Great Escape Day 8

We left Zaragoza the next day on our way to Barcelona, our last hotel for the final two nights of our trip. The terrain quickly turned flat and arid as we made our way towards the coast. I wanted to say a quick word about the group we were traveling with. We were outsiders to start out as most of the group had connections with the Exeter church parish, headed by our leader Father Matt. We glommed on to the trip when we attended mass there while visiting my son’s family and noticing it in the bulletin. By the time we hit Barcelona we were all pretty good friends. That’s what standing in rest room lines does for you. We found the group welcoming and a lot of fun to hang out with. We are both looking forward to attending mass at my son’s church the next time we visit and reconnect with these fine people.

In Plaza del Espana

Approaching Barcelona, it was obvious this would be the largest city of our trip as the suburbs started well out from the city. We made our way into the center of the city and pulled up to the Plaza del Espana with a huge statue in the middle of a large traffic circle. Our guide kicked us off the bus for our lunch break and directed us to a large circular building across the street. It was the Arenas de Barcelona and was a re-purposed bull fighting ring. It featured a bunch of restaurants with the rest of the floors serving as a shopping mall and cinema. Yes, my Favorite Panamanian’s eyes lit up at the mention of shopping. We hurried through a fast-food lunch, my first burger of the trip, and set out for the upper floors for shopping (okay, that was mostly my wife). She linked up with a few of the women from our group while the husbands stood in the central shaft awaiting their decisions.

Typical Landscape of our Drive from Zaragoza

The Re-Purposed Bullring

Inside

Our guide said there was a viewing platform along the top of the building, so I left the group, figuring my Favorite Panamanian would stick with them if they moved. I know, same mistake I made in Fatima. I walked the complete circumference of the building and it offered some spectacular views of Barcelona spread out before me. I hurried back in to link up with my Favorite Panamanian only to find her disappeared once again. I spent a harried 15 minutes searching the very large building as I tried to locate her as our rendezvous time quickly approached. I checked the bus stop and was on my way back into the building when I ran into her in the same group I left her with. When the ladies left the store, they heard what I was doing and decided that was a good idea. They had headed up while I was coming down and could see me searching the building. I think this offered my wife a little bit of revenge for the Fatima incident.

Views from up Top

Once on the bus we took a tour of the city, passing up Mont Juic which featured the Olympic Stadium. There was also a monument to the archer who memorably lit the Olympic Flame. Our next stop was Mirador Montjuic which offered more specular views of the city, especially the port area. This gave a true appreciation of the sheer size of Barcelona. We came from the hill to continue our tour of the city, passing by several houses created by Gaudi. He still commands an immense amount of presence and certainly pride throughout the city. We had our daily mass in a beautiful church in the center of Barcelona. We then headed for one of the true highlights of our entire tour, the Church of the Sagrada Familia.

Olympic Stadium

Barcelona FC Plays Here

The Torch

The Archer

Atop Mirador Montjuic

Views from Mirador Montjuic

Wife Joining the Ring

Chris Columbus Pointing Towards America

Mini-Eiffel Twoer

Gaudi Created House

Our Church

Waiting for Doors to Open

Worth the Wait

This is Gaudi’s masterpiece and remains under construction for over a hundred years. It is also a tourist mecca and we had to buck huge crowds getting there. The Spanish authorities had everything under control and controlled access by requiring tickets. We had to park about a quarter mile away. My Favorite Panamanian was so excited she got out in front of the group and had to wait for us when she crossed a street ahead of the green light. The church was everything it is famous for. As we approached the famous melting birthday cake look catches your eye.

Wife Stranded Across the Street

Getting Closer

Central Tower will be Finished Next Year

Our Entrance

Two Happy Campers

We had a great local guide who explained in detail what Gaudi’s intent was. While the outside was certainly awesome, I was truly stunned when we made it inside. The photos in no way can do justice to the beauty that permeates the entire structure. I’m not the most intuitive architecture guy but everywhere I turned inside the church I was greeted by a new wonder. Gaudi placed stained glass windows on the west in warm colors while cool colors were on the east. Again, the photos just can’t do it justice and my poor ability with words are likewise inadequate to capture the wonderment created. The final part of our tour took us out the other side of the building which featured Gaudi’s design for stations of the cross which had what our guide called Star Wars helmets for the Roman soldiers depicted. Whatever the intent was, it worked. I’m not usually one given to overreaction to this type experience but this was different. Everyone should see the Church of the Sagrada Familia during their lifetime. It is that special.

Stunned When Walking Inside

Amazing Western Windows

Eastern Side

Amazing

Lord's Prayer

Central Altar

Western Doors

Stations of the Cross Depicted

Star Wars Helmets

Dinner Back at the Hotel

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete – my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course