Is It Tuesday?

Thank goodness I have to take meds every day.  It's the only way I can keep track of what day it is.  Whew.  A wild weather day, but we got enough stoppage of the rain to do some sightseeing, have some fun and spend some money.  yay!!!!

We wandered over to the Temple de la Sagrada Familia.  Once I realize that "Sagrada" was NOT the family name, but in fact means "Sacred Family", it kinda took on a whole new meaning.  Doi.  Anyway, the architect is one Antoni Gaudi, from whence springs the term "gaudy" if I am remembering my pre-trip tourist data correctly.  And indeed, "gaudy" has taken on a whole new meaning for me after seeing this "masterpiece".  As the guide book says, "love it or hate it, the sheer scale...of this unique building is unforgettable".  Here were my first clues this was a true statement:



The full view -- or as much as I could fit in my camera lens from about a 1/2 block away



This tree is positioned way up high between the 4 spires.  Like a perpetual Christmas tree in plaster.

The really strange thing about these spires is that "Sanctus...." is in different colors until it gets wet.  Then the words turn to brown that match the columns.  We counted about 9 "Santus" around the outer spires -- groups of 3, of course.  Way up high on the spires, draped in white in the long shot, written horizontally is "Hosanna" on each spire.



This piece is just below the Christmas tree and in the middle of the building







This is the back entrance.  Or it could be the front entrance.  We're really not sure.  It would have cost us about $20 to go inside, $30 if we wanted to take the elevator up.  And we just didn't want to spend the money.  The outside was plenty enough fun for us.

After the Temple and some local neighborhood food, we discoved a funicular and then a cable car that took us to the top of Montjuic where we had a wonderful, if a tad foggy view of Barcelona and my first ever view of the Mediterranean Sea.  There was something kicky for me about seeing the Mediterranean and I hope to get close enough to grab a small bottle of water either tomorrow or in Valencia to add to my collection of small water bottles from the Colorado River inside the Grand Canyon:

Gene & I had discussed using this trip to indulge in a splurge and purchase high quality leather jackets from a country that specializes in high quality leather.  And so we got a recommendation from our hotel for a reputable seller and so we indulged.  Yes, we know we live in the desert, but sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do and these will last forever....

Meanwhile, back at La Rambla, the street statues came out to play:

And so another day comes to an end in Barcelona.  We have tomorrow and on Thursday, we're off to Valencia and Las Fallas!!