Our trip to Europe and the States 2013: Hermosa Barcelona

Picnic while waiting at the Border

We arrived in Barcelona, Spain late afternoon yesterday, the 28th August. We took the train from Pamiers, France across the Pyrenees and down to Barcelona on the southern coast of Spain. The trip took about 8hrs in total with a couple of hrs break at the border while we waited for the Spanish connection. We had a picnic lunch on the platform which wasn't an exceptional location, but fun to do.

Our Hotel, middle left over road, nice!!

Having settled into the hotel we went out in the early evening for a short walk around the area, nice!! Our hotel is in a very good location, handy to most things.

Gaudi building just down the road

We are very close to a couple of "Gaudi" designed bindings. Gaudi, lived in Barcelona, and has made quite an impact on the city's architecture with his "unique and interesting" building designs. Here is a link to Antoni Gaudi for anyone who may be interested.

The Sagrada Famila

The Sagrada Famila, a huge church that he began in the early 20th century is still under construction 100 years later, it dominates the Barcelona skyline, and parts of it look similar to the picture of the building on the left. A little strange for a church, but who am I to criticize!!

Old sector of the City

Courtyard in Old City

Amazing Architecture and designs

This morning we purchased the hop on - hop off bus tour and had a good look at the city. Between the two trips that we took we walked for a couple of hours around the old part of the town and then back up to our hotel. We headed off in the afternoon to view, in more detail, some of the more interesting parts of the city. Loving it so far, will do some more of the same tomorrow.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Placa de Catalunya, Beautiful park

Gaudi's house now a Museum

Yesterday, Friday the 30th Aug was a Gaudi day. We had a late start and got going by 11-00am. The first stop was so inspiring that I have done a separate blog, see "La Sagrada Familia - Magnifico".

Quite a fence

So having spent a couple of hours at the Sagrada Familia we got back on the road and walked to "Parc Guell" where Gaudi created a huge park and is also the location of one of his homes that has now been converted into a museum.

Overhead walkway

Spent a couple more hours walking around the park and then back to the hotel. After a bit of a break we went and had dinner at the street side cafe in the second photo above.