Our day started with a tour of La Sagrada Familia. We took the subway there and the metro is a very nice and efficient way to move around in Barcalona. We had seen the outside of La Sagrada Familia ( The Sacred Family) in a previous trip here but were not prepared for the stunning inside.
The Sagrada Familia is a project started in the late 1800's and the main architect was Antoni Gaudi. He died in a traffic accident in 1926 and the work has continued using his drawings ever since. It has a theme based on nature. As you can see from the following pictures it is still a work in progress. They hope to have it done by 2026 to honour 100 years from Gaudi's death. The Gaudi influence on architecture can be seem in many other spots throughout Barcelona.
We had arranged beforehand a local tour guide and he lead us all around the outside of the project then inside.
We were quite surprised to learn that the building had only befome a church,really a Basilica, in November 2010 when Pope Benedict dedicated it. This is a picture of a picture of the ceremony.
After our tour ended we had lunch and decided what to do next. Our plan had been to go to Monserrat but we realized timing for that would not be good. So back on the subway and down to the waterfront area we went. This included a long walk along the boardwalk and a dip in the Balearic Sea.
The view of the city from the waterfront. Montjüic in the background.
Peter and I were quite disappointed when the only topless bathers we saw were all guys.
In the evening we had, at least for us ,a unique dining expereience. We went to a tapas restaurant recommended by a friend. There are regular tapas and also small tapas ,both hot and cold, on a big toothpick. They are called pintxos, which are traditional Basque tiny tapas. Very good and the four of us managed to have 35 of them. The price for each one is the same and they count the toothpicks for your bill.
Here are the 4 of us at the restaurant.
Phase 3 of our odessey starts on Wednesday when we go to the cruise ship terminal and board the MS Ryndam for 10 days. Sailaway is 4pm and the first port tomorrow is Marseille. So back to France for a day.
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