We were in at 9 am with the first entry of the day after an incredible fuss of scanning everything as if you were about to take-off in a plane; only the Catholics could come up with a masterclass of men in black suits and fuss and bureaucratic rules.
HOWEVER! It truly IS amazing and finally we have visited - that is, gone INside! We were here in 2009 and stood outside and felt too overwhelmed to go in; we had come to the cathedral that year (when we did the Camino) but had already seen plenty of Gaudí along the way.
It is interesting to note how long it took the Church to consecrate this basilica - 2010 (good ole Pope Benedict XVI) - given the project started in 1882. And how about the Wiki entry? ‘The largest unfinished Catholic church in the world'. A bit underwhelming?
Gaudí devoted 43 years of his life to this project.
So here we are. It truly is amazing and we so enjoyed the Passion Tower (the lift zoomed up 65 m then 10 m of stairs UP; then 400 stairs down). Lots of cranes and construction taking place; I don’t think they will EVER finish (I’m certain the architects will keep coming up with things to add, provided there is money!).
[PHOTOS SEPARATE BLOG POST]
10:30. Time for breakfast! I’m famished!!
Make that 11:30 …… make that lunch …
… a late lunch which involved a lot of walking to Parc de les Glòries but first a coffee, more walking to find the Metro: toing and froing then onto the Metro where we muddled which direction to go in (my mistake) and had to get off and catch a train in the other direction …
So we arrived in the barrio of El Born - home to the Gothic cathedral of Barcelona, many many tourists, and many many shops (food, fans and espadrilles).
We found a spot (Jardí) that sold the most delicious bocacillas of thin jamon on delicious multigrain seeded baguette plus great coffee and cake.
We wandered the streets trying to dodge people and found a quiet spot to watch the passersby with a glass of something cold.
I cannot believe we stayed in this area back in 2009; MF recognised landmarks I have forgotten ...
We had a more straightforward return trip by Metro (food helps!)...
Then out to dinner at another place I had booked. Very understated. But Oh My Goodness. So sensational. Maybe the best this trip?
Casual: Fonda Pepa with fonda being an ‘inn’ or ‘tavern’ in days gone by. Very proudly Catalan. Just the most amazing dishes.
And matched with fascinating wines: we had a white blend (garnacha blanca with albariño), the red wine was Carignan (Cariñena) and a Garnacha Blanca by Andrea Miró with our dessert.
And it just seems to be the journey to get there: another hole-in-the-wall establishment and the neighbourhoods (barrios) we passed through on our walk there - fascinating! I think because I raved so much, Pedro (or was it Paco?) gave us a glass each of Ratafia as a digestif 'on the house' to finish up.
Nice walk back through these barrios that are gradually being gentrified. Lovely.
Total walking for today: 14.5 kms.
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