Thursday in Barcelona

In Barcelona, we again did a "Maria Tour" -- a route suggested by my college roommate.

Harbor area at Barcelona -- the bridge in the foreground is the way into the city from the pier where we were tied up.

Forward part of the Gem as we were leaving

Maria recommended that we take a taxi to Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (or la Sagrada Familia - the Holy Family) church and walk back -- we decided to take a cruise terminal bus into the city and find a taxi there... unfortunately, no taxis were to be found when we got to the drop off point for the cruise bus. So we ended up walking (about 2 miles) at a pretty fast pace, because we had 10am entry tickets for the church.

From Wikipedia:

It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia)

A picture at the front of the church as we finally arrived (at 10:01am) -- the entry for tickets was on the other side.

We got in easily - they require prepaid tickets, and though there was a line, it went quickly.

We knew that the church was still under construction...

Our audioguide told us that the "Tower of Our Lady" was recently completed - it is the one topped by a 12-pointed glass star that is lit at night.

We came first to the Nativity Façade.

I have to say, looking at pictures of the church, I don't particularly like it... it looks like dripping candle wax to me... but... with the audioguide, we were made aware of a lot more than I initially saw.

On the Nativity Façade - the Nativity or Birth of Jesus - with Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and an ox and donkey.

To the right of the Nativity are the shepherds who have come to adore the Christ Child...

... on the left are three Wise Men bearing gifts.

Musical angels were shown above.

The left portal shows the Holy Family's flight into Egypt.

The right portal shows an image of Jesus with long hair as he helps with a carpentry project in his father's workshop.

We proceeded inside and were taken with the beautiful colors in the stained glass...

The stained glass does not provide pictures of Bible stories, but light pours into the space.

The central part of the church looking toward the high altar

Looking across the church toward the Nativity Façade doors

Another view of the stained glass

We left the church on the side opposite the Nativity Façade -- the Passion Façade.

The image of the crucified Christ on the Passion Façade.

According to the audioguide: Gaudi drew what he wanted this façade to look like. He wanted to reflect Christ's Passion in all its cruelty, to capture his pain. Look at the enormous leaning columns that frame the entrance. They look a bit like tensed muscles, don't they? And the ones just above, don't they look like ribs? In the words of the architect himself, this façade should be "hard, bare, as if made of bones."

Another view from outside the Nativity Façade

Obligatory selfie

A final view from outside the Passion Façade

From La Sagrada Familia, we followed a walking route recommended by Maria...

Going by another Gaudi designed building, Casa Mila

From the website (https://www.lapedrera.com/en/la-pedrera):

Casa Mila (1906-1912) is Antoni Gaudi’s most iconic work of civic architecture due to both its constructional and functional innovations, as well as its ornamental and decorative solutions. It is a total work of art.

Known as La Pedrera (stone quarry) because it resembles an open quarry in appearance, the building features forms drawn from nature.

It was Gaudi’s last work of civic architecture and represented a break with the conventions of his day.

 

Along the way, we saw other interesting architecture...

... and a UPS delivery truck too!

We stopped in Plaza de Catalunya...

Iberostar hotel fronting on the square

Then we headed down Las Ramblas, a large boulevard which runs through the heart of the city center.

We were getting thirsty so this display of big glasses of cold beverages was tempting!

Some statue buskers -- this was a large winged creature...

... and Galileo.

Down near the harbor, another selfie at the statue of Christopher Columbus...

His statue here is still safe!

We made our way to the cruise bus and got back to the ship.

Our evening's entertainment was by Mike Sterling -- known for playing the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in London.

After the show, we headed outside to see the sunset -- beautiful!

A last selfie for the evening.

A couple more sunset pictures...

... this is off the back of the ship in The Great Outdoors -- a grill and bar area -- that has become our favorite place for breakfast and snack time.

Our next port will be in France!