We arrive in Barcelona on a sultry Sunday, walking anywhere is easy because the streets are very quiet. We head off with just one purpose in mind, to revisit the Gaudi magnificence that is La Sagrada Familia. From where we are parked, it's 2.5 miles just to get off the port, then another three miles to the basilica. Marvelling first at the other ships here as we walk over the elevated road and bridge, and then after at the wonderful architecture on every street corner as we cross the city.
We arrive in plenty of time for our pre-booked entrance, having ensured that we have downloaded the ticketing and guide app that comes with the experience. One can opt for the 25 minute quick-tour or the 45 minute choice, which perfectly coincides time-wise with the next part. After passing through security as good as any airport at the Nativity facade, we wind up our iPhone and start to listen, thankful that we've got our ear buds rather than having to annoy others, as are those who forgot theirs and are listening out loud.
The tour covers fifteen separate sections and is fascinating throughout as we learn so much about Gaudi, the design, the project and his intentions and future plans.
After the 45 minute tour we head to the lift, and are zoomed up a tower on the Pasion facade, this is the opposite side to the Nativity facade where we entered. Here there is a few dozen steps up and across to a second tower where we begin our decent.
Steps all the way down, punctuated with a few viewing stops, until we're back, the last few floors via a spiral staircase without central column, and take a final walk around in awe of this amazing building. We wonder if it will ever be finished, after all it’s been over 150 years so far!
The last time we visited (as opposed to just walking around the outside more recently) was in 2008, my first time was 1981 and there have been several others. Each time, memories are of building sites, scaffolding and mess.
Today, the entire nave is clear and accessible. And enormous - with vast columns of differing hues. Even iPhone’s very good wide-angle cannot do justice, really one needs a proper tilt-shift lens at vast expense, keystone correction just isn’t the same (well, it is, but that’s another story!)
Afterwards we head to Plaça de Cataluña at the top of La Rambla and slowly make our return, again enjoying the stunning architecture as we go.
As we return we watch the helicopter making roughly 10 minute sightseeing trips, a fabulous experience I’m sure. We walk past Wonder of the Seas, bemused at the huge queues to get on, and also that it takes us over 1/4 mile to walk from bow to stern.
We’re back in time for lunch, chatting to some of the 230 people who’ve arrived today, then prepping for afternoon sunshine, which turns out to be mostly pool-time!
Later caviar seems like a good idea, before we head off to The Grill, our tiny speciality restaurant onboard, menu designed by Thomas Keller, whom most Brits haven’t heard of, apparently he’s the US equivalent of Gordon Ramsey.
Dinner is very good, we share lobster Thermidor, crab cake, rib-eye, veal T bone, chocolate cake and coconut cake mmmm.
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