Sunday in Barcelona was our day to explore some of the extraordinary architectural works of Antoni Gaudi. But first…the hotel breakfast buffet!We are finding the Barca Metro to be a very easy way to get around the city. Everything is clearly color coded and directions are exact. Our first stop was at Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s as-yet unfinished cathedral masterpiece.
Work began on the cathedral in 1882 and will continue for decades to come. The design features are based on elements in nature. It is massive and elegant, intended to reach up into the heavens to welcome god, and to sit firmly bound to the earth to greet mortal visitors to the city. We waited for 45 minutes to take the elevator up into one of the spires, and it was well worth the wait! Then, the long walk down the narrow spiral staircase:
Park Guell is another Gaudi extravaganza. It is a park built high up above Central Barcelona and overlooking both the city and the Mediterranean Sea. It was originally intended to be the location for an elite housing project. This did not prove financially viable, however. The land was transformed into a municipal park which now offers a unique haven of calm for visitors, of which there were many today. 
Gaudi’s tile work is interwoven with organic design and is evident throughout the park. Local families and tourists strolled peacefully among the street vendors and musicians.
4 comments:
Hi Martin and Cindy,
Sounds nice to be surrounded by so much beauty! Is the overall aesthetic of the city that way?
The photos look very interesting, although it is hard to see the detail. I've tried clicking on them to enlarge, but no go.
Chuck,
Great to hear from you.
The aesthetic in the area where we are staying is chic and design-oriented. This busy city is very diverse and you can find cutting-edge art and architecture everywhere. Also try the Flickr site for more photographs.
Wow--45mins to ride the lift was relatively brief--I waited an hour.
Nice pics, especially of the staircase.
Basil,
Thanks for the comments. We discovered that there is a second lift that had a much shorter queue. (Certified European [Eng.] sentence). I remember how moved you were by Gaudi and how your perspectives on the Sagrada Familia inspired my excitement to go there initially and to wait in line once there.
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