I had a bit more of a leisurely start this morning, and walked into the gothic quarter for coffee and a wander before my tour of the Gaudi buildings.
Laneways and buildings in the Gothic quarter
Street lights in the Gothic quarter
I had been looking forward to today and wasn't disappointed. The chick who did the tour was really informative and very helpful.
We started out at Palau Guell which I didn't even know existed and it is just around the corner from where I am staying so I will go for a walk and check it out again sometime.
Palau Guell
After checking out Palau Guell we got on the train (I would never have done that on my own, I would end up in France!) and we found ourselves at the front of the building I 'found' yesterday but the tour guide was able to give us a bit of information about the building i.e. the owner wanted to tear the building down and rebuild but Gaudi renovated instead, the roof represents a dragon and the St.George cross on top symbolises George killing the dragon, the furniture for inside the building all had to be individually hand made and the footpaths of Barcelona are based on Gaudi design.
Every piece of mosaic was specifically placed by Gaudi
Gaudi inspired designed footpath
Next building we saw was apparently controversial for the time, the owner just wanted bigger and better than his neighbour so this is what he got -
Next on the agenda was another train ride on the subway (clean but heaps of pick pockets) for a couple of stops until we got off and walked up the stairs, turned around and saw this -
It is an absolutely breathtaking building/buildings. We didn't go inside today but I have tickets to go inside tomorrow after going to Park Guell so I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
After I left the Sagrada Familia I walked back into the Gothic quarter, thinking it wouldn't be far but thinking obviously not my strongest point today because it took forever and ever.
At one stage I walked around a corner and could hear yelling and carry on and given the political climate of Barcelona at the moment I packed death a bit because no way I want to get tied up in that so I start looking around for an escape route. As I turned around the corner, expecting to see a mob of angry demonstrators I saw a school building. It was lunch time and the kids were outside playing.
Realising that I was safe (!!) but very hungry I decided I was going into the next café/bar/restaurant that had tapas to get some lunch. Trouble was each 'next' place was either tourist food or too dark to see inside so I kept walking and walking and walking until I finally found a small restaurant, went in and had typical Spanish patatas bravas (even better than last night) and 'tomato bread' which is the Spanish version of Italian bruschetta - where Italians rub the toast with oil and garlic, the Spanish rub the toast with oil and tomato and it is delicious!
I've walked heaps again today, and have an early start again tomorrow - I have to be at Park Guell at 7.45am so am going to get a taxi up there, it is about an hour walk or 5 minute taxi ride, it will be dark and I don't know how to get there and with my sense of direction I'm not going to risk it. I will get to watch the sun rise in Park Guell, then I think we walk to Sagrada Familia for an inside tour then not sure how on earth I get back but don't know if walking will be the way I go tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment