Experience BARCELONA in a day or 2 / Family Travelogue 16 May ~18 May 2018

view from the terrace of Montjuic castle:   Sagrada La Familia in the middle of the beautiful city of Barcelona

Barcelona is such a marvel city.  There is so much to do.  Stay for a day or two definitely not enough though, we only had two nights.  Thus, we had to make the most of it. 

There was a delay in our flight from Madrid to Barcelona.  It was truly a big mistake flying between these two cities.  I never thought there is a high speed train operating and could only take 2 hours.  It was unfortunate when I was checking on the train schedule, it was the slow one I got to check.

We arrived Barcelona airport at past six in the evening.  We took the AEROBUS, express bus from airport to the city centre,  and alighted at Catalunya Park.  I saw the Hard Rock Cafe, I bought the fridge magnet to add to my collections.  And... oh yeah!, such a lovely welcome from the heart of the city, the beautiful Plaça de Catalunya!!!  At the other end of the square is the Eixample street surrounded by amazing modernist  architectural style buildings house high-end shops.

The popular street La Rambla starts/ends at Placa de Catalunya.  From this square, we walked through La Rambla to our hotel,  Sant Agusti Hotel.  La Rambla is one of the most visited place in Barcelona most especially by the tourists.  It is 1.2 km stretch pedestrian street connecting Plaza Catalunya with Port Vell.  Las Ramblas is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants offering variety of local and international cuisine.

Our experience in Barcelona  in addition to La Rambla and the Catalunya square includes the:

Picasso Museum

Basilica Maria del Mar

Arc de Triomf

Familia La Sagrada

Montjuic Castle

After check-in at Sant Agusti Hotel,  we went out for a dinner.  Hubby had lamb steak and I had my favourite paella.  We then continue the stretch of the street Las Ramblas to Port Vell.  We walked further to the Arc de Triomf.  It was getting late, we took the metro back to La Rambla and ended our day.  For the night goers,  you could still continue the night with tapas and sangria.

Day 2 in Barcelona

We wanted to be early at the Picasso Museum to avoid long lines.  The hotel package includes breakfast.  We filled our tummy enough for lunch as well.  The museum was about 13 to 15 minute walk from the hotel.  We booked in advanced the entry pass, we just underwent security checking.  Photography and video was not allowed inside the museum.  I bought a book at the souvenir shop.  I could share with you some of the photos taken from the book.  This is a MUST to visit.  Spain was the home country of Pablo Picasso. From the works displayed,  you would learn the development and changes of his style from youth to adolescence.  Picasso's works in his young age reflects maturity and seriousness.  Years went on, his works shifted to different style partly credit to other famous artists' influence.  There were a few works he did in his adolescence appeared like he had done when he was 10 and yonger.

After breakfast at the hotel, we walked to the museum through the narrow streets which took us 15 minutes and over with stops  in between to take photos.  We were at the museum before it had opened.  No photography / videos allowed inside the museum.

There's the Barcelona Cathedral, I opted though to visit the Basilica Maria del Mar. I had stayed for a while, my hubby needed to go back to the hotel, call of nature.  Basilica Maria del Mar is a church for the poor.  I feel so proud I got to visit the church, the hard work of the Bastaixos.  Basilica Maria del Mar is the major subject of the Netflix 2018 TV series, Cathedral of the Sea from the 2006 historical novel with the same title by the Spanish writer, Ildefonso Falcones.  Said book took place in the 14th century, the time the Basilica Maria del Mar was being built, the large gap between the poor and the noble and the Catholic Inquisition combating the heresy-this story, the Jews.

I went back to the Arc de Triomf.  I sent message to hubby to meet  at Catalunya to proceed to our next stop.  Seeing La Rambla at day time on his way to Catalunya.  I took the metro from Arc de Triomf to Catalunya,  Parc Ciutadella was next to Arc de Triomf.  I opted to miss it though.

