Saturday was Gaudi day! Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) used curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic-like forms in his Barcelona architecture. He also added elements of color in his works, such as colored tiles arranged in mosaic patterns. What we saw that he had designed was all very unique.
We started off the day around 10 and (surprise, surprise) grabbed breakfast at a bakery on the way. I had a calzone shaped pastry that was filled with apple sauce. We were going to see La Sagrada Familia that day, which is his most famous work in Barcelona. It's a giant temple that has been under construction since 1882, and it's not expected to be completed for between 30 to 80 years. The building is really unique, because each side has a different style, everything is very intricate down to the most minute detail, and the inside was unlike anything I'd ever seen with the colors and shapes. We had to wait an hour to get in, but it was definitely worth it.
La Sagrada Familia (one of the sides)
Some of the side
The interior
Some of the front of La Sagrada Familia
After getting a quick lunch of tapas (more patatas bravas and fried squid) we headed to Park Guell. This was a park commissioned by Eusebi Güell who wanted to create a stylish park for Barcelona aristocracy. The park has stone structures, colorful tiles and unique buildings. You go up a set of stairs that leads to a covered area where vendors sell small things. Atop of the covered area is an open terraced area where you get great views of the park and of Barcelona while sitting on tiled mosaic seats. From this area you can go on paths up the mountain. The initial walkway is supported by twisting rock pillars that look like tree trunks. Then come the trails. At the park is Gaudi's house as well. It's been converted into a small museum and we got to go in.
The bottom of Park Guell
The top terrace area
Gaudi's house
After getting our fill of the park and its trails, we headed back to the hostel to rest up for a couple of hours. Later in the night we set out to get dinner at a local place called August where we got paella again. We got a mixed seafood paella and it was hands down one of the best dishes I had the entire trip. Afterward, we wanted to go to the magic water fountain show. The fountain is below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc hill, and the show is well known for the water dancing in exploding colors and laser lights. We were pretty excited to see the show, so it was a letdown when we arrived there and realized the fountains were under construction... So, no show tonight. Well, at least we tried! We had to check out of the hostel by 10 AM the next morning so we headed back to get some rest and to pack up.
Seafood paella!!
Where the water show was supposed to be...
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