Barcelona, Spain - Sagrada Familia

Aimee and I went to Sagrada Familia 3 years ago when we were in Barcelona for a week but I  suspect I will always want to visit this "work in progress". It was worth booking the tour for the expression on Eve's face when she first saw the building. Pictures cannot replace seeing the size of the structure and the amazing level of detail.

The main entrance, which is on the left of this picture was covered in scaffolding when I was last here and much has been completed since.

The nativity entrance, which was completed by Gaudi (he worked on the building for 45 years, his last 12 were devoted to it exclusively)

is still amazing in its level of detail and symbolism.

Some of the statues have been cleaned

and some have been replaced. There have been complaints that the 3 wise men have more Asian faces than previously but those in charge indicated that there is no reason they couldn't have had slightly Asian features.

The model shows, in grey, what has been completed and in yellow, what still needs to be done. The current estimate for completion of the outside is 2026, 100 years from the year of Gaudi's death.

Inside, the stained glass,

blues and greens on the East side and

reds and oranges on the West, flood the space with vivid colours that change as the sun moves through the day.

Gaudi achieved his intention,

of giving the impression of a soaring forest with dappled sunlight.

The choir balconies look like birds wings.

I still don't care for the modern sculptures on the "Passion Facade" but we stood out there and listened to the bells ringing.

Gaudi accepted that others that would follow would do things differently.

In the foreground is the roof of the school that Gaudi designed and had built for the children of those working on the project. It was in use up until the 1970's.

The museum is far more extensive than when I was last here, full of photographs,

models,

quotes and

a view into the current model workshop. Gaudi preferred to work from plaster models rather than just architectural drawings and now they are created with 3-D copiers.

By now our tour group had left as we had opted to stay longer and not take the bus back.

Back into the Basilica itself to look down into the crypt, where Gaudi is buried and services are conducted.

The organ pipes reflecting the stained glass.

By now we were famished so we wound our way back towards the hotel and stopped to have paella (Eve) and calamari and grilled peppers (me).

Passed Barcelona's very gothic Cathedral

where I had sat for hours sketching this facade while Aimee visited a museum.

We had been on our feet for 8 hours so rested in the hotel for a while

Then we walked Las Rambla searching for supper.

We finally decided on a restaurant with a buffet that included salads, pinchos,

hot food and dessert.

Then back to our hotel, which is on a pedestrian street just off Las Ramblas.