The next stop was the NOT to be MISSED when in Barcelona,  You are right, the unfinished Sagrada La Familia.  The  overwhelming hugeness of the church, we could not help to feel a sense of awe.  Sagrada La Familia is not a cathedral.  In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church as minor Basilica.  We took video all over the place except for restricted areas and we took many photos

We continued this Barcelona Experience to  Montjuic Castle.  We took the blue line bound to Collblanc and alighted at Diagonal station.  We then transferred to the green line bound to Zona Universitaria and alighted at Paral-lel station.  We purchased ticket round trip  to the castle boarded the funicular train then transfer to the cable car.  You could opt to walk instead  that could take less than an hour.

Board on the cable car down to Avinguda de Montjuic, I realized our Go Pro is missing!!!  I remembered I left at the toilet in the castle 😭😭😭.  The funicular stopped at Mirador station (? not sure if this is the name of the station), I alighted.  My husband did not, just waited for me at the Avinguda.  For some reasons, there was no way up via cable car from Mirador station to the Castle.  I was compelled to walk up! .  I forgot it was tiring, my mind was all about the Go Pro.  Would I find it?  Videos taken since morning were there!!!  We could replace the gadget... but not the videos taken.  The castle was soon to close.  Did I make it?
I had asked the first staff I saw and asked if I could get in to find the Go Pro I left in the toilet.  The staff made a call in the office and afterwards he informed me there was a Go Pro found- probably returned by a tourist who used the toilet after me.  The gadget was not given to me right away.  I need to prove it was mine.  They asked me to let them see the photos/videos inside.  OMG!  I only take videos. I don't know how play it.  It's my hubby and my youngest thing.  I called my husband and asked him to tell me how to play back the videos.  To make the story short, it took time though, I managed to show the staff/officials at the Montjuic castle a video with me in it.  This was the second mishap this year's trip.  The first was when we were not able to board the night train from Bratislava to Prague.  If you have not read the story, please click this link.

Coming from visit to Montjuic Castle and on green line for visit to Placa de Catalunya and/ or La Rambla, I suggest to alight at Diagonal station.  Walk along the Passeig de Gràcia street all the way to Placa de Catalunya or the start of the La Rambla street.  It is a long walk but very scenic with the modern architectural designed buildings in the district of Eixample, most notably the works of Spanish chief modernism architect, Antonio Gaudi; Casa Mila and Casa Battlo.  Most of these beautiful buildings along the Passeig de Gracia house high end items such as Hermes, Chanel and Louie Vuitton.  We alighted though one station after Diagonal, Passeig de Gracia station.  It was a mistake.  We got to see the Casa Battlo and the buildings from there to Place de Catalunya.  Casa Mila, is about 7 minutes walk from Casa Battlo.  However, opposite direction to the Catalunya Square.  Had we got off at Diagonal station, Casa Mila was 2 minutes on foot from the station.  We skipped Casa Mila in the end.

We had stayed  for a while at Placa de Catalunya.  It was the perfect to visit the square with the flock of pigeons that make the park livelier and lovelier.

Our last night in Barcelona and in Spain.  We thought of having now the tapas and sangria..  We flew to Paris early in the morning the next day.  The cab to the airport arranged by the hotel was already there when we went down at 3 in the morning.

See you in Paris!

SANT AGUSTI HOTEL

Our dinner on our first night in Barcelona at one of the restaurants along La Rambla.  Lamb steak for hubby and Seafood Paella for me.

LA RAMBLA AT NIGHT

Liceu Theatre La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain

Liceu Theatre is an opera house in Barcelona situated along the street of La Rambla.  It was founded in 1847.  The building was severely damaged by fire in 1994 and was rebuilt in 1999.

La Rambla is one of the most visited place in Barcelona most especially by the tourists.  It is 1.2 km stretch pedestrian street connecting Plaza Catalunya with Port Vell.  Las Ramblas is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants offering variety of local and international cuisine.

PORT VELL

Columbus Monument (1886), Barcelona, Spain

La Rambla ends by the Columbus Monument and we were to enter Port Vell.  The statue is a reminder  when Christopher Columbus' voyage has discovered a new continent (believed to be America), he made it known first to the first Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille.  Columbus voyages discovering Americas were in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502.

