Our apartment in Barcelona was a modern serviced apartment type hotel, with washing machine, Nespresso machine, and excellent internet. The only (minor) complaint was that, yet again, the double bed was made up of two singles pushed together, so snuggling up to my husband was again difficult, and one of us would be on the crack, and in this case the mattresses slid apart readily. Nothing like being away to make you really appreciate your own bed and pillow!
After breakfast (we got two serves of hueovos frites and bacon, and two serves of a local sausage served with rather yummy white beans, cannellini?, coffees and tea, and a sweet muffin to finish, we then headed off for our appointment with the Sagrada Familia.
Given the boys' weariness, and our utter lack of Spanish/Catalan, we wussed out and travelled only by taxi while in Barcelona. (With four of us, public transport is not always cheaper.)
Our entry time was 10:30am, and our hour-long guided tour at 11:15am. I had also bought entry to climb the Nativity tower, beginning shortly after the conclusion of our tour.
We were all utterly blown away by the Sagrada Familia. I will likely do a whole separate post on it once I can process my photos. To think this entire building is the vision of just one man, albeit with the assistance of many, is incredible. We were awe-struck.
After a late lunch, we caught a cab up to Park Guell. Also designed by Gaudi, this park is set on the gently sloping hills to the north of the city. We meandered through the outer park, with various buskers including a balloon man (soap bubble, rather than helium) who was delighting many young children (and some not so young ones too).
At our alloted time of 4pm, we then entered the 'Monument Zone' where most of the mosaic work for which Gaudi is rightfully famous is located. Unfotunately, the boys were fading fast so we didn't spend quite as long there as we would have liked.
An ice cream each, and a cab back to our hotel for a rest was in order. I had entertained thoughts of going out for a walk by myself to find one or two of the Modernisme buildings for which Barcelona is well-known, but I could find neither the relevant guidebook, nor the energy.
I knew that two days in Barcelona would not be enough, so one was never going to do. Ah well, I guess we'll just have to come back!
After breakfast (we got two serves of hueovos frites and bacon, and two serves of a local sausage served with rather yummy white beans, cannellini?, coffees and tea, and a sweet muffin to finish, we then headed off for our appointment with the Sagrada Familia.
Given the boys' weariness, and our utter lack of Spanish/Catalan, we wussed out and travelled only by taxi while in Barcelona. (With four of us, public transport is not always cheaper.)
Our entry time was 10:30am, and our hour-long guided tour at 11:15am. I had also bought entry to climb the Nativity tower, beginning shortly after the conclusion of our tour.
We were all utterly blown away by the Sagrada Familia. I will likely do a whole separate post on it once I can process my photos. To think this entire building is the vision of just one man, albeit with the assistance of many, is incredible. We were awe-struck.
After a late lunch, we caught a cab up to Park Guell. Also designed by Gaudi, this park is set on the gently sloping hills to the north of the city. We meandered through the outer park, with various buskers including a balloon man (soap bubble, rather than helium) who was delighting many young children (and some not so young ones too).
At our alloted time of 4pm, we then entered the 'Monument Zone' where most of the mosaic work for which Gaudi is rightfully famous is located. Unfotunately, the boys were fading fast so we didn't spend quite as long there as we would have liked.
An ice cream each, and a cab back to our hotel for a rest was in order. I had entertained thoughts of going out for a walk by myself to find one or two of the Modernisme buildings for which Barcelona is well-known, but I could find neither the relevant guidebook, nor the energy.
I knew that two days in Barcelona would not be enough, so one was never going to do. Ah well, I guess we'll just have to come back!
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