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Published: October 22nd 2017
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Geo: 41.2357, 1.69233
Yesterday (Monday) we 'did' Barcelona - a tiring, 12-hour day, but you just have to do it. We were particularly keen to see some of Gaudi's legacy and the two attractions we visited did not disappoint.
We chose to go in by train from Vilanova y Geltru, so caught the bus from outside the site gates for the 30-minute round-the-houses journey to the station. We got on a Barcelona-bound train but it later turned out that our tickets were not valid for this particular network, and sensed that this happens frequently as we were let off by the inspector. On the approach to the city, it was raining, which we had not bargained for so first of all got on the tour bus for which we had purchased advance tickets (sitting undercover rather than on the open top-deck), alighting at the Sagrada Familia.
We had read about the queues but were not prepared to stand in line around the block in the rain at this stage, so decided to get back on the next tour bus and do the northern Barcelona route, which takes in the areas near Park Guell (another Gaudi creation) and the home of Barcelona Football Club amongst
other attractions. Along the way, the wealth of architecture is mind-blowing and the city has a distinct modern, vibrant feel.
At the conclusion of the tour on Passeig de Gracia we got off the bus and had a fast food lunch in a branch of Pans & Company which is along the lines of Macdonalds, but we thought it to be better if only for the bread products used - we detest soggy burger buns! Suitably refreshed, we moved along a couple of doors and visited Casa Battlo, the house Gaudi designed for the Battlo family in a rather wacky style, not too dissimilar in principle to the Arts and Crafts Movement in the UK whereby traditional methods and materials are taken into consideration as well as style and design. It is a feast of stained glass, ceramics, metal- and woodwork, with not a straight line in sight.
The weather by early afternoon was better so we decided to return to Sagrada Familia where the entrance queue was anticipated at an hour so we decided to go for it and stood in line. In the end it was made more tolerable by chatting to a couple of Brits in front of us
as we moved along, so time passed quite quickly. However, nothing prepares you for the wow factor as you enter this most unconventional of churches, full to the brim with symbolism, craftsmanship and natural light, yet the outside is still very much under construction with an anticipated completion date of 2026 which will be the centenary of Gaudi's death. We were glad to have hired the audio guide as so much would have been overlooked otherwise, and photographs just do not do it justice - you have to see it with your own eyes to appreciate the dimensions and scale of the place.
We are very aware that we have only scratched the surface of what Barcelona has to offer, but in the end, we saw the two attractions at the top of our bucket list and got a feel of this lively, contemporary, creative city should we decide to return another day.
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Andrew
non-member comment
Looks like spectacular architecture, very envious.