The monument has a viewing point at the top, 60 meters high from the ground through its column by lift.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum in Barcelona exhibits the shipbuilding from the thirteenth century to the time of Catholic Monarch between fifteenth century to eighteenth century.

Passed through an open space as we headed to La Rambla del Mar.

Rambla del Mar

Rambla del Mar is a wooden walkway that leads to Maremagnum, retail and leisure complex.

Rambla del Mar

Port Vell

The view of the Hotel W and the tower for cable car that runs from Barceloneta to Montjuic.  Port Vell stretches from the Columbus monument to the Barceloneta beach

Port Vell's Marina with the view of Montjuic mountain

The Boardwalk at Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain

1994 La Parella or the  The Couple by Lautaro Díaz Silva  (1953)

The bronze sculpture, La Parella (in Catalan) or The Couple, an art work of Lautaro Díaz Silva (1953), depicts an armless couple sitting on the walls looking into the sea.

1991~1992 El Cap de Barcelona (The Head)
by Roy Lichtenstein (1923~1997)

The Head of Barcelona is one of the public arts in Barcelona located on the harbourfront at Port Vell.  It was created by Roy Lichtenstein  for the 1992 Summer Olympics.  The sculpture which was made of ceramic tiles looks like the head and face of a woman.

Font del Geni Català along Passeig d'Isabel II

Av. del Marquès de l'Argentera

Estació de França

Estació de França was once the second busiest station but still the most beautiful station in Barcelona.  The building was designed with mix of classical and modernisme architectural style by Duran Reynals. At present, few trains run to and from the station since the arrival of AVE high speed train in 2017.

Arc de Triomf, Barcelona, Spain

From Arc d' Triomf, we took the nearest subway to Liceu station

PICASSO MUSEUM

The Picasso Museum occupies five (5) adjoining buildings dated 13th to 14th centuries with Gothic Civil Catalan architectural style.  These building were once palaces owned and passed to bourgeois and aristocratic families of Barcelona.  Before the buildings were acquired by the city council in the 20th century between 1950 and 1999), they were known as :

Palau Aguilar
Palau Baró de Castellet
Palau Meca
Casa Mauri
Palau Finestres

Courtyard at Picasso Museum, Barcelona, Spain

Most of these medieval palaces have similar design: with  exterior staircase leads to main entrance around the courtyard.  One of the buildings were featured at the Netflix TV series, Cathedral of the Sea, as the palace of the Puigs family and later by Arnau's wife, Baroness Elionor.

External stairs to Picasso Museum entrance, Barcelona, Spain

The Museu Picasso in Bacelona, Catalonia, Spain is located at the Montcada street.  Latter was once the avenue of palaces owned by the wealthy merchants and nobles in Barcelona from Gothic to the Baroque periods.  This museum houses an extensive and complete collections of Picasso's artworks, the very famous 20th century Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso (1881~1973), with 4,251 works displayed.
The museum was opened on 09 March 1963 dedicated to Picasso's works.  To date, it is the only museum opened during the lifetime of an artist.  The Government of Catalonia has declared this museum as Museum of National Interest by the Government of Catalonia.

Science and Charity (1897) by Pablo Picasso

Science and Charity (1897) is one of the two important collections exhibited at the Museu Picasso.  The other one is The Communion.

The First Communion (1896) by Pablo Picasso

These copies were just taken from the book I purchased at the souvenir shops.  Photography, much more taking video, is strictly prohibited inside the museum.

Souvenir shop at Museo Picasso, Barcelona, Spain

If I would have a time, I would create a separate blog with all the artworks of Picasso we had taken from the other museums where photography was allowed such as the one in Paris and from the books I purchased from the souvenir shops.  I am hoping we would be able to visit the museum in Lucerne this coming trip, December 2019.

Basilica of Santa Maria Del Mar in Barcelona

East End of Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, La Ribera, Barcelona, Spain

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, a great example of Catalan Gothic Architectural style,  was built in the 14th century for 55 years (1329~1384)  and funded by the local people in the La Ribera (the seashore) neighborhood.  Monies were provided by the wealthy merchant and nobles who most live at the prestigious Montcada street.  Required stones were quarried from the Montjuic mountain for free -with the permission from the then King Pere III, transported by the sailors and carried by the porters (commonly known as Bastaixos) on their back.

