As I write I’m halfway through Day Five and Day Three already seems a lifetime away! So here’s hoping the highlights come pouring back to my mind as I write.
This was the day we hopped-on, hopped off, but most of the time we sat on and enjoyed the sights of Barcelona without having to make any effort. The buses were quite busy but we had no long waits.
After breakfast at another little croissanterie near my hotel we walked up to Pl de la Catalanya to the main bus stop and set off on the Orange route, along past the city park, the ocean terminal and the America’s Cup set up, up to Montjuic and then down into the city
The first landmark I thought about trying to photograph was early on: Barcelona’s very own Arc de Triomf, built for the opening of the 1888 Barcelona World fair
‘Hmm,’ I thought, ‘that’s difficult light!’ But it didn’t dawn on me that the light was difficult because we were driving into the sun and would be all day because we had chosen the Orange route first. Hey ho! Not a major problem and not a disadvantage everywhere.
We drove past the Olympic Village and some areas where I know there are great fountains but Barcelona’s fountains are all still this year because of the water crisis the city faced earlier in the summer. The old bullring, now home to a massive shopping complex, was impressive. Inaugurated in 1914, the last bullfight was held there in 2011. The arena is used for all the usual forms of entertainment – concerts, etc.
Then past FCBarcelona’s ground along the Gran Via into the heart of the city with all the modernist buildings it’s renowned for. We decided to hop off and see what we could do at La Pedrera but the city is heaving with people -there’s a bike race and the America’s Cup semi-finals in addition to all the usual weekend stuff, so it’s pretty busy.
La Pedrera is visitable but not right now so I will do it another day. We browsed the shop and then aimed for a coffee bar which might do frappe so that we could enjoy both the sunshine and some lunch.
Just down the road we came across another Gaudi creation Casa Batllo – another place to get to sometime, maybe on this visit, maybe another time: I’m more and more convinced this is a place to return to.
We succeeded in finding a pavement cafe for lunch and then almost immediately hopped on the bus again to try the Green route: out around the beach and to catch my first glimpse of the Sagrada Familia of which I had heard so much. But first, I must mention the queue outside the Chanel shop – honestly, I had thought it must be Starbucks or a takeaway sandwich shop: oh, no!!!
Throughout the city there are really interesting buildings, each with its own story and many in the most unexpected places – for me, that is especially true of the Sagrada Familia which seems to have grown in the middle of a residential area which closes in on either side of it. It was good to have the opportunity to photograph from the upper deck of the bus and to have more than one opportunity. We had nearly missed out on tickets to visit and I was increasingly grateful that we had managed to get them when I saw the building itself.
The first sight of Sagrada Familia impresses simply by its height in comparison with the already high buildings surrounding it.
And the crane (working to finish the highest tower, I think) just added that extra dimension of unreality. When we visited later we would see work continuing, bringing home the fact that this is, indeed, an unfinished building. A work in progress.
The church has two main completed facades: Nativitiy and Passion both very effective, I think, which lead up to the towers with their detailed decorations.
Appetite whetted, I’m now really looking forward to our visit later in the week.
My friend suggested we hop off at Park Guell and go to see if we could get in. Although hesitant, I agreed and off we went walking up quite a steep hill and a significant number of steps to reach the entrance – only to be told there were no tickets available…. and we had to walk back down to the bus stop via an ice-cream shop..
After a fairly quick turn around at the hotels it was time to eat – and, for the first time in a long time, I found myself totally lost on a three minute walk. I had turned right instead of left and ended up with a fifteen minute walk instead.. no worries, we were all safe and there was paella waiting for me before another good night’s sleep.
Tomorrow’s another day!
Living the Journey 
How fabulous. hope to see the Sagrada Familia one day.
Hi Kath.
We are enjoying your Journey with you, you are certainly (as usual) packing a lot in!
A lovely selection of photos, – they bring back some happy memories from our short stay there a few years ago, – especially like the one of the Sagrada Familia with the crane on top.
Very much looking forward to another Heritage Gallery talk!
All the best,
Mike & Jenny