Monday, November 16, 2015
It was a gloriously sunny day with the temperatures in the low 70s. This morning we continued our exploration of Gaudi’s architectural genius with visits to two major sites. Public transportation to Park Guell is challenging because it involves walking up a steep hill, so we took a taxi to the entrance.
Gaudi must have had an amazing sense of playfulness because his designs are filled with whimsical touches. The buildings at the entrance to Park Guell look like gingerbread houses covered with frosting.
The park was financed by Eusebi Guell and built on a hill overlooking the city of Barcelona. Visitors can see the Mediterranean Sea in the distance from the overlook.
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is still under construction with planned completion in 2026 to mark the centennial of Gaudi’s death. Gaudi began his famous church in 1882 but died unexpectedly before completion. The western facade is clean and modern while the eastern facade resembles a gray sand castle. The interior is magnificent:
The interior is like a gigantic stone forest with colorful stained glass windows illuminating the massive space. In the afternoon, sunlight filters through yellow, orange, and red stained glass windows bathing the entire interior with warm golden light.
Later, at night we tried another “pintxos” restaurant in the Barri Gotic simply called: El Pintxo. I could get used to this lifestyle! :-)
