Barcelona, Spain

We arrived in Barcelona at 8:30 p.m., found our driver, and took off for Las Ramblas to get our key to the apartment.  Imagine our surprise when we arrived and the key would not open the apartment door.  This apartment is in a new building and they just had someone in it the day before.  After calling, and much more calling, the owner showed up (no english) and tried to open the door.  After much hand movement, sliding a credit card in the lock, she admitted defeat and was able to get across to us that a maintenance man would be coming.  At this point we had sat for an hour while all this transpired.  The maintenance man comes, cannot open the door either, and then proceeds to take us 4 city blocks down the street, walking, pulling luggage, to another apartment where we can sit while they get the door removed????  He thought it would take 3 hours, but thankfully it only took 1 hour to get it sorted.  We were in the apartment by 11:30 that night and ready for bed.  The apartment was worth it.  Ninth floor, 4 bedroom corner apartment with 2 glass walls.  It was all marble and 3 toilets!  We had a view of the ocean and to the South, was Barcelona.  

Our first day in Spain started out at Park Guell.   Park Guell is a garden city planned by Gaudi and it is located on the slope of a mountain that has a wall surrounding it and controlled entrances.  The building of it started in 1900 and during the fourteen years of construction Gaudi had the help of other architects that shared his same ideas and inspiration.  This is the main entrance to the park.  The building on the left is the caretaker's lodge and the one on the right is used by the park administration.  He deliberately designed the lodges to be fantastical, like something from a fairy tale.  The park was beautiful.

Caleb and Belle standing in front of a Carob tree that Gaudi decided to keep as it was there before the portico was built.  This is part of the viaduct system that Gaudi built to get round the ravines and the rugged mountain side.

Belle and Caleb are posing by the dragon or salamander, designed by Gaudi.  It is the parks most popular attraction.

The entrance way into the upper areas of the park.  The dragon/salamander is located on the third level.  The columns that you can see above, support the upper area of the square.  Half the square is bordered by a bench the is both colorful and designed to perfectly adapt to the human form.  The bench undulates along the front of the square.  

The Sagrada Familia is one of Gaudi's most famous works.  Construction began in 1882  and it is not expected to be finished until 2026.  The stone is different colors because it has been built at different times.  They are continuing to build on it as they receive donations  to purchase materials.  Gaudi was hit by a tram in 1926 and he was buried in the Sagrada Familia.  In the basement, they have made a museum and have placed all the plaster casts that they use to visualize the church as it is built.  A must see if you visit Barcelona.  This picture is the back of the church.  It is massive in size.  Notice how small the people are in front. 

This is the front of the church.  All over this church on the outside are names, and pictures of the bible stories, Christ, and a Christmas scene of Mary, Joseph and Jesus with the wise men on one side and the shepards with their sheep on the other.  The pictures just don't do it justice.  You could spend hours walking around this church looking at the scenes displayed there.  There will be a total of 18 columns like the ones you see here when it is done, with the tallest column being the column of Jesus Christ with a cross on it.  

This is a cemetery on the side of the mountain.  All the white areas that you see are tombs built one on top of the other on the mountain.  They are stacked much like a mausoleum.  It was very pretty in the sunlight.

 

Caleb getting "strangled" by the alien on Barcelona's most popular street, "Los Ramblas".  

Belle and Caleb inside the Sagrada Familia.  Very massive and quite unfinished.

Ben walking down the walkways in the Gothic quarter outside of the cathedral.   Quite like Venice without the water.  Lots of shopping and restaurants to be found.  This is what early Barcelona was like.

Picture of the Cathedral tower taken inside in the gardens.  Notice the palm tree?  I didn't realize that there would be palm trees everywhere as it is on the ocean.  Nice surprise.  

Belle, Caleb and Ben in the Spanish city.  

The Spanish City.  Hundreds of shops located here and different era's of Spain are represented with the buildings.  

Casa Batllo is a building restored by Gaudi and Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodeled in the years 1905-1907.  It is also known as the "house of bones" and it does have a visceral skeletal organic quality to it.   It is interesting that this is a building that is stuck between other buildings on the block that look completely normal. 

This is Casa Mila, designed by Gaudi also.  

View of the harbor in Barcelona