A Week Exploring Barcelona

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Friday, 23 April 2004 - Started the day at Plaça de Catalunya then strolled down La Rambla and through La Boqueria Market enjoying fresh produce and a refreshing juice. Visited the Liceu Opera House the Columbus Monument at the end of the Ramblas, and the waterfront at Rambla del Mar Explored Sagrada Familia with its intricate façades and panoramic views from the top, then saw the Block of Discord, and toured Casa Milà (La Pedrera) with its surreal rooftop. Wrapped up the day with dinner at Els Quatre Gats a historic café once frequented by Picasso.

Barcelona 2004 — Placa de Catalunya - Barcelona's main plaza was our starting point for the day. This is a small shot of part of a very large park. It is a central point for transportation and divides the city between old and new. Four streets radiate from this plaza - one is the Portal de l'Angel. Portal de l'Angel is a pedestrian only street with many shops and the evening's dinner spot. Another of the main streets is the Las Ramblas - that is famous for strolling.

Barcelona 2004 — From the Plaza Catalunya we strolled down the wide street called Las Ramblas - like the Champs Elysees in Paris. This is a very wide street running from the Plaza Catalunya to the sea. There were just a few hundred others out strolling with us on a beautiful day. Rambla means "stream" in Arabic. The Ramblas used to be a drainage ditch along the medieval wall which defined the current Gothic Quarter. Las Ramblas is actually plural and is a series of five streets all concatenated into one.

Barcelona 2004 — The main market - La Boqueria Market - is a very active place. There were many stalls stocked with all kinds of produce, meats, seafood, and fruit. From this stall Cal bought a strawberry juice drink that was very good - and refreshing on the warm Ramblas walk. You can also dine at one of the many counters in the market.

Barcelona 2004 — Market scenes from La Boqueria

Barcelona 2004 — Fresh produce displays

Barcelona 2004 — Market vendors and stalls

Barcelona 2004 — Colorful market displays

Barcelona 2004 — Seafood and meat displays

Barcelona 2004 — Market atmosphere and activity

Barcelona 2004 — Along the La Ramblas are various street performers. The most common is "the person standing like a statue until you give them money" to perform. This is a typical performer - a cowboy simply standing still for hours.

Barcelona 2004 — Virginia Ann placed a small amount in the cowboy's spittoon and he came alive posing with her for a picture.

Barcelona 2004 — The Liceu Opera House was next - the exterior was not too impressive but the interior was very opulent. This is the main ballroom and the ceilings were beautiful.

Barcelona 2004 — Inside the Liceu the seats go up for several (6 or 8) balconies. With a spaceship like ceiling light.

Barcelona 2004 — At the end of Las Ramblas is a statue of Columbus. It is here that Queen Isabella welcomed Columbus back from his journey to the Americas.

Barcelona 2004 — Close up of Columbus Statue base.

Barcelona 2004 — Looking back on Barcelona from the pier.

Barcelona 2004 — For lunch we walked out to the pier on the La Rambla del Mar ("Rambla of the Sea") to a Tampas restaurant. The La Ramble del Mar is a wooden pedestrian bridge shaped like a series of waves. Cal received a little too much sun while we enjoyed wine and tapas at the Tampas Maremagnum.

Barcelona 2004 — Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Church was the first of the Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) structures we were to visit and probably the most famous. Each of the locals asked if we had been to the Sagrada Familia and underlined that it was the number one item to see.

Barcelona 2004 — The east facade was completed by Gaudi during his lifetime. Mixing the gothic style, symbolism, nature, and modernist asymmetry - it is the best example of the Gaudi style. The sculpture shows scenes from the birth and childhood of Jesus along with angels playing musical instruments.

Barcelona 2004 — The west facade was not done by Gaudi. While inspired by Gaudi's vision, he knew he would not see the church completed and recognized that others would provide their inspiration. This facade was completed by Josep Subirachs in the '50s. It is full of symbolism from the bible - like the stylized Omega and Alpha over the door and Jesus with an open book for hair.

Barcelona 2004 — The church is not finished. Gaudi worked on the church from 1883 to 1926 and the work continues based on private funding. Part of which are the admission fees - so it slowly continues to go skyward. It is slowly progressing skyward.

Barcelona 2004 — You can go to the top of the church either using an elevator or stairs - Cal decided to try the stairs - as well as the 500 other tourists that day. It took forever to get to the top as we wound around the spire staircase. The view was great once at the top.

Barcelona 2004 — Virginia Ann decided not to climb to the top and stayed on terra firma. Her she is sitting in front of the church while Cal spent over an hour going to the top. She is the little blue blob at the end of the arrow.

Barcelona 2004 — As we walked from the church to the next set of Gaudi buildings we met this church. Not sure which church this was but we liked the view.

Barcelona 2004 — This is a shot of the "Block of Discord". Named for the competing architecture. These are all 19th century buildings but each of the architects tried to out do the other. Gaudi's building is the one with the dragon-like roof line and skull-like balconies.

Barcelona 2004 — This is Casa Mila (La Pedrera) by Gaudi. It looks like it is melting. This was Gaudi's last major work built from 1906 to 1910. He then concentrated on the Sagrada Familia. We toured the building which allows you to view the roof (next picture) and an apartment as originally decorated in the early part of the 20th century.

Barcelona 2004 — The top of Casa Mila is a fantasy world of chimneys and sculpture. The views are great from every vantage and the roof is terraced with many levels. A great way to relax and watch the sunset - or rise.

Barcelona 2004 — Cal and Virginia Ann on the roof of Casa Mila.

Barcelona 2004 — After this last stop we made our way back to the hotel - but we needed to make two stops. 23 April is "Sant Jordi" day. Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia and on the 23rd there are two traditions. The first is for the man to buy their women a rose. When St George killed the dragon it's blood transformed into roses - so there are rose stands on every sidewalk. The second is for the women to buy their men a book as it is also the anniversary of Cervante's death. So next to all the rose stands are row after row of book stands.

Barcelona 2004 — Dinner was at the Els Quatre Gats (4 Cats) - another Rick Steves suggestion and a great one at that! It was the same cafe that Picasso and other artists would hang out. The food was good but the real draw is the atmosphere. Lots of fun.

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