Fact: I can fall asleep anywhere and anytime, my faithful travel companions (mom and Shelb) are another story. You know that horrible, and I mean painfully painstaking feeling when you are awaked from a deep slumber prematurely? Well around 2:30 am I am forcefully jerked from mine. My mom and sister have not acclimated to our new time zone and have decided that now (when technically we should be going out flamenco dancing) it is the most appropriate time to FaceTime with my dad. Grant it who doesn't love a good FaceTime with Jorge but really, now is the most appealing time for this conversation? Great so it's 3 am, we're all awake now (but not in the lets be productive and see the city type of way) and nothing is on except for Spanish psychics and Bob Esponja (Spongebob Squarepants). But you can only watch cartoons in another language for so long before it begins to get a little ridiculous. Well 1 bag of banana chips, peanut m&ms and a bag of check mix later and Sue comes up with the brilliant idea of chamomile tea and a side of Valium. See ya later.
Well Siri set my alarm for 8, but we rolled out of bed around 11:45. How embarrassing. Whatever, Barcelona gives NYC a run for its money. This city NEVER sleeps...well if you don't count their famous siesta hours. As we make our way out into the daylight we decided our first stop will be La Sagrada Familia, as the cab drops us off we see the line winding around the building. Yeah right, we all know how much patience I have for lines. We'll come back after lunch...I mean brunch. After brunch we make our way back to the church, phew the line has diminished significantly. We buy our tickets and retrieve our nifty headsets. But for serio, I love those touristy headsets, it's a wonderful way to explore the grounds without having to prance around in an obnoxious group.
The church's exterior is breathtaking, construction of the church began in 1882, by Gaudí and is still under construction today, in fact it is said to be "finished" in 2026. Good one Spain. The stylistic architecture, Spanish Late Gothic and Catalon Modernism, is still mirrored after Gaudí's original style. As you enter through the giant columns you enter what feels like a canopy of marbled trees with sparkling stained light illuminating the church. Gaudí wanted the space to feel as if you were in a forest with natural light peeking in through the little sky lights and beautiful stained glass mosaics. The sight is entrancing. When you enter a room it is unusual to see people stopped in awe starring at the ceiling then you look up and you too become intoxicated by the sights and sounds of this historic cathedral. After our sweet headphone's tour we rush over to the tower, we are crammed into the lift with the most beautiful elevator attendant you have ever seen (I think I have a new type) and are scuttled up to the heavens. As we reluctantly exit the elevator we are thrust out a top of the world. The view is spectacular we can see from the ocean to the mountains and everything in between.
After the church we continue our Gaudí tour and head to Park Güell. A work of art sitting a top of the city of Barcelona. The park is decorated with Gaudíesque mosaics and lively street music. Although it appears to be only a tourist stop it is also a local hang out. Guapo Spanish men jog around the park and senoras congregate along the benches to chat. It's a picturesque scene but alas the park closes at 6. After we leave to the park we head down to the famous La Rambla for a little walking, people watching and an early dinner. It feels good to be back in Europe. Buenos noches Barca.
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