La Sagrada Familia: Home of Gargoyles

La Sagrada Familia at Barcelona

 The last time before this trip I visited La Sagrada Familia was in 2009 at 8am. I can't remember if I bought my ticket ahead of time or not. I don't think I did, but there was no line. A few people arrived as I was walking through. It is a sight to see and I missed it the last two times I was in Barcelona, so I decided to go back again. I heard in the metro that the lines were forever long, so I opted to just take some photos from the outside.

Cleaning of La Sagrada Familia

Even though the Church is not completed, restoration work is going on now to clean it. From the photo above, you can see what has been cleaned and a part that remains. It is still as magnificent as ever. This time though there were hundreds of people waiting to get in and a line of people waiting to buy tickets that wrapped around the front and both sides.

Getting there was half the fun. I decided to use the metro as I had a T-10, a ticket for 10 passes and had only used 2 yesterday. I could have walked but after my excursion to the MNAC yesterday, I realize how out of shape my legs really are. So I walked to the Passeig de Gracia station and tried to get on the L2 to the Sagrada Familia exit. Just as I went to board the train, an announcement was made that the L2 was down. So I was lost in underground hell for about half an hour. In the end, I took a round about way but finally made it to my destination. When I walked out of the metro, there I was, right in front of one of my favorite places on earth - La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family.)

Another view of La Sagrada Familia

Man speaking French and waving in front of La Sagrada Familia

As I took photos of the front, a man speaking in French said something to me and waved for the camera. The crowds were everywhere. I especially loved seeing all the young people around.

Young people in front of La Sagrada Familia

More information on this wonderful Gaudi creation can be found here. It really is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and a great home for gargoyles. 

Almost Gargoyles, Jesus and a Street Cleaner

at Barcelona 

Guess it is a bit of a stretch to think of these guys as almost gargoyles. Obviously they are not, but I do love the little guys on each side, maybe cherubs!

Street grate in the Barri Gothic at Barcelona

I photographed this street grate on my walk in the Barri Gothic, somewhere between La Rambla and Jaume I. I am attempting to translate from Spanish, even though the words are in Catalan. Basically, it means "in recognition of all that served the city and dated 1993," and it shows the symbols for all the different trades. I wish we could have those here in Cozumel. I just love this grate. 

Jesus from the Cathedral at Barcelona

I believe I took this photo at the Cathedral as I meandered through the old streets of the Barri Gothic. Being May Day, all that was open was hotels, a few restaurants and the Churches. I love the way the light hits the lit candles on each side of Jesus.

Street cleaner at Barcelona

The sun shown brightly once leaving the Cathedral. I photographed some street cleaners on a side street off La Rambla. Many of the street cleaners are women. 

Funny Faces & Other Funny Photos Part 1

Funny face of Amalfi

Traveling alone, I often take photos of complete strangers. It is that or take photos or nobody. After I tire of all the wonderful architectural elements, I am photographing, one of my favorite past times is to take photos of people making funny faces or doing funny things.

Here are a few of my favorites from a cruise I took in April/May of 2013. Enjoy!

Pissed-off face

Before I left for my cruise from Civitavecchia, I was in Barcelona. Above I took a photo of a guy who was none too pleased I was taking his picture, or so it seems. It was at the Book Fair by my hotel.

at Dubrovnik

At Dubrovnik, this photo is more of funny people than funny faces. The whole crowd just looks off kilter, don't they?

Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic

This video has to be one of the most beautiful I have ever watched from YouTube. It is a sail away from Venice on the Celebrity Silhouette. I was convinced that the transatlantic cruise Moises and I should do is the Spanish Serenade on the Equinox, another Solstice class ship from Celebrity. But the more I investigate, I am drawn to the Italian Classic Transatlantic on the Silhouette. What a beautiful ship and what a fabulous itinerary. I am drawn to the itinerary for November 1st, 2014.

Silhouette Quasar night club courtesy of FloridaAgenda.com

It leaves from Rome and I would love to spend a few days in Tarquinia first. Tarquinia is the spot where there are 6,000 Etruscan graves at the Necropolis. More information on this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage site can be found here.

