the tile factories.  It really makes a striking appearance.  You can also see his distinct style in the curves and columns.




On the walk back, we stopped at another Gaudi building.  He has work scattered all around the city.

Next to Germany.

Barcelona - Basilica of the Sagrada Familia

Today we retraced our steps back to the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia for our appointed time to get inside the basilica.  We noticed that because it was Saturday, things were a little more crowded and there seemed to be more street vendors.  But it was a sunny day in Barcelona.

The Basilica was started by a group who wanted a monumental church dedicated to the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia).  The foundation for the church was laid in 1882 but by 1883 the original architect resigned.  The job was then given to a young but promising new architect, Antoni Gaudi.  He kept the existing foundation but changed the design from a pyramid-shaped one to one with 18 bell-towers or domes, 8 of which have now been built.  The Pope gave it the Basilica status.  Gaudi was very spiritual and very into nature, and the design reflects nature, both in the actual representation and in the structural elements.  There are fruits, for instance, on the outside of the building.  The columns in the interior reflect the branching of trees.  Natural shapes, such as spirals and hyperboloids, are used extensively due to their exceptional strength and reflection of nature.  The proper use of light was also very important to him.  It is really a unique building.

He knew he would;t live long enough to complete the building and he wanted it to be one for the centuries.  He proposed that he complete the Nativity facade and leave the others for the next generations.

Nativity facade

Passion facade

The two completed facades are the Nativity and the Passion.  The Nativity is more traditional looking and full of joy.  The Passion facade is much starker.  Both are extremely beautiful.  They are working on the Glory facade now.  You can go up in two towers.  We chose the Passion tower which looks out over Barcelona.  You go up and down in an elevator (lift) but there is a part where you can walk.  It has a helicoidal staircase.  It was a little scary but you sure could see Barcelona.  Glad it was a sunny day, too.  Better for that than the rain of yesterday.

Glory facade

We walked back from there and passed the Arc de Triomf and the Chocolate Museum.  My feet hurt too much to tour the Chocolate Museum after hours at the Sagrada Familia so we just looked in at the chocolate.  It is a testament to my restraint and the busyness of the place that I didn;t buy any.  I will make up for that in Germany as my stash I brought over with me is almost gone.

We also passed a bocci ball game in progress.

It was another tiring day but a really good one.  There is just no describing of the Basilica that does it justice.  It was spectacular.

Barcelona 2

Everyone is still sleeping so I will get in another post while I can.

We have always heard about SUNNY Barcelona.  It was very humid and warm the night we arrived and still warm the next day but overcast.  Our second day was cooler and more overcast and yesterday there was rain with lightning and thunder last evening.  Our host laughed and said it was gorgeous until we arrived and we brought fall.  I apologize to all the other vacationers whose weather we seem to have affected.  We have not let that stop us from exploring Barcelona, however.  It probably has just made August here a little more comfortable.

We went up to the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia which was the main reason we came to Barcelona.  We are getting pretty good at the metro and took it up to the hill where this amazing church is being built.  We had purchased tickets ahead of time as this is a hugely popular attraction.  There were no English speaking tours left when we checked on tickets so we had to purchase self-guided ones but that was fine.  We went up at our time slot and found that Doug had gotten his dates confused and they were for today, not yesterday.  But the good thing is that we got our outside pictures done and today can do the inside ones.  Just another minor glitch in our planning.  It also started to rain just as we finished picture taking outside so we lucked out on that.

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is an Antonio Gaudi creation and is one of the iconic symbols of Barcelona.  The first stone was laid in 1882 and Gaudi died in 1926.  He actually took it over after the foundation was laid and kept that, but completely changed the rest of the building plans.  His plans and designs are continuing to be followed and the structure is still under contraction today.  He incorporated nature a lot in his designs and the intricacy of the work is truly amazing.  I can;t wait to see the inside.