The last stone was laid on 03 November 1383 and the church was consecrated as Basilica on 15 August 1384.

West End of Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, La Ribera, Barcelona, Spain

Small sculpture depicting a porter carrying stone on his back seen on the main door of the Basilica Santa Maria del Mar.  Initially, I wonder if the porters were  forced into carrying the heavy stones from the mountain of Montjuic for use to the construction of the church.  The porters were actually proud to be Bastaxios as they did this hard work for the Virgin.

Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

The great Rose Window at the West end of the church is one of the highlights at Basilica de Santa Maria Del Mar.  The church was designed by Berenguer de Montagut.  It is said that in the 7th century, a chapel stood in the site called Maria Del Mar (St. Mary of the Sea).  The chapel could has been in  existence as early as the 4th century and believed to be the same site the martyr, St Eulalia, was buried in 303 AD

Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar Interior, Barcelona, Spain

Rose Window at the west end of the church as seen inside the church.  The gothic feel is apparent.  The time I was there, few lights were off.  The black walls caused by the fire started by the  Communists and Anarchists on 19 July 1936 and the church was burning for eleven days.  Such was considered the worst ever destruction of the building.

View towards east end of Basilica de Santa Maria Del Mar, La Ribera, Barcelona, Spain

The interior of the Catalan Gothic church, Basilica Santa Maria del Mar,  has magnificent high ceiling supported by slender tall columns with wide gaps.  The walls were made of large slabs of bare stones.  The church consists of center nave and two narrow aisles -all of same height,  no transepts though but filled with chapels on both sides.

Chapel of Our Lady of Olive, Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

Chapel of Our Lady of Olive, one of the chapels lined on both sides of the Basilica that form as cloisters.

The 1936 fire destruction is evident throughout the church especially on its high ceilings.  The church is surrounded by stained glass windows depicting stories in bible and historical events in Barceloana..  The Basilica was also known as Church for the Poor.  The interior may lack fancy decorations compare to lavish designs of the other churches, it is however, the perfect example of pure Catalan Gothc architectural design.  Its remarkable simplicity and the history behind the construction make curious travelers  look forward to see up close and feel its serenity inside.

The Basilica Santa Maria del Mar is the main subject of the novel, Cathedral of the Sea, by Ildefonso Falcones.

Arc de Triomf

Arc de Triomf, Barcelona, Spain

The Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain was built mainly as an access to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair.  This arch is not a monument for military victories like those built in other cities:  Arc de Triumph in Paris and Wellington Arch in London

The Arc de Triomf faces Passeig de Sant Joan.  It crosses through wide promenade to the Ciutadella Park, the site of the World Fair.

Entrance to the Ciutadella Park.  On the right is a modernisme building, Castle of the Three Dragons.  Latter housed the Zoological Museum till 2010.

LA RAMBLA

La Boqueria Market, Barcelona, Spain

Erotica Museum, La Ramba, Barcelona, Spain

SAGRADA LA FAMILIA

Nativity Facade

Sagrada La Familia is an unfinished Catholic Church in Barcelona designed by Catalon architect, Antonio Gaudi.  At present the church has 8 tall towers.  When completed, there would be 18 towers to represent the12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and the tallest, Jesus Christ.  Previously designated to be a Cathedral.  However,  Pope Benedict XVI consecrated Sagrada Familia as a minor basilica in 2010.  The current spires stand tall at its peak it can be seen across the Barcelona skyline. It would be the tallest in the world upon full conpletion of the spire in the center as tall as 170 meters, one meter less than the current highest point in Barcelona, the Montjuic mountain.  Antoni Gaudi believed no man-made could be higher than God”s creation. Construction begun in 1882.  More than a century after, the church remains unfinished.  The presence of the computer sped up the progress of the construction.  Completion is expected in 2026.  The quarter part of the basilica, which was completed by Gaudi before he died in 1926 (ran down by a streetcar), was designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, apparently, the uniqueness of its architectural style
The Sagrada La Familia was designed to have three facades:  Nativity, Passion and Glory.  The Glory Facade would be the main entry to the church, it is still under construction though.  Getting inside the church is through the Nativity Facade.  The Nativity Facade faces the rising rising sun and it  has three porticos.  Latter  are dedicated to the virtue of the members of the Holy Family:  Hope, Charity and Faith.  The central which is called the Charity portico  is topped with the Tree of Life.  Each of the lateral on its side are topped with two bell towers representing the four stripes of the Catalan flag.  The Nativity Facade is the only part of the church that was fully designed by Antoni Gaudi and had seen its completion which was finished in 1935.

