We went up a mountain

The Mountain, the world calls it that even if they are not a very high mountain, is situated North of Barcelona, (read the wiki here). But we did not go to the mountain to climb we were off to see the Monastery (wiki here) and ride the Funicular to the top.

Starting at the railway station, just three hundred yards from the hotel we arrived at platform 3 to wait for the R5 train. This train is a local train that runs hourly and passes through the stations that lead to Montserrat. Before one goes to the Monastery there are a couple of decisions to be made. Inn order to get to the place there are two ways of doing so - a cable car or a rack railway. There are different stops for each. Secondly when one buys the ticket at the machine, or in the kiosk, you have to decide what kind of combination ticket you want - the basic ride, the basic ride with Funicular rides, or the combination that gives you access to some sites.

The train ride is an hour long and takes at least half an hour to get out of Barcelona into the suburbs, twenty minutes of the half hour is spent in the underground subway, occasionally emerging for sunshine. The scenery is pretty scrubby until about ten minutes before the first stop, which is the cable car, and then it opens into a green valley alongside a gungy brown river. On arrival at the Monistrol station we transfer to the rack railway (wiki here) that will take us up the mountain. The five kilometre route takes fifteen minutes to ride and hugs the outside of the mountain all the way to the Monastery. On the way up it was tough to get a seat but the way down the car was empty, but for us. Bet the last car off the mountain would have been chaotic!

Disembarking at the Station we then tried to orient ourselves with the guide in the Guru's book. Moved through the Main Square and saw the Basilica. We also saw a closed sign "due to religious services". Deciding that the inside of the Basilica (wiki here) was yet another Church we walked over to the Funicular (wiki here) building for the ride to the top, where hikers and ramblers will then move on to the next site a Holy Shrine - a twenty minute walk).

This Funicular is 503 metres long, rises 248 metres and rides at an angle of 65.2 degrees - the steepest funicular in Spain. Goes every twenty minutes and takes five minutes to ride. We arrived to see at least twenty-five Grade 2 kids waiting in line, the line looked pretty small from the outside until you realised that these kids took up very little space in the lineup - we had to wait for the next one.

The amenities at the top were sparse and really only were a stepping stone for the walkers, so we took piccies and waited for the next car down. Rick the Guru had told us that there were plenty of eating places so heading off for one we then had the chance to sit down after all the standing and waiting. This was only going to be a snack as we have fallen into the habit of eating big in the evening, even though the big meal in Spain takes place between two and four in the afternoon.

It was now time to reverse the trip and make the big train at the bottom of the mountain and into Barcelona. As the trains were coordinated in departure times there was little waiting around and we boarded an almost empty train for the Barcelona ride.

That was the adventure for the day - back to the room for wine and cheese and then back to the restaurant, scoped out earlier on the walk back to the hotel.

Just another day in Barca

Barca is the name given to the Barcelona Football Club and so goes the football club so goes the City, "This Barcelona team, which reached a record six consecutive Champions League semi-finals and won 14 trophies in just four years under Guardiola's charge, is considered by some managers, players and experts to be the greatest team of all time." - wikipedia quote.

So today was just another day for us in Barca. The sun shone the three and a half hour bus ride was most interesting and the sights we saw were  unusual. We both agreed that this hopon hopoff tour was the best we have ever taken. Both for content - we saw most of the City, and for commentary. The extensive tape commentary must have been tied to a GPS because it never misspoke or got left behind of the location that was being described - well done!

So what were the sights I hear you ask. The ride hit all of the spots - the Montjuic mountain and its Olympic facilities sites, the World Trade Centre, the Port District and the olympic Village, now converted to housing and the waterfront. Back through the Gothic District and to the heat of the City - Placa Catalunya. We changed routes at some point in the first route so that we could go and see the Sagrada Familia read the long version here, theis place is a Church under construction and has been since 1883. The architect Antoni Gaudi assumed control in 1888 and even though he died in 1926 (hit by a tram) his vision as been carried  on by successive builders. Plagued by many things including the Spanish Civil War, conflicting religious points of view and underfunding, its future is now assured by the millions of visitors a year coming to see the number one attraction in Barcelona who pay to get in.

