Casa Batlló and Barceloneta

Just when you think you've seen it all, you decide to go to Casa Batlló on your last day and are blown away one more time. Gaudí designed this gorgeous city apartment for this prominent family and I want to live there! You are automatically given the audio guide with your entrance and it's well worth it. Gaudí's amazing design sense and vision for something completely different really comes through. One room after another dazzles the senses with his use of curve, color and imagination. Gaudí managed to combine functionality with beauty and whimsy along every passageway! The tour takes you up to the rooftop where, of course, incredible views await you! 
The outer facade is also filled with great imagination with the balconies looking like the masks of carnival! This was a fabulous way to start our last day in Barcelona.
The other interesting public art was this giant cat that stood across from our hotel. I found it especially wonderful as it a work of a famous Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, whose work I have enjoyed since I lived in Colombia many, many years ago.
From there, we headed to the beach to soak up what would surely be the last warmth of the year for us. We walked down to the beach area from our hotel. This towering statue of Christopher Columbus pointing to the new world welcomed us to the beach area. It was hot and sunny! The sandy shores were a welcome respite from city sightseeing. Elaborate sand sculptures dotted the shoreline and many locals thought that the beach would be a good way to spend this last Sunday in October! The water was still warm enough to swim in so we both took a plunge. It was a super way to enjoy our last afternoon in this spectacular town. 
And then the day was done and our holiday was over. But I'm quite certain this won't be the last time I visit this enchanting, wonderful city.

Barcelona's Olympic Park

High above the city on a hill called Montjuïc, opposite Park Guell sits the Olympic Park from the 1992 Olympics. Remember the opening ceremonies, when the archer shot the arrow into the caldron to start the games?  Yes, very impressive indeed. The only drawback was that the day we chose to go up there was also the day of a huge children's event so every family in Barcelona was up on the hill that day! Fortunately the stadium was still open and free but it made for kind of a crowded, zooey atmosphere so wandering around wasn't all that easy. We missed the swimming pool...the one with the diving platforms that showed the divers with a backdrop of all of Barcelona, including the Sagrada Familia. 

(not my photo)

I would've enjoyed seeing the pool. One always needs a reason to return, right? I am a sucker for anything Olympic so with all the people crowding into the stadium, Doug and I tucked into the Sports Museum which was empty. It was more a history of sport than an Olympic recounting but several things were most interesting. I enjoyed seeing these tennis shoes. From left to right: Monica Seles, Pete Sampras, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez. The display with Sweden's and the world's greatest ping pong player was cool too. All in all, a good way to start our trek through the Olympic park. The stadium itself was, of course, impressive and it was fun to see it filled with people. Remember Derek Redmond, the runner who tore his hamstring in the middle of the race and whose father ran down to the track to help him finish? That was Barcelona. These Olympic moments are what we live for every 4 years!

The walk down was spectacular with incredible views and beautiful architecture along the way. Montjuïc is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon...even if every other person in Barcelona had the same idea.

The Barcelona Trifecta: Architecture, Food and Views

After the stunning visit to La Sagrada Familia, we headed to Park Güell for some fantastic views and a taste of Gaudí in the great outdoors. We were thankful for the escalators that took us up to the park as this gorgeous place sits high above the city. The Park itself is free and a welcome respite from the urban environs of Barcelona, and Gaudí's creative spirit in the landscaping was a joy to witness. The views of the city that sprawled from every vantage point were a total bonus. We entered on the upper side of the park and wandered down to the main entrance point and were glad we did. The climb up would've been very challenging. It was much more fun wandering down!
After a day of soaking in these amazing sites we spent the later afternoon on our rooftop terrace, enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sun come down. The warmth of this late October afternoon was such a bonus. We were ready for some adventurous eating so we headed to a neighborhood recommended by a friend where you could find Pintxos, a variety of small appetizers creatively put together to dazzle the palette! The street is Carrer de Blai and every restaurant in this neighborhood had lots on offer. We found our favorite to be Pintxos J. Loved the staff and the variety of pintxos on offer were delicious. 

A perfect combo: Sangria or beer and pintxos!

It's a great way to eat in Barcelona!
By this time I was truly describing Barcelona as a feast in every possible way...sight, sounds, tastes...it is truly a city that has it all.

Gaudí's Church

It is a ridiculous understatement to say to someone going to Barcelona, "Don't miss La Sagrada Familia". I knew we would spend some time there but after all the hype around it, with literally anyone who had ever been there giving absolutely gushing reviews, and now having lived in Europe for 16.5 years and having seen a few grand churches, I wondered how awe-inspiring this one would be. Well, let me tell you, it was AWE-SOME AND AWE-INSPIRING. Our trip to Gaudí's life's work was unforgettable in every way and far exceeded expectations.
One sees the church as soon as you pop up out of the subway. Here is our first glimpse of the masterpiece.
Prior to entering the cathedral, we decided we needed some food. Fortunately we found a place that served tortilla española, which we told to eat by a friend who had lived in Spain. It was basically an onion and potato omelet that was delicioso!
The outer facades of the church are a marvel to look at and it would take years to dial into all of the detail. One side displays the nativity narrative of Christ's life, the other his passion. The nativity side shows the entirety of Christ's life, from birth through ministry. I found this statue of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss particularly moving. The number blocks to the left is an interesting detail. No matter what direction you add the four numbers in a row, they all add up to 33, the age of Christ when he was crucified. From a tower window, this glimpse of a Christ statue was especially prominent.
The facade is a marvel but nothing compares to those first breath-taking moments when you step foot inside. There are no words to explain the sensory experience that the curves, the light, the windows, the whole space create for you. The church is well-marked with placards pointing out various details along the way. I was positively dazzled by the stained glass windows. The depth of their colors and the manner in which they threw shards of light around the cathedral was simply memorizing. I could've sat and stared at those windows all day. Gaudi´'s vision is remarkable and as a man of deep faith, he was very interested in displaying the Glory of God throughout. There are very few straight lines in the church and this effect adds to the sensory experience that being inside the cathedral creates. The altar piece is quite dramatic with the Christ figure fully suspended on the cross overhead.
We took time to go up into one of the towers. Fortunately an elevator lifts you to the top but I must say walking down is the way to go. While dizzying and narrow, the glimpses of the outer facade on the way down are simply spectacular. 
I was moved to see this simple display of the apostles' creed in one of the porticos, a reminder that while this church is art, it is also a house of God and its main purpose is to draw people into the presence of God and encourage them to worship him. I would love to attend a service here one day.
Construction of the Cathedral began in 1882 with Gaudí taking over in 1883. He worked at it until his death in 1926. Still a work in progress, the expected completion date is 2026, one hundred years after Gaudí's passing. Getting to Barcelona was on my original bucket list. Returning to La Sagrada Familia when it is fully finished has become the newest addition to said list!