Barcelona - A Gaudi Day!

We had bought tickets online for the Sagrada Familia before we came to spain. Our guided tour kicked off at 9.15am, so we got up early, headed out for a coffee and pastry at a local bakery, then caught a taxi to the Sagrada Familia.  We got there about an hour before our tour started, so we walked around outside taking photos first. The heat of the day hadn't started so it was quite pleasant..

The sheer size of the cathedral blew us away...(I coudn't fit it in on my cellphone!)

A bit of perspective trying to fit a person in and the cathedral as well!

Inside was incredible.  The light reflected through the stained glass windows was intense and so beautiful I simply didn't know where to look next! Everything was a work of art, the design the work of a genius.

The stained glass windows were beautiful in their blues, golds, greens and reds...

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The ceiling...

The back of the cathedral...

The altar...

The side view...

We were there for three hours, the guided tour took about an hour, and then we wandered around ourselves.  As the sun came around to the west, the light through the stained glass windows got very intense...

This was in the school house also designed by Gaudi. Nikki sitting at the desk taking a break from religious studies and architecture!

Someone kindly took our photo.  It was very difficult getting us in, and the background as well.

Weary, hot, footsore tourists taking a break..

 After finishing at Sagrada Familia, we caught a taxi to Barceoneta on a friends recommendation and found Can Ramonet.  Nikki and I shared a Seafood Paella which was delicious.

 It consisted of Prawns, clams, mussels (which were smaller than ours) and some other shellfish I couldn't identify. All washed down with a bottle of spanish Rose.

It was washing day in Barceloneta, which made great photograhy...

We wandered down to the beach, put our feet in the ocean.  I couldn't get over how crowded it was all along the coast. My phone battery was dying so couldn't take a photo.  We then taxi'd back to the apartment for a siesta as the heat was getting to us all.  I charged my phone and worked on a few photos.  We then decided to go out for Gelato and coffee. However we never got there.  Instead we went to the Gaudi Museum Exhibition next to the cathedral.  It was fascinating learning about Gaudi and the genius he was. What blew me away was he way he was able to work out the weight bearing of the columns inside cathedrals by tying weighs on the end of strings, then inverting it.  We spent a couple of hours at the museum - the audio gudes not only had headphones, but also a text version one could read - perfect for our hearing loss!

After the exhibition we wanted to see Gaudi's apartment Casa Battlo, but thought it would now be closed.  I asked what time it opened in the morning, and we found out that it was open 9am to 9pm.  So a split second decision and we caught a taxi up to Casa Battlo as it was only 7pm.

Casa battlo was amazing.  I want to live there.  Every corner you turned was interesting.

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At the end, I sat outside waiting for Nikki and Steven to finish, found the wifi worked, and got a message from Amy, a friend I've corresponded with for many many years.  I hadn't realised she was living in Barcelona, so as soon as we finished, we jumped in a taxi and met her outside our apartment. We all then went to dinner at a local restaurant nearby and chatted for a few hours.  It was great to see her.

Barcelona has been great, interesting and fun.  Two days wasn't enough so I'll have to come back to explore some more sometime in the future.  We're picking up our rental car shortly and heading north

Barcelona!

We were all up early this morning, packed our hand luggage as light as we could in preparation for two weeks away from Netherlands. Michel drove us to the airport. Of note was the guards checking the odd car for bombs, dressed in full gear complete with machine guns. 

Security through Schipol was pretty tough, but I would rather that than lax measures.  The flight to Barcelona was two hours - very smooth and we shared a taxi to the Airbnb we are staying at which is in the heart of the Old Town or Gotic Centre. This is the photo taken out our window when we got here.  The floor is obviously on a lean!

The first thing we did was go to the La Boqueria market for some food.  We also had a Gelato afterwards, only because it is so hot - at 30C.

The markets were interesting, packed with all kinds of food, and also packed with people looking for something to eat!

Walking through the alleyways, nearly every door has graffiti over it...

The streets are really pretty...

This is La Rambler - one of the main streets...

Little narrow side streets are everywhere, tempting me to get lost...

We walked through this street several times - stopping all the time at the shoe shops.  Prices range from about 5 euro through to 90 Euro.  Not bad at all.  I haven't bought anything yet as my feet are two swollen from the flight, heat and the sore ankle..

This is one of the shops which is beautifully done up in side. I wasn't allowed to take a photo, but when she wasn't looking I snuck a phone image.  As you do!

More Graffiti and an interesting door knocker,..

Next to the Cathedral we found a historic building which is used for the City's archives..

From the cathedral steps you can look at the apartment we are staying at.  11th window across from left, one down. (3rd floor)

The Cathedral was very impressive inside. Huge too. I didn't know what to look at!

I accidently came across the lift which enabled us onto the rooftop for more photos of Barcelona...

After the cathedral we went back to the apartment  We all fell asleep for a few hours.  When we woke we headed back down La Rambler and had Tapas and Sangria and copious amounts of water.  I hope it'cooler tomorrow!

Exploring Amsterdam - Day 2

Today we were once again a bit slow in the morning.  Steven, Nikki and I took a Uber to the Microbes Museum after breakfast - which ended up around 11.30am!  The Microbes Museum or Micropia was fascinating. We spent a couple of hours looking down microscopes and playing with interactive technology.  My favourite part was watching how Probiotic soaps worked, as opposed to antibacterial soaps.  I also loved the bedbug - taken with my cellphone down a microscope...

As soon as we finished in Micropia, we used antibacterial wipes to wash our hands cellphones, bag handles!  It had got us paranoid of bacteria!!

Afterwards we walked to the Coffee Salon to meet up with Michel and Anne.  It was a bit of a walk, and although I asked directions twice, I was always in the right direction which is pretty good for me. This is the Amstel River which we crossed. I have photos of the same river from a couple of years ago.

After a great Flat White at the coffee salon - probably the best flat white I've had for a while, we walked back into town, passing this beautiful remake of Rembrandt's 'Night Watch'.  It was really well done, and lots of people were getting photos..

Then it was through the flower markets, stunning place, all along the canals.  Shame I can't bring Tulip bulbs back to NZ - there were so many of them!

Then it was to the Canal House museum where we learned about the history of Amsterdam and how it was built, and in particular the foundations and why some of the buildings are leaning.

This is one of the canal houses that are on a lean.  Michel assures me that although it was on more of a lean than most, it's held for several hundred years so it's fine!

 Another walk - still stopping to take images because Amsterdam is really beautiful.

 Then to the Belgian pub where all we had a much needed beer after all our walking...

 I had the Raspberry Beer.  It was divine - intense flavours.  Probably the best beer I've ever had.

Anne then insisted Nikki and I tried the Cherry beer.  It wasn't as nice as the Raspberry, but it got better the longer it was open!

After that one, I also tried the Peach - which was also fabulous.  And before anyone say I would have been drunk - these beers were only 2.5%, so I was fine. On the other hand, I can feel my veins still full of sugar!

On way home we called into the supermarket again and Anne got the ingredients to make a dutch dish - sausages and mash!

Tomorrow I'm off toBarcelona!