On our second day in Barcelona, we woke up early so we could be some of the first in line to get into the Sagrada Familia church. When we got there, we found that we weren’t the only ones with this idea and the line we encountered was even longer than the previous day but we didn’t have the sun beating down on us. It didn’t take much waiting and we were finally in. The last time Iz and I visited the church, it was full of scaffolding and we were only allowed to walk around the perimeter.
This time, everything on the inside was pretty much done and we were able to enjoy it fully. There were a lot of windows that let in natural light and the design of the building was so refreshingly modern. The great thing about Gaudí is his attention to detail and his whimsical side, both of which are present in every detail of the church. It's amazing that Gaudí started building the church in 1883 and only saw it 1/4 of the way complete when he died. There are many arguments from the people of Barcelona about how much of the design is based in Gaudí's original design due to them being lost and the church being damaged by the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
The second stop was another Gaudí landmark, Parque Güell. It sits north of the city and provides an amazing skyline view of the city. Iz and I remembered the long hike to get up to the park so we did some research and found a bus that drops you off right next to the front gate. The front gate sets a fun tone for the park with the two gingerbread houses.
Behind them are sets of stairs divided by fountains and the famous Gaudí lizard. A replica is available from every peddler trying to earn a Euro in the park. At the top of the steps is a cave full of columns and fun ceiling decorations. On top of the cave are the famous benches that form a huge half circle and provide a great place to soak up the view of the city. We felt more of an urge to sit in the shade after the people we saw sitting there left. It definitely made our time more enjoyable.
Izzy’s dad insisted we hike up to the crosses at the top. When he tried to leave, a most disagreeable old lady told him he shouldn’t come down that way because she was coming up that way. This did not go over too well. She learned better.
After a quick bite and a game of cards at a pita shop, we made for our final place of the day, the Gothic Quarter. It’s famous for narrow streets, charmingly old yet dirty buildings, and a sense of history. The main gothic church was closed but we were able to visit the crypt. The women had to cover their shoulders to enter. Another relic of tradition some can’t let go of.
To get back to our hotel, we went to the train station to catch a bus. Since we watched one drive off, we decided the twenty-minute wait would be better in the shade. In the meantime, a line of old ladies formed and when we returned to the stop, they were quite unhappy when we cut in front of them. The last are going first they said. I informed them they were because we’d been waiting in the shade so they can shut it. We ended our evening by having a bottle of wine and some tapas while watching fireworks celebrating the end of a festival in the small town outside of Barcelona where we stayed.
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