Arriving at the sight the first thing we saw was the  fact that this construction site is only about a City Block in size and is surrounded by normal Barcelona. The other thing was the massive lineup to get in. Only allowing a few people in at a time we calculated the four hundred metre lineup was at least four hours long - we just admired the place from the outside. But it lived up to its reputation. The pic shows a completed Church and the best estimate of a finish date is 2026.

Another feature of Barca is the Public Art, many Placas have statues or modern pieces at their centre , the one on the left took my fancy.

Traditional statues or monuments may please others the pic on the right is normal for some, pleasant for others.

Getting back to the first route we then passed the Stadium (shrine?) of the Barcelona Football Club, got off one stop before the dropoff and walked the remaining distance to the hotel. A quick shower then on to another restaurant and wine, then home.

Tomorrow we are off to Montsarrat.

This is Wednesday isn't it?

Losing track of the days is easy when you are on a schedule that only requires you be in a place for so many days as opposed to being to have to be in a place on a certain day. Consequently we are now in Barcelona for five more days. Today being the first day in Barc we decided to get the heavy lifting done first - figure out the Subway system, see the big sights and generally get the bearings needed for efficient touring.

Thanks to a Barcelona website that explains everything (www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/) we had the theory down to a tee, but when one is confronted with actual ticket machines in the Subway - for example - and the lineup is behind you waiting for their turn the pressure is on. Thanks to a patient lineup and instructions in English, on the ticket screen, we did manage to get it.

The first site to see was the one kilometre of pedestrian Mall/open space/recreation called the Ramblas. This walkway is lined with vendors and food tables and a fantastic place for people watching. Running through the heart of the old Town to the waterfront walking it is a great way of seeing Barcelona as they see themselves, of course it is seen better at night but we don;t stay up that late so it was done in daylight. Of course deviation is encouraged (how else can you see what is behind the Main Drag?) and we did deviate.

One such deviation was to see Placa de George Orwell. I was unaware of such a place until this morning when an old school pal mentioned that it was near to Place Real. Looking it up the Orwell spot was very near - I had to visit it, much to the amazement of my better half. Still don't know the circumstances of this place being proclaimed as such but Orwell did serve on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. Ironically there is a surveillance camera next to the plaque.

Walking down to the waterfront there is yet another monument to Christopher Columbus. A 288 foot column - we ascended to the small observation tower in an elevator reminiscent of the cage that rescued the Chilean Miners - four people max. The observation deck was about sixteen feet in diameter, on the outside edge but was only about thirty inched wide. A tight squeeze for the people trying to move about.

Down on the ground it was time to hit the next site - the Cathedral. Nothing special as far as Cathedrals go and smaller than some we have seen but it had to be seen. The journey passed many interesting stores and eating spots we would be needing one when we finished with the Cathedral.Entering the place, for nothing the price would be applied five minutes after we were in.

Two outstanding and unique features were the Crypt and tomb of St. Eulalia. This tomb was built under the High Altar and the steps going down are a feature of the both the Altar and the Crypt. The third feature that should have been seen was the roof and the views of the City. Unfortunately that part was not available as the elevator was closed. C'est la Vie.

Now it was time to find a place to eat. The choice was: an Irish pub and order off the menu, a Spanish Tapas Bar and nibble or take any of the the thousands of restaurants that offer "Menu del Dia" a three course meal for a good price. We chose the Menu del Dia - veal for Doreen and pork for me - yummy. Tasted even better with drinks.

Fully refreshed it was time to reenter the Subway and navigate our way home. The Green L3 Line was the one and very quickly we were at the Place d'Espanya. Lucky for us we emerged from the catacombs at the very spot we will need on Friday when we start our journey to Montsarrat. The train to there leaves from the Place d'Espanya and we would have had to find the embarkation point - now we know.

Tomorrow is the HoponHopoff tour and it had better be more informative than the one in Sevilla!