My 5 Days of Summer: Part Dos (2)

Welcome to Barcelona, Spain's 2nd largest city and the capital of the Catalunya region!

Did you know that Spanish isn't the first language spoken here? Catalan is! To be it sounds like a mixture between French and Spanish...


Beth and I arrived in Barcelona at 9:30am, after our 12-hour train ride. We checked into our apartment, put on our hiking shoes, and set out to explore the city. Our first encounter was with the huge arch pictured above. This is in the Parc de la Ciutadella, and this stately Triumphal Arch was build as the main enterance for the World's Fair in 1888!

Beth and I made our way through tree-lined boulevards to one of the most famous sights in Spain: Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Church.


This incredible church was designed by Gaudi, and he worked on it from 1883, until his death in 1926. At that point work was halted on the building. However, it has since begun construction again, though it is not expected to be completed for another 50 years! When it is finished 12 330-foot spires will rise above the city buildings, one representing each apostle. The center tower, honoring Jesus, will rise 560 feet up! Gaudi's work is all inspired by nature and therfore, the church design and architecture has a very organic feel.

Two facades marking the enterances are most facinating to look at. One illustrates the passion (see photo below), which Jesus' head (while on the cross) an open Bible - showing that he is the Word of God.

Photos from the inside of the church:

Notice how this columns represent trees?? They are modeled after the trees that line the boulevards of the city!

The Nativity facade is currently the back enterance to the church. Its detailed construction illustrates scenes from Jesus' birth.

Beth and I took a lift to the top of one of the 330-foot spires... then "hoofed it" all the way down, enjoying incredible views along the way!

The staircase... looking down from the top!

The top of a spire... looks like a bunch of fruit!

Park Guell

Gaudi also designed this park, though he intended it to be a housing project for 60 residence! Instead, only one house was complete and the city has permanently turned it into a park for guiests to explore. Fun columns, build out of concerte and rebar, topped with mosaic art-tiled designes, an ergonomically designed bench swerving in and out of a ledge over looking the park's museum. Incredible design!

Las Ramblas

From Placa de Catalunya, the street named Las Ramblas (meaning stream in Arabic because it used to be a drainage dich along a midieval wall!) is a one-mile stretch of culture, flavor, and Spanish life at its best. From "pet stands" selling birds and bunnies, to flower booths, human statues, bars and restaurants, tourist shops and markets, this street is packed both day AND night!

Perhaps my favorite bit about this street was off to its side... La Boqueria - a food market!!




Here Beth and I found plenty of fresh fruit, veggies, and seafood to make our own dinner back at our apartment!

Marking the end of the Ramblas walk, is this huge monument to Christopher Columbus


Another street in Barcelona...

Montjuic (meaning mount of the Jews) overlooks Barcelona's port and is home to the Castle of Montjuic (pictured below), built in the 18th century to keep an eye on the citizens of Barcelona, but it is now a military museum.

At the very top of Montjuic is the stadium in which the 1992 Olympics were held! Here I am holding the Olympic flame which still burns here! :)

Perhaps the most fantastic thing near the castle is the Font Magica (Magic fountains)... on the half hour every summer evening a 10-minute show of music, colored lights and huge amounts of water makes a great SPLASH of enjoyment for the huge crowds gathered around it!
It sort of reminded me of Disney's Fantasia!

And FINALLY, Barcelona's 2 1/3 mile man-made beach... that's right - MAN-MADE! Back in the 80's, it was decided that the city needed some "shaping up" for the Olympics so they hauled in this sand, palm trees, and beach chairs with umbrellas!

Beth and I spent one morning/early afternoon here, sun-bathing and swimming in the salty (but warm!) Mediterranean Sea! That evening Beth and I parted as I caught a bus to the airport, which she caught a train to her next Spanish destination - lucky gal!! I was so thankful to have the opportunity to travel with her though... and to be able to see Spain... AND to have at least 5 solid days of SUMMER!