Thursday 15 October - Barcelona

[Photos: Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo]

 

Up slowly – these late nights are taking a toll, but it isn't really worrying us. Spaniards keep such odd hours by our standards, that late starting and late finishing work in well sometimes. Sandy & Lynette were meeting her cousin later in the day, so we headed our separate ways in the morning.

 

We took off for Sagrada Familia, which was some fair way away. Stopped fairly early on for a caffeine injection for Karen. I made the excellent choice of a hot chocolate and croissant (2€ the lot). The hot chocolates here are thick and creamy, almost like a chocolate custard. They are meant for dipping your croissant or churro in, and are delicious.

 

We got to Sagrada Familia around 10:30, and had about 20 minutes queuing to get in. Not too bad really, but it must be impossible in summer. The weather was a bit chilly with Karen having her warm fleece on for the first time in daytime. We started our visit in the crypt, though the brochure suggests starting inside. We felt the crypt start made the rest of the visit far better as it is a comprehensive museum, full of models, explanations and workshops, which all help to make more of the cathedral itself when you get there. Next, we went round to the entrance into the cathedral.

 

It was started in 1912 by another architect, but the job was handed to Gaudi in 1913, and he more or less completely redid it, working on it full time until he was run down by a tram in 1926. Work ceased for some time, but there are now over 300 workers back on it, with plans to finish the interior by 2010 and the exterior by 2030. To us there looks to be a huge amount of work inside, far more than a year's worth. They have got all 8 major towers up, and the main body of the church built (none of the latter was there in 1982 as far as we remember). As you would expect, much is covered or hidden by scaffold and protective fabric mesh but they have been generous about letting visitors get in and around the building.

 

Again we loved the walking as the streets are just lovely, despite the odd sewage whiff, presumably from open vents. Casa Batllo was a bit of a fright – 16.50€. Again I went through on the theory that I had come this far and it would be mad not to despite the excessive charge. It was worth it, and I have a good collection of photos to prove it. The house was rebuilt from an ordinary building for one family, and it has been restored to something like it was. Really very beautiful, all on a marine theme.

 

We tried to have a look in the entrance to Casa Calvet, but got shooed out by an angry security man. A place as nice as that should be public! We managed to stumble across the market building – a lovely iron structure with stained glass highlights. As always, the market was full of colour, noise, smells and interest. Karen knew she would have some work in, so we had another bocadillo and back to our room. Lynette's cousin Jo had arrived, so we chatted with the three of them for a bit in the hotel before settling down for an evening's work – to 2am again.