The interior is so lavish with high ceilings.  As you look up it;s like towards heaven.  The pillars depict trees. each have different shapes just like the actual trees.  The church design meant to resemble nature.  The star shaped vaults depict the palm leaves, a symbol of Christianity.  were designed with different Christian symbols.

The church is also surrounded by marvel colourful stained glass windows meant to diffuse lights.  The windows

Entering from the Nativity facade, you will see the high altar.  The ceiling of this part of the church is 2 meters higher than the rest.  The path to the high altar runs from the Glory Facade, currently under construction.  Over the high altar is another masterpiece, the baldachin.  A Baldachin is a canopy in a heptagon shape, seven edges represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Understanding, Knowledge, Piety, Counsel, Wisdom, Fortitude and Fear of the Lord.  The canopy was designed with fifty lights that illuminated the baldachin with red ink letters written on the ribbon around it the Prayer of Glory in Gaudi style writing.

Passion Facade is at the other side of the church, across the Nativity Facade.  There are lots of figures grouped in 13 scenes depict the sacrifices and death of Jesus.  Gaudi was long dead when this facade started construction.  The assigned architect though,  Josep Maria,  followed thoroughly the design of Gaudi.

Bronze door, Glory Facade, Sagrada La Familia, Barcelona, Spain

The path to the high altar runs from the Glory Facade.  This part of the church is still under construction.  Glory Facade would be the main entrance of Sagrada La Familia.

MONTJUIC CASTLE

Cable car to Montujuic castle at Parallel station

Magnificent views of the city and the Tibidabo Hill on the way up to the castle

Previously Fortress' moats turned to Parterre.




Entrance bridge to the Montjuic castle

Views of the City, Seafront and the Mediterranean sea from the terrace of the Montjuic castle

Parade Ground and Courtyard, Montjuic Castle

Modernisme Buildings along Passeig de Gràcia

Casa Batlló

 Casa Batlló was a remodel of a previously built house redesigned by Antoni Gaudi in 1904/

Casa Batlló

Casa Amatler (right) and Casa Bonet (left)

Casa Lleó Morera

Above are the four of the five buildings  in the district of Eixample known as Illa de la Discordia or block of discord along Passeig de Gracia.  Casa Mulleras located next to Casa Lleó Morera is under restoration.

Passeig de Gracia is also known as shopping/tourist street and an avenue of beautiful buildings in modernisme and neo-classical  style.

The Passeig de Gràcia is one of the most famous and tourist streets of Barcelona, possibly surpassed only by the Rambla. This avenue which is part of the Eixample district, communicates Catalunya Square with the neighborhood of Gracia.

CATALUNYA PARK

Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Plaça de Catalunya is a big plaza in the city centre with an area of 50,000 square metres though,  still gets crowded.  Two popular streets:  La Rambla and the Passeig de Gracia starts / ends here.  The plaza is squared by beautiful tall buildings, one side are the shops housed by neoclassical style buildings.  The plaza is also known for the flock of pigeons in the center of the square.

Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Plaça de Catalunya was designed with statues, fountains with pools, and lots of benches.  Recently, the plaza have been the meeting point of the ant-government groups.  Catalonians want independence from Spain.

DINNER AT LA RAMBLA

Tapas and Sangria

My favourite, Seafood Paella (yes! again)

Large servings of Tapas

Continued from Madrid Walks in a day or two

See you in PARIS!