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. .jpg)
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.
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.
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