Barcelona | R. Doug Wicker — Author

Tag Archives: Barcelona

December 6, 2013 · 5:35 am

Sagrada Familia — The Exterior

131 Years in the Making

In