Nice Monday 8th Sept

 Wednesday 28th Barcelona (as sung by Freddie) 

The Sagrada Familia is awesome! Over the top on the outside, Especially on the entrance /Nativity side but simplistic on the inside, columns in porphyry the ones of the evangelists that will eventually be holding up the tallest tower yet to be built, others made of basalt, granite and sandstone, are said to suggest trees with their branches forming the arches, all dusted in the light of the fabulous stained glass windows. the trouble with such an imposing building in a city is that it is hard to get a photo that conveys just how stunning it is.

Later on I have a city view that shows how high it is, but now for some close up of the towers, Love the blobs of colour provided by the mosaics at the top of towers and other crests.

Then on the entrance side - above the doors - this helps to exclude all the people, tourism is what is funding the rebuild, so things slowed down over lockdown, It is very organic and complicated, but everyone is there, Mary and Jesus between the two glass panels.

Then the inside 

Looking towards the alter, shame about the people but you can see tops of the trees and how the stained glass light tints the columns , and the ceiling below.

Just my kind of colours, the cooler tones on one side and then the warmer on the other! I guess one good thing about it taking over a hundred years to construct is that They have been able to add lighting to great effect. But then all cathedrals took decades to build.

This is going around the side of the altar towards the Sacristy. Gives an impression of the height. Then it was out the other side to the newer facade, with the more brutal sculpting, this side represents the crucifixion, Gaudi apparently left drawings of what he wanted.

They have a museum too, which was interesting showing where Gaudi worked (on site) and of course a souvenir shop, nearly bought a jig saw but just didn’t think I could squeeze it in to my bag - shame ! He is buried there in the crypt! 

I caught a taxi to the Sagrada but from there I walked to the Palau de La Musica, I’d seen a photo somewhere of the amazing mosaic columns but that didn’t prepare me for the over the topness inside!

The columns are on a little terrace on the first floor, its a challenge to photograph without people, they are really lovely, even if the colours are a bit discordant, moved on into the auditorium, I can’t imagine the weight of the ceiling, even the glass bit in the centre. Looking towards the stage below.

Up to the second floor to get a closer look, and to rest my feet, I sat and watched people preen themselves to take selfies, and there was an impromptu tune played on the pipe organ, I can imagine it can get quite loud, but was good to enjoy the acoustics and look at the ceiling in more detail, and then just a bit further up as who doesn’t need a galloping Pegasus to go with all the ceramic flowers, mosaics and stained glass?

Thursday 30th Barcelona continued:

 Bit of a late start, caught up on my washing and tidied up my suitcase, it is so easy to start collecting maps, tickets and stuff, but all in the rubbish bin now! Decided to walk to the Joan Miro gallery, about 4 Km away but mostly flat, and mostly down one avenue so difficult to get too lost, down to Placa d’Españya Where the have two Venetian style towers, and the bull ring that is now a shopping centre 

Took this photo on the way back but gives a good view of the two, looking the other way is the National Art Gallery of Catalonia, looked magnificent, would have been more beautiful if the fountains had been going, not sure if they are off because of the drought or all the road works going on in the area. 

Good thing they have elevators going up, as already starting to get quite hot, hence on the shady side of the road. Made a couple of wrong turns, but eventually got my bearings, past the blow up sculptures.

And found yet another lookout over the city, by this time I was taking rests on all the shady seats, as still not eating as much as I usually do, but on the improve, its hard to find food that takes my fancy, oh how I would enjoy a couple of poached eggs on toast, instead I had a little pizza, but it was nice! Anyway this shady seat was close to the view and had a couple of buskers on guitar and saxophone so was enjoyable rest and they had a cute dog. Anyway that’s La Sagrada Familia in the middle.

Barcelona is such a big city, and there must be heaps of tourists here as not that many people seem to be working. Lots of elderly, late seventies to eighties out with their shopping trollies (They seem older than our elderly)  Tottering along or catching up with friends on benches in the streets, obviously apartment living, I’m so glad to live in Christchurch and have my own space! 

Time for a little bit of Joan Miro 

I enjoyed the Gallery, a good amount of his work to look at and read about, and in a great position overlooking the city. Descended through some gardens that used to belong to an estate, fountains not going again but it was pretty and shady! 

Walked back to the hotel, hot and tired, I think I could get used to this siesta idea in the summer!