Spain - Part 2

March 25 – The hotel had a nice breakfast.  We went to the Basilica De La Sagrada Familia.  We ordered our tickets online, which was a great recommendation from the hotel clerk and he also told us to go early in the morning.  Unfortunately we had to buy our tickets twice because of a printing problem.  We eventually got our money back. 

The Basilica Sagrada Familia was truly unbelievable and definitely some place you should visit if you are ever in Barcelona.   In November 2010 Pope Benedict dedicated the church as a Basilica.  The first stone was laid in 1882 and construction has been going on ever since.   Antoni Gaudi is the main architect of the church.  Donations from the tours are what finance the ongoing construction.  Construction hopefully will be completed in the first half of the 21^st century.

Almost every part of the church tells a different religious story.   One section of the exterior is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and other sections are dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory.  Gaudi liked to use nature in his designs and the inside of the church reflect that with the pillars that looked like tree trunks and branches. 

We did the part of the Hop on Hop off tour bus.  We went to Mount Tibidabo.  The folks we meet on Saturday told us to take the blue tram up the mountain to the Funicular, but off course the blue tram was not running on Friday so we took the bus. On top of the mountain was The Temple of Tibidabo. There was a great view of Barcelona from the top.   We thought it was amazing how they were able to bring all the stones up the mountain to construct the temple.  Tibidabo is surrounded by a small amusement park. 

March 26 – We finished our Hop on Hop off bus tour going to another part of Barcelona.  Went to Park Guell, which we were told was a must see.  We walked around the gardens and toured Gaudi’s house.  As we climbed the steps from the entrance, there is a mosaic lizard, which seems to be sold in every souvenir shop. 

We went back to the pier and had a nice lunch at a restaurant right on the beach.  We watch a little sand volleyball and people windsurfing.  Jumped back on the bus to finish our tour.  For dinner that night we went out for tapas and sangria.  I asked for a glass of sangria and the waiter told me that they only come by the pitcher, but he would see if they could make a half pitcher.  When the pitcher came it was almost full, so I guess they couldn’t make only half.  I did manage to drink the whole pitcher with a little help from Jay. 

March 27 – Woke up to a rainy day had breakfast then out to the airport for the flight back to Munich.  It was a great week in Spain.