We were off the ship by 8:45 yesterday, through the taxi line in perhaps fifteen minutes and at our hotel in Barcelona by 9:30. It was of course too early to get in our room so we left our bags and went walking through this beautiful city with its wide tree-lined boulevards. After a stop for a coffee we made it to La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi's massive, fanciful, bizarre and wonderful church in the heart of town. I knew the church was still under construction but I wasn't prepared for how much construction was going on, and in how many places. The building was begun in 1882; it's not clear to me when it will ever be finished.
The outside is whimsical and jaw-dropping; see pictures below. The inside is magnificent and -- oh wait, I can't talk about the inside -- we couldn't get in. They were selling tickets for the next day; yesterday's were all booked!
Note to self: research even things that don't seem to need research, like, entry to a church.
We took the Metro to Las Ramblas and spent a tiring but entertaining hour people-watching while walking down this packed promenade. After a tapas lunch we made our way back to the hotel and collapsed. After a bit of a rest we did our email thing -- blessed free WiFi! -- and then had lovely paella at a beautiful restaurant just around the corner.
Note to self: start eating sensibly today!
I'm glad we had a few hours in this cosmopolitan and charming city, but, in truth, it probably would have made more sense to fly home yesterday and save Barcelona for another trip
Note to self: I don't have to do it all, all at once.
Soon we're off to the airport and the flight to Kennedy.
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