Tarquinia mural courtesy of UNESCO World Heritage site

The cruise travels to Livorno, where you can go to either Florence or Pisa ... also Toulon, France in Provence, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife in the Canary Islands before crossing to Fort Lauderdale. It is an awesome itinerary on a beautiful almost new ship. What's not to love.

Cathedral Palma de Mallorca

More information can be found on the Silhouette (Solstice class ship) on Celebrity Cruise Lines website.

Statues of the MNAC Museum at Barcelona

Gothic Art Virgin circa 1300 at MNAC

The MNAC Museum of Barcelona has the most intriguing statuary. I especially loved the area where most of the statues are from around 1300 and carved in wood. They are all religious statues.

St. John the Evangelist circa 1300

This guy has an especially interesting nose.

Saint Bertrand circa 1300

Finally, this is of Santa Lucia.

Santa Lucia at the MNAC

I guess that translates to St. Lucy? More information on the MNAC Museum and especially the Gothic collection can be found here.

Gargoyle-Inspired MNAC: Griffins and Murals

MNAC Griffins from end of 13th century Catalonia

The MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) is chock full of gargoyle-inspired art, accessories, ceiling panels and statues. I especially loved the Gothic section. It took me one day just to view it. There was so much more to see and I really wanted to go back the next day and see the rest, but I misplaced my ticket that allowed me to come back for a second day. I would have had to pay again, so instead, I went on tours to other places while in Barcelona.

More 13th century Catalonia coffers

Close-up of a Griffin 13th century Catalonia

I especially enjoyed a series of mural called The Conquest of Majorca. It gives us a bird's eye view of what life was like back in this time. From MNAC website - 

The mural paintings of the Conquest of Majorca come from the former ancestral home of the Caldes family in Carrer Montcada in Barcelona, a building later known as Palau Aguilar. Discovered and removed in 1961, these paintings are one of the most important examples of early or Linear Gothic Catalan painting. This magnificent example of painting on historical subject matter narrates the conquest of the island of Majorca by James I the Conqueror in 1229.

MNAC mural Conquest of Majorca from Barcelona

MNAC Mural Conquest of Majorca from Barcelona

Fascinating stuff and so gargoyle-inspired. I do so love the Gothic much more than the Romanesque.

People Watching at the MNAC Barcelona

MNAC Barcelona

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is a wonderful museum at Barcelona. The treasures include many findings from archaeological sites all over Catalunya and beyond. I finally made it there after three failed attempts. Before entering the museum though, what interested me was the people outside. 

Outside tower MNAC Barcelona

The air was cool and crisp, the sun hot and the sky was the most beautiful shade of blue. I took about fifteen minutes to snap some shots outside before going in. 

Lovely couple outside MNAC studying a map

First I stumbled upon this lovely couple so engrossed in their map.

Couple outside the MNAC

From the looks of it, the gentleman was sure of where to go. From her face, not so much so.

Youth in front of the MNAC fountain

A few minutes later, this young woman stood in front of the MNAC fountain and was telling her friend something. Next thing I know she struck a pose and I got a great photo.

Youth striking a pose in front of MNAC

For more information on this great museum, click here.

Nuria Restaurant at Barcelona

Nuria Restaurant since 1933

I remember back in 2009 when I was planning my first trip to Barcelona, I read about a vegetarian restaurant near the top of Las Ramblas named Nuria. I never found it that trip. I have no idea how I missed it, but I did. The next time I stayed in Barcelona, in 2011, I found it but never went in. I could never decide what type of vegetarian dish I would want to try. Today, I finally made it there. 

Photo of the original Nuria Restaurant

I found the service great and the food wonderful. The only thing is I did not find one vegetarian dish on the menu. I had a hamburger! The pastries look wonderful and the cappuccino was excellent. Price wasn't bad either for Las Ramblas. My bill was less than 10 euros. 

The guy who waited on me was so nice. He even dug up a menu for me in English. I could read the Spanish one just fine, but it was nice of him to offer.

