Have you met the love of my life? His name is Gaudí

Day two of Barcelona started off nice and relaxing.  Wake up at around 9-ish, free breakfast... nice and easy.

 But the day didn't stay like that!  We took the metro up to the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished cathedral.  I have to say it's the most beautiful construction site I've ever seen!  Gaudí was a Spanish architect during the Art Nouveau period (late 1800's/early 1900's).  He started building in 1882 and they still haven't finished the thing!  But it truly is amazing. 

It hast three facades dedicated to Jesus: the Nativity, the Passion, and the Glory (which we didn't get to see because it's not finished).  The Nativity is so detailed with what I can only describe as little nubbly bits.  See the picture if you don't believe me.  The Passion has these slanted columns.  The statues themselves were designed in the 1980's and are very square and angular.  

 
Inside it feels like a marble version of the California Redwood Forest.  The white columns are huge (around and tall) and even though there are tons of people, it's still so peaceful.  Unlike other cathedrals, the stained glass windows aren't pictures of religious figures, but these panels of color and everything is brightly lit.

 

We even got to go up the super skinny spiral stairs up to the top (and when they say don't go up if you have vertigo, they mean it!).   The view of Barcelona was incredible.

After the Sagrada Família, we walked down Passeig de Gràcia; a wide street with more Gaudí houses and lots of ritzy shops.  We went into one of the apartments called La Perdrera.  The face is all wiggly and it's topped with these strange stone and mosaic structures on the roof.  Inside, there isn't one sharp corner (even where the walls meet has been rounded off).  

Continuing along, we passed the Casa Batilló, but didn't go in.  Instead, we took a short soda break before making our way to the Parc de la Ciutadella.  It was nice to get out of the city and walk around for a bit.  There was also a Gaudí fountain which was a great end to our Gaudí day.

For dinner we went to a small bar for tapas and we enjoyed authentic flamenco music.  Very different than what I expected (one singer, one guitar), but they were really talented.  Though, without some kind of drum I felt something was missing.  The songs I liked the best were the ones where several audience members joined in with clapping.

Stay Tuned For...  Why don't I speak Spanish?!  I can't say this name.

For pictures of Day 2, click on the swankiest Golden Arches below: