A big day today starts out with our inability to get a Taxi. We have enough time so we determine to walk to La Sagrada Familia. It is still early and not too hot - we arrive a bit ahead of schedule for our 9:30 entrance.
At this hour the crowds are mercifully smaller than usual. We get through security and into the church petty quickly. Jeorgia and I go up the elevator for one of the tower tours - beautiful views of the city interrupted by the damn bells - so loud when you’re inside an amplification chamber!
The way down from the tower is on foot where the stairs can present a bit of a challenge:
Looking back up from the bottom!
Some other photos of our visit:
Having knocked out the church, it’s on to the Gaudi designed Parc Guell. Hey, it’s only a little over a mile, we can do this. A nice 2% grade, it’s in the low 80’s - hey this is pleasant. Graduating to 3% as we find the temperature rising - a bit more work but at least it’s getting hotter. Now 4% and holy crap, what were we thinking. 5% and stairs - we’re soaked and parched. Hoping our trust documents are up to date. We arrive. Our energy level allows for a partial tour but nothing involving stairs! A few shots from the visit:
Time to get back into the hotel area - we find a taxi line!!!!!!!! The best cab ride ever. We make a stop at the Pandora store before the brief walk to the hotel and pool time.
We finish our day with a tapas and wine tour - the rescheduled event we missed on our first night! Farran, our guide is fun - it’s just us and an Australian woman who lives in New Jersey with her family. Along the way, we walk through the St. Mary of the Sea church where we see a stained glass window honoring FCBarcelona for their assistance in helping rebuild the church after a fire and a statue of Mary and Jesus where Mary is alleged to be depicted with a rare smile (you be the judge of that) - photos below. After the tour our whole group goes out for a drink at a local bar that Farran haunts. A good night had by all except perhaps Jeorgia - we think the two nightcaps at the lobby bar before retiring may have put her over the top. The hazmat team was able to clean up the room with perhaps a small gratuity to the housekeeping staff! We finish with a few photos from the tour:
