We should have been starting to run out of energy but a good night of sleep and we were ready for our fourth day in the Catalan capital.
It was back to Las Ramblas to start the day with a spot of breakfast. We opted to return to La Boquería market for a short repast at the Pinotxo Bar.
One of Barcelona's Best Chocolate Shops
Somehow, we were strong.
When we got to La Boquería, we were stunned to find out that the entire market, including the Pinotxo Bar, is closed on Mondays.
Time for Plan B.
Cool Graffiti
Back to the Mean Streets
1613?
That's an old building indeed
Cool Street Sign
We were famished and needed to find some sustenance soon.
Oh . . .
OH MY!!!
Granja-Xocolateria
La Pallaresa
Petritxol 11, Barcelona
EUREKA!!!
La Pallaresa's Breakfast Offering
Churros, Hot Chocolate and Cafe con Leche are nutritious and . . . SO GOOD FOR YOU TOO!!!
I need to get my beard to
form in curls like these
Colorful but Vegetarian
Another Interesting Fountain
After stoking the fires, we were ready to journey to one of Spain's most amazing, landmark churches, Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Familia.
Work on this church began in 1882 and it is still not finished. It is estimated that it will take another 25 years to complete Gaudí's wild vision. Part of the construction problem is that funding is based completely on donations and entry fees.
Based on the line to buy tickets that literally went around the park when we arrived, it seems that the fund raising was going well today.
We opted to return in the evening when the lines were purported to be much shorter to enter the church. For the moment, we would circle the block to view the very distinct Sagrada Familia facades.
First we viewed what is known as the Nativity Facade which was the only part of the church that was finished in Gaudí's lifetime. Gaudí died after being hit by a tram on Las Ramblas in 1926.
Ode to Fruit
Lots of Fruit
Doves of Peace
Heralding the Nativity
Frogs as Religious Symbols?
Gaudí found inspiration in both nature and his very strong, conservative Catholic beliefs. Thus the inclusion of the flora and the fauna in his masterpiece.
He was anything but conservative in his creativity.
Unique Towers
Salamander?
More Fruit
On to the Passion Facade . . .
The Apostle James The Greater
a.k.a. St. Jacob
Jesus' Hairline is an open Bible
Alpha and Omega
Sadness at the Crucifixion
Papal Seal
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
How many times at St. Phillip the Apostle School did I have to write "J.M.J." at the top of every paper that we turned in to the Nuns?
Styling at Sagrada Familia
Once we finished ogling the outside of the church, we decided to walk down Career Marina to the Port Olympic and the Barceloneta beach area.
The Monumental
This is another bull ring that is no longer in operation due to the passage of a law about a year ago banning bull fighting in Catalonia.
Grand Entrance to the Monumental
The very nice bull fighting museum is the only thing still open in this magnificent building.
Monumental Tower
The Shady Side seats were more costly
Cheap seats were on the Sunny Side
The Torre Agbar
Time for a nutrition break.
Laurie liked the looks of this bar
The Bravas were tasty
Memories of the Camino de Santiago
After a typical 15 mile, five hour walk, one of these really hit the spot!
It's a drink
Painted Man
We were getting close to the Port Olympic.
The Beach at Barceloneta
With the temperature in the low 60s and the overcast skies, the beach was quite deserted on this May Monday.
A lone surfer waiting for
a nonexistent swell
Volleyball is always a beach staple
The Hotel W
a.k.a., Hotel Sail
Gold Fish
Colorful Tower
Doing a few Giant Swings just for fun
Heaven on Earth for Kids
The Tardis?
Wild Boy Up a Tree
Beats Me
Ode to Aquatic Sports
Modern Art meets Old Architecture
Barcelona's Old Post Office
This Street Looked Interesting
Carrer de la Mercé 17
We were hungry again and this place had a certain earthy charm.
Looks GREAT to me!!!
Bliss
We wanted a beverage and a little food . . . we got much, much more.
Tasca El Corral
We wound up enjoying one of those unexpected, magical moments where the music, wine, food and company in this mostly empty bar made for a great few hours.
They serve ham here
Sidra . . . YES!!!
An Expert Sidra Pour by our
fun loving bartender
Chorizo al Diablo
The bartender/chef kept these flames going for about two minutes. The chorizo was magnificent!
Queso Cabrales
This is Bleu Cheese on steroids.
Sassy Wife
Contented Husband
Leche de Pantera Rosa
A special concoction created by the bartender's Grandmother.
Smooth.
It was now late in the afternoon and we still wanted to return by Metro to Sagrada Familia to see if we could get inside.
A Revolution that I can back 100%
We got to Sagrada Familia at about 6:15 p.m. to find a very short line to buy tickets to enter. In about 15 minutes were were inside the now functioning church.
When we first entered this unique edifice in 2008, the inside of the church was a beehive of workers, machinery and trucks working full tilt to get the job done.
While waiting in line, I took a few more exterior photos.
Snails
Exotic Towers
Jesus Scourged
Finally, we entered the now working church where Pope Benedict XVI once said Mass.
Intriguing Ceiling
The Colors on the Columns are
from the Stain Glass Windows
Rich Floor
Above the Main Altar
About 1/3 of the stained glass windows need to still be installed as plain glass fills these openings now.
While the main plan of the interior is finished, I was told that they do expect smaller side chapels to be erected over the next few years. This is quite normal in these huge European Cathedrals/Basilicas/Churches.
Altar Cross
The Oculus
So, I was in Boston with the
family on vacation one Summer . . .
A Harpist seems like
a natural on any church
Kids Having Fun
Nativity Facade Towers
Hark the Herald Angel . . .
Hammer Time
Our two sons have
become great fathers
Stern Face
More of the Unique Ceiling
All Combination of Four
Adjoining Numbers Add Up to 33
Jesus was 33 years old at the time of His crucifixion.
The Shroud of Turin?
Gaudí even erected a school at the
construction site for the worker's children
We were exhausted from a long day of sauntering throughout the splendid vistas of Barcelona.
Another visit to our favorite tapas bar, Taverna Basca Irati, and we were done for the night.
Internet Connection at Last
That is me seated at the far end of our fifth floor hall as seen from our room.
Connecting to the Internet was a non-stop problem in Barcelona. The connection in our hotel was only to be found in the lobby in theory. It was spotty at best.
We stopped at several cafes, bars and restaurants during our time in Barcelona which offered Free WiFi. The answer was in all but one place, "Sorry, our Internet is down right now."
Finally, on Monday night, I remembered what the man at the reception desk had told me a year ago when I first stayed in this budget establishment. "I will give you a room close to the elevator where you might get WiFi in your accommodations."
I thus grabbed a chair from our room, marched down by the elevator and finally got a strong WiFi signal!
Of course, people getting on or off the elevator thought that me sitting there was strange, plus I had to wave my arm every 30 seconds to activate the motion sensor lighting system.
The bizarreness of the situation got me back to my room in about five minutes.
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