A Gaudi Day

Breakfast at the hotel

We met Federico to get our hearing devices.  We met our local tour guide, Mariona.  We took the subway to see some of Gaudi architecture.

 He likes the wavy lines and the fantasy, Casa Mila (UNESCO site)

and comfy chairs

The dragon house, Casa Batllo (UNESCO site)

Gaudi started building the Sagrada Familia (UNESCO site) cathedral in 1882.  He knew that he would not be able to complete it so he build one facade and left the plans for the rest.  Certain areas were left to other artists to do.  

We stopped for a sit-down break before going inside the cathedral.

Mariona, our guide

Inside, the stained glass was very impressive, with cool colors (blues and greens), and the other side with warm colors (reds and oranges).  The place looks different as the sun's angle changes.  Now that tourism has increased, the money to build has increased.  They are predicting that it will be completed in 2026.  

a close up (sorry Glenn - it is crooked)

We had a quick lunch at Buenas Migas, near the cathedral.  After lunch we took a taxi to the Parc Guell (UNESCO site).

Very comfy benches.  We found some in the shade.

Nice view of the city and the Mediterranean.  

That was fun to wander through, but we did not lolly gag around since it was so hot.  We kept trying to find shade.  It was a Gaudi, UNESCO site day.

We took the taxi back to the hotel.  Before going to the hotel we stopped in a department store so that Jeanne could buy a curling iron.  Success!  Some of us were starting to look for more capris pants since Madrid is supposed to be even hotter than Barcelona.  We are not looking forward to that.  

We put our feet up for a little while, before our evening festivities.