Arriving in Barcelona we headed straight to our Airbnb where we were met by Aileen in her well located but 'catty' apartment. Huge front door and view from apartment.
Day 1 was spent exploring the Gothic Quarter: La Rambla, La Mercat Boqueria and the port area before visiting Picasso's Museum. After siesta I headed back to the Cathedral, complete with its cloister geese. Pre dinner drinks at Palau Musica, the first of many Gaudi gems, before dining out in a small plaza close by our digs.
The Face of Barcelona, by Roy Lichtensein.
One of the manny fountains that are found throughout the city.
Mercat La Boquera
It's moments like these that remind me why I'm vegetarian.
Some of the more colourful goodies.
Las Ramblas
Senior Columbus showing the way.
Barrio Gothica
?
La Cathedral
Musica La Palau, our first taste of Gaudi.
Day 2 took us on a self guided walking tour which included a search for some of the 'ten most eccentric statues' of Barcelona. After breakfast at Mercado St Caterina, which is less than two mins walk from our apartment, we headed to the rather plain (compared to the cathedral) Basilica Santa Maria for the obligatory church visit, to Plaza Catalunya for some shopping and over to the impressive Arc de Triomf, then through the park to the beach and back home via Barrio Gotic.
Mike's initiation to ordering coffee resulted in some serious caffeine intake.
Basilica Santa Maria
Arc de Triomf then a stroll down the wide boulevard to the park in search of the first statue: 'Homage de Picasso', an 'interesting' installment. What, indeed , is art?
Then onto find 'Buttocks' in an adjoining park before hitting the beach.
It was very hot and we appreciated the covered walkway along this long and crowded stretch of beach, in search of Four Cubes, yet another of the arty instalments that mostly arrived to coincide with the 1994 Olympics.
Heading home we witnessed a fairly new Audi explode into fire. First a loud bang, then fire started under the engine and we called out to the occupants to get out. They were pretty confused, not realising what was happening below and needed encouragement to leave the car. As the fire took hold we tried to stop other vehicles from getting too close until the police arrived.
We arrived home hot and tired for a short siesta before visiting Park Guel where Gaudi and Guel envisioned a luxury housing development, which subsequently failed. So they bequeathed the entire area over to the city as a public park. Gaudi did continue to live in his own house at the top of the park until his untimely death after being hit by a tram in 1926. When is that movie going to be made?
Heading downhill we detoured to La Sagrada Familia, which is subtly lit up at night. Although not complete, after 144 years, it is an impressive structure. I'm almost sure this facade has been added since my last visit here in 1984.
We spent Day three in Barcelna focussing on Gaudi. We started with the tour of La Sagrada Famila, where the emphasis is on natural light, nature, geometry and innovative architectural designs. Every detail has a story to tell. The passion facade we saw last night has been added since my last visit and the main entrance as well as several towers in increasing height and representing each member of the sacred family and their friends are yet another to be completed. The current architects are planning on full completion by 2026 to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi's death.
En route to some of Gaudi's other buildings in the area of L'Example.
La Pedriso, where four families still live.
Passeige de Gracia, where those with serious cash hang out.
CASA Mila, and the equally impressive, though not Gaudi, Casa Josefna Bonet next door.
More eccenitric statue searching took us to Fat Cat in La Raval.
And a couple more of Gaudi's masterpieces off Los Ramblas.
Love revisiting Barcelona.
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