Barcelona, Gaudí town

We woke up at the villa early Saturday morning early. Lori needed to be at the airport by 11AM. We also needed to drop off the rental car. We said our final goodbyes to everyone and the five of us headed off (me, Jim, Laurie, Shahla and Lori, the gang of five). We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare, saw Lori off then too the Aerobus into Barcelona, about a 30 minute ride. 


We had reservations at the Hostal Campi, where we had stayed the first night after arriving from the US. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to stay in Barcelona, I would recommend it.


Saturday Jim, Lauri and me walk the city finally enjoying a picnic dinner on the waterfront at sunset.

Sunday we met in the lobby early to visit Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. We wanted to be there a the 9AM opening  to avoid the crowds. I selected the guided tour so I got a chance to walk through it before the tour. The guided tour was well worth the extra price. If you get to Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia is not to be missed. 


I made my way back to the hostal and update the blog before heading out the the Fat Tire Bike Tour. The tour started at 4PM and lasted almost to Sunset. The tour covers a lot of ground in the city and ends up at the beach for drinks... Nice...

Seeing the Sagrada Familia made me what to see another project that Gaudi had done, a apartment building called Casa_Milà. Jim and I headed off to see it early Monday morning. It was an easy walk from the hostal. The building is a unique looking building with many innovative features. We toured the building for more than an hour starting at the roof, then the attic and then into one of the apartments.


Not having quite enough of Gaudi, we then returned to the hostal to pick up Lauri and head off the public park that Gaudi designed as a housing development.


I learned that Gaudi was a hugely creative force with 7 projects listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You may not be attracted to his style, but there is no way that you would say that his work was boring.