Scary Day

Scary Day- the kids call it this because there is more planned than you can possibly ever do!
Early morning start to the L’Eixample area where the Sagrada Familia Church is to do the tour and see it in the light of Day. It is unbelievable! The tour said it looked like a cake in the rain- and parts do. So much to look at, it is hard to take it all in (Gaudi planned this building). There is a Nativity façade 3 porticos: one to St Joseph, one to the Holy Family and the last to Mary. The opposite side of the church is more modern and faces west –the passion side. We toured the outside side and then took an elevator lift to one of the towers which was actually a bell tower. –then had to walk up more windy stairs. Denise and I are afraid of heights— so when Kathy & Tricia were hanging out looking at the top of the towers and down to the ground – it was all we could do to stand up. Then, the bells rang. We almost lost it… back to the ground- fast!
After the Church we went to look at the other Gaudi Buildings around Barcelona. Some look like mushrooms or hobbit huts. All curved edges. The architecture has such a contrast between the old and the new and more modern. The city is so clean and we think quite. We were wondering if there was a law against honking the horn? No one does it! We walked down the Ave de Catalunya—like the Champs Elyse in Paris with all high end stores. No purchases here – unfortunately.
Then on to the La Rambla area which is a large boulevard Street with everything from Flowers to Birds for sale. We stopped in a small gothic church – took in a quick Mass. Lite a candle and said prayers for every one.
We then stopped at the Boqueria. Which is a huge fresh market with every thing from fresh fruit to cow guts—ick and literally. We ate at a tiny place Steve Rick suggested: Pinaxito (?) cod salad ; chickpea with black sausage –very good-of course. Then on to Chocolates. Mare has really turned us on to the chocolate with sea salt…if you have not tried this—it is a must! Tricia and Kathy got a piece- said it was great—popped the last bits into their mouth! No sharing there. (of course we had to dash off immediately to get our own…why did we think we could go without? Kathy & Tricia had seconds)
Denise and I went back for a siesta. Kathy and Tricia found the Bari Gothic area and a quite plaza outside the Santa Maria Del Mar. They wandered around and found a good tapas area where we joined them for a bottle of wine and a good dinner. Since we are rating the wine- this got the- just ok sign from Denise.
Friday is St Jorge Day—lots of the shops are preparing for this national day which is like St Valentine’s Day.
Tomorrow: early morning to Montserrat--- metro,train,cable car, funicular… up by 0600- out by 0700