Nice waiter at Nuria

 It was a fun place to people watch. The crowds outside were just beginning. There was a funny thing that happened. There was a guy who seemed to endlessly bring chairs in from outside. It was weird as I never saw any go out, only in. Who knows where they were coming from? And they weren't really chairs, but some kind of odd looking stools. Too bad I didn't get a photo.

Customers at Nuria Restaurant

I did photograph a customer making a decision on what she wanted to order, and another of the staff. I highly recommend Nuria for good food and service if you are visiting Las Ramblas at Barcelona.

Staff at Nuria Restaurant

Barcelona: A Day of Books and Roses

Sant Jordi Festival at Barcelona 2013

It never fails. I always arrive at Barcelona when there is some kind of festival or other. Today is Sant Jordi. I walked around all day watching people carrying roses and there is a bustling book fair. Right in front of my hotel, there are Catalan books being signed by famous Catalan authors and everybody carrying red roses. 

Sant Jordi Festival on 23rd of April 2013

So when I returned to the hotel, I looked up Sant Jordi Day, and it is the day of St. George, who is the patron saint of Catalan. The story of how books and roses began to be exchanged on April 23rd is explained here. It is really quite fascinating. 

Balloons seem to be pretty important too!

Balloons celebrating the day of Sant Jordi

Graffiti of Barcelona part 2

As mentioned in my Barcelona Graffiti post part 1, our ship docked in Barcelona on May Day, the 1st of May. Almost everything was closed, which gave us a great view of all the roll down doors of all the shops.

This is part 2 of my walk through the Barri Gothic. 

Really interesting is the graffiti on graffiti that I found on many of the doors. Note for instance above, it appears that the larger graffiti in orange and black saying Nota or note ... no. 10! has had some cruder graffiti added above.

I was unable to read this last one, so I hope I am not offending anyone. Can somebody tell me what this says?

Graffiti of Barcelona part 1

The day we stopped at Barcelona on our Holland America Eurodam cruise from Rome to Rome was May Day, the 1st of May. At the time, it seemed like a stroke of bad luck as most everything was closed. No banks, no department stores ... many restaurants were closed. Hotels were open and everybody that lives in Barcelona was out walking, which made for some very crowded streets. But the one stroke of luck was that I could get day time photos of all the graffiti on the roll down doors of the establishments. I bet that only happens once in a while.

The graffiti on these doors in really impressive, as you can see. Enjoy a walk in the Barri Gothic!

No business is really immune, but for me, the more times I go to Barcelona (count it, 4 times now and another trip in the works) - the more I have grown to love the graffiti and consider it part of Barcelona's charm.

Barcelona to Dover: the Second Time Around

Pew  LaSeu Cathedral at Barcelona 

I am having such mixed feelings about doing the same itinerary from Barcelona to Dover on my next cruise. On the one hand, I know I love
Barcelona and there are always new things to discover in the south of Spain. The cruise goes to very different destinations this time, being on a much smaller ship - we are able to get in to smaller ports.

Santiago de Compostela

Being a smaller ship, the rates are steeper and the price of the cruise category I have is not going down. That is a pity! I also don't relish going into the Bay of Biscay again. Last time we went through a big storm, and I swore I wouldn't go that route again.

But on the other hand, what's not to love about Spain? The ports are interesting, the sun shines every day in April and May, and there are fabulous Cathedrals and Churches everywhere. To top it off, I speak the language, which makes it even more special.

One of my friends from Gibraltar

Alicante, Motril (to visit Granada), Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands ... even a possible chance to go back to both Santiago de Compostela and Gibraltar, which I adored. I am sorry that this Barcelona to Dover cruise doesn't do any stops in Normandy or Belgium. Those were really highlights last time. I also look forward to revisiting Lisbon, which the idea of has grown on me since I was last there, and to also go to Portimao, Portugal. 

Rain on the bus window at Lisbon

I am psyching myself up and hoping the cruise price comes down. I probably won't take the better price on the cabin I have chosen, but use it as an opportunity to upgrade to a better cabin instead. Holland America, here I come!