We had an audio tour on our phone that was helpful in giving context to all the details.
Part of the price of our admission was a trip up a couple of the towers. \240The views were great and it gave us better views of some of the building’s details. \240Amy wasn’t too fond of the heights or the narrow staircase going down (we took an elevator up).
The two entrances each show events from Jesus’ life. \240The Nativity door shows his birth. This was the part of the church that Gaudi saw completed.
A sea turtle holding up a column.
The Passion door shows scenes from his death.
This plaque is located next to the Passion door. No matter how you do it, these numbers add up to 33. \240Jesus’ age when he died.
There is a museum in the basement that gives you a peak into the building’s history and also a peak at the current workshop. \240They are using 3D printers to create the models used for the modern construction.
We ate lunch at a Japanese restaurant and then walked over to Casa Batllo, one of his famous houses he designed for Barcelona’s wealthy families. It is quite fun and unique. It really stands out on the block.
We took a tour of the interior from the bottom floor to the roof. \240Gaudi’s love of nature and unique colors and designs are everywhere.
After our Gaudi tours Ellie and I went back to the El Born and took a tour of the 18th century archeological site. It only cost 7€ and it was one of the best things I have done this week. It was just Ellie and I and the guide. We started in the museum that consisted of all these old household items they had recovered from the site.
Some of the stuff they found was similar to what we found at the Thames this summer mudlarking. \240It makes sense because much of it was found in the dried up canal that ran through the area.
We then got a tour through the site. It was a lot of fun to watch Ellie get excited about all the interesting things she was seeing. \240This area was torn down and covered over in the early 18th century and discovered again in the 1990s.
The dried up canal.
A cannonball!
A toilet!
For dinner we went out with Luke and Macario to a tapas place. The highlight was the paella with squid ink rice, calamari and clams. \240Most everyone thought it was good.
