We spent the day exploring Barcelona and a lot of it had to do with
Antoni Gaudi. First was the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada
Família (41°24'13.1"N, 2°10'27.7"E), started in 1882 with an expected
completion date in 2026, the 100th anniversary of its designer, Gaudi.
Apparently they only past the halfway point in 2010. We arrived to find
a line up that went almost completely around the church, and were told
it would be a two hour wait. It actually was only a one hour wait
and well worth it. It was also a very entertaining wait, we watched them
lift part of the roof structure using large cranes, about 100 meters up
and onto the church. If you are wondering how they pay for this, 2.8
million visitors a year visit the place, and at about 18 euros per
person, that works out somewhere around $50 million euros a year. Even
with all of the people visiting, it was a beautiful place to visit. Jim
found it amusing to see the signs requesting people be quiet while
construction equipment created quite a din.
Gaudi placed the church, so
that the light coming through the windows lights the church in
different colours. There are still several windows left to complete. He
used mathematical simulations of natural patterns throughout the place
including internal support columns that are slender and bent to resemble
the trunks and branches of trees. Pictures cannot do not do this place
justice.
Later we visited Parc G
üell,
which was designed by Gaudi using similar natural references. We also
had a chance to get down to the beach and Cindy put her toes in the
Mediterranean. It's been cool in Europe so we will wait to swim in it
when the weather gets warmer.
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| (41°24'51.7"N, 2°09'07.6"E) |
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| (41°24'49.4"N, 2°09'09.7"E) |
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| Plaza de Catalunya (41°23'12.4"N, 2°10'12.4"E) |
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