Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Our last full day in Barcelona would be a full one indeed as we were finally going to enter Antoní Gaudi's masterpiece, the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia.
First though, we needed a proper
breakfast to fuel our expedition
No, not wine to start the day. This wine store was next to the Àncora restaurant in the Mercado La Boqueria where we dined like kings on tortilla de patatas, tostadas de tomate and cafe con leche.
A quick mini-tour of La Boqueria was of course MANDATORY.
The Egg Lady was on duty again
These meats were brightly
colored on purpose I think
Armed with our 72-hour Metro passes, we were off to La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's unfinished symphony of a church that had its groundbreaking in 1882. After 140 years of construction, they hope to be finished in 2026.
We entered at the Nativity Façade
Lots to see on this side to
entertain many of your senses
Even as a child, this Jesus fellow
was a great orator it appears
Many adore Him
A ladybug on the large entry door
Construction scrape marks
This reminded us that when we first visited La Sagrada Familia back in 2008, the inner part of the Basílica was barren. The only things inside were construction materials, workers and a large truck.
We were amazed to watch this delivery truck try to exit out of this exact same door. The driver creeped along ever so slowly with both side mirrors tucked in and still only had an inch or two of clearance on both sides. That day he made without incident.
It looks like sometimes other drivers were not so fortunate.
We entered . . .
The light at play was spectacular
Just as Gaudi had intended.
The stain glass was everywhere
The ceiling to my eye offers
the most interesting photo ops
A closer look
Above the altar
This green and blue stain glass
is more muted than the reds and
yellows of its facing wall
See what I mean?
Hard to have better traveling
companions than these two
It just keeps drawing my eye back
over and over
A video tour of the Basílica
Awe inspiring
An EXTREMELY rare sight
Koreen and Brian sitting in a church pew and it isn't for a wedding or a funeral.
Such golden tones
Post-Covid empty holy water font
After seeing so many ancient, traditional churches in Europe, La Sagrada Familia pleasantly assaults you with so many visual delights and nuances.
So spectacular indeed!
Time to check out the outer
Passion Façade up close
Christ having been flogged
The Judas Kiss
The 16 squares with numbers on the side refer to the Beatific Age, 33. That is believed to be Jesus' age at the time of his crucifixion.
If you add the four numbers in any row, column or diagonal set of four squares, the answer is always the same, 33.
Saving mankind
Shame? Sorrow?
Christ under arrest
On a side door
It is a tall, tall edifice
So busy too
There is a worker rappelling
UP that tower!
Even though Laurie and I have visited La Sagrada Familia on several occasions, we were still amazed.
I can't imagine how Brian and Koreen felt seeing it for the first time.
Back to the streets of the
El Born district
Koreen instantly fell in love
with the El Born district
Interesting graffiti
Nice blue tiles
"If you want to know your path
in life, look inwards"
GO HUSKIES!
Tapas that is
Pablo Picasso
Brian and Koreen wanted to enter the great artist's museum that features much of his early work.
Go this way to the museum
Laurie and I had been in this museum on a couple of previous occasions and opted to not go with them.
First though, we needed some tapas.
This Cuban spot was not open yet
Wine but no food
A Commie backed tapas bar
worked for me
Translating the main menu items
So many tapas, so little time
Nope, not for me
One of our main tapas items for the past week has been Padrón peppers.
Supposedly only one out of every ten of these savory delights is hot. We had commented that none of us had really tasted a hot one yet even though we had eaten about ten orders of them while dining in Madrid and Barcelona . . .
. . . until now!
This one was a four alarm fire of a Padrón which bbrought back painful memories of the Great Santa Barbara Habanero Pepper Disaster of 2007.
OUCH!
Some dessert eased my pain
What is that thing in the background?
Colorful courtyard
I like street art
Santa Maria del Mar
Seven feet?
More of Santa Maria del Mar
I love El Born's narrow lanes
My view while sitting in a
large, overstuffed chair
while Laurie shopped for . . .
. . . leather goods
A boy and his comfy chair
Random decorations
Excellent door
Sometimes a bike chain does
not offer enough security
An artisan at work across
the street from our flat
Artisan at work
One last tapas run before bed
We love Barcelona!
A gelato to top thing off
was MANDATORY as usual
Not a taxing day at all
In the morning we are off to Paris again, I implore that you stay tuned . . .
2 comments:
How did it compare to the "Cruel Prawn"?
It was as intense as the Habanero but not as long lasting. I was indeed able to proceed with the rest of my life about five minutes later this time, not so with the Habanero.
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