When we realized our date mistake, we jumped on the metro again, took three different lines, and got to the Mont Juic which is an old fortress above the port from the 1600s.  It has some very panoramic views of the port and city.  From the metro you can take a gondola to the fort at the top which we did.  It is a pretty major hike up the hill.

When we left there, we walked a good piece down the hill and caught the gondola that takes you down to the port.  That was a ride.  A little scary, and it was drizzly so with the window open for picture taking it made it pretty windy and cool.  The other guy in front with me taking pictures seemed to appreciate the unobstructed view, though, and no one else complained so I guess it worked.  From there we walked back to where we are staying which is only a couple blocks from the water.

Today, we go back to the Sagrada Familia and tomorrow we go to Gaudi;s Park Guell.

Barcelona

Well, our arrival was very eventful.  We had a late flight from Dublin and landed about 10:00 PM.  Got through customs which was just looking at and stamping our passports.  We had used the laptop and iPad on the plane so just put them in the backpack, gathered out stuff, and headed out.  Doug had researched out route and knew what we had to do, where we had to go, and how to get there.  Didn;t work out quite as planned.

We got the bus and took it to the end of the line.  It left us at a plaza downtown.  Spain has much, much later hours than Ireland and people with children were about and lights were all on.  But we sure stood out as tourists, lugging our gear with us.  Anyway, off we went.  We were supposed to pick up the metro a couple of blocks away.  We ended up turned around, walked quite a ways, backtracked, and finally found the metro station.  Took the metro three stops and got off real close to the flat we were staying in.  It was now about 11:30 PM.  We were trying to get our host on the phone and wait for the guard (who had just left for a smoke) and generally find out how to get into the gated building.  Without detailing our stupidity but acknowledging that we thought we were being vigilant, we obviously weren;t vigilant enough and had our backpack with our electronics stolen.  Just at that time the guard opened the door after a call from our host and we reported it immediately but theft is rampant in Barcelona and we were just another victim.

Our host has been terrific and acted as translator, met us at lunch the next day at the Apple store to get info (another long wait), met us after work and waited and was translator at the police station and so on.  Long gone but we did all the things we were supposed to do so now it is catch as catch can.  Have our phones, have our camera, have our money and passports, so trip is not ruined.  Just a stupid glitch and expensive lesson learned.

Have been walking the streets of Barcelona for 2 days and I mean walking and walking and walking.  Don;t know how many miles we have walked but I better come home lighter than when I left.  Keep pulling out my camera and snapping pictures as things just keep popping out around the next corner.  Tiny streets and churches and such in small spaces which makes picture taking kind of tuff but makes the city interesting.  A very pretty city.  We did get in the Columbus statue at the port and yesterday we toured La Pedrera or Casa Mila that is a famous Gaudi building, and passed other Gaudi buildings.  Will add some pictures as Doug needs the computer.  More later if I can.

Casa Batllo (Gaudi)

Casa Mila (Gaudi)

Casa Mila on the roof

Leaving Dublin

Dublin Castle

Have access to our hostess;s Spanish computer.  I can;t figure out how to get the correct punctuation so bear with me.  At least I have temporary access and can post some info.  And this will be quick as we need to leave again soon but I want to add some pictures.  Feel like I am sneaking something in and have to hurry, hurry, hurry.

On our last day in Ireland, we took the car downtown and found a car park, left the car, and walked around before our late flight out.  We went to Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Patrick;s Cathedral of the National Church of Ireland.  We didn;t have time to tour both churches after the castle so chose St. Patrick;s.

Dublin Castle had some sand scuptures in the central courtyard for some art festival.  Interesting.  Will just let the pictures speak for themselves.  Sorry for the rush.  Don;t have time to dig out my info and add more.

Looks like Einstein to me

Christ Church

Doorways on little side street

little pockets of homes downtown

Irish equiv of dollar store

St Pat;s baptismal font

St Patrick;s Cathedral