We met our local guide on the bus and we started our tour at the back end of an old cathedral (which we later found out was Catedral de la Santa Cruz ) then headed off walking around the streets of Gothic Barcelona.
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| Town Hall |
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| The front entrance still showing bullet marks towards the bottom of the wall |
Then we found ourselves walking through little streets to Plaza de San Felip Neri which is a very small square with an entrance to a small church and a school next to it. The wall and the door to the chapel still bears witness to the many executions carried out by the Franco regime - the wall is full of holes left by the bullets.
On the 30th January 1938, 42 innocent people - 20 of them children - lost their lives trying to take refuge in the church from the aerial bombings of Barcelona carried out by Franco's forces.
It is a very quiet, discreet place where we were the only ones there and, as we were told the story, we became very quiet - in a sign of respect for the dead.
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| Inside Catedral de la Santa Cruz |
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| Steps where Christopher Columbus was given an audience with the Queen |
Towards the back of the church is the old palace where the Queen gave an audience to Christopher Columbus at the steps.
Then, we were on the bus again. Driving down Pasaje de Gracia, we had a chance to get a quick glimpse of architect Gaudi's faboulous Casa Patllo that looks like it's made of bones. And further along the road to Gaudi's Casa Mila, now an apartment block, before arriving at the highlight of the tour - The Sagrada Familia church.
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| La Sagrada Familia |
To see it in person is truly a previlige. Of course they're still finishing it off and they may still be trying to finish it in 70 years time! The construction is a united effort from several countries - you can tell the Asian influence in the statues/figures as they have Asian eyes.
There were heaps and heaps of people lining up to go inside but we just walked around it. They're actually going to tear down the apartment block next door to accomodate the construction. The people living in it are, of course, being paid to move.
Then it was back on the bus and were driven around the old Olympic Village to the highest point in Barcelona - Parc de Montjuic. We had a great view of Barcelona where the Sagrada Familia really stands up above all otehr buildings.
We were then dropped off at teh hotel and we had the afternoon free.
Paul, Jo and I went to check out the Mercat de la Boqueria - a meat and vegetable market near the hotel. We had delicious Spanish crepes for lunch at a little stall where the man makes them right in front of you and gives them to you in a great take away carton - I had a banana and sugar one.
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| Casa Patllo |
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| Casa Patllo |
After our lunch, we walked straight up to the Gaudi's Casa Patllo and Casa Mila to take proper pictures. On the way we had to cross Plaza Catalunya which, unfortunately, was taken over by protestors. It looks as if it would be quite a pretty square if not for the banners all over the statues and monuments. I have no idea what they were protesting - every banner I read was protesting something different.
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| Casa Mila |
Anyway, on the way back to our hotel we stopped off at a large department store to buy some souvenirs. Then we continued our walk back to the hotel and arrived there at around 4pm - a very long walk.
At 6:45pm we left for our walk to dinner and our Flamenco show. Dinner was a buffet of great Spanish food and dessert. The Flamenco show was fantastic. Great dancers. Great singers. Great company. Great night out.
Then it was bed time.
Tomorrow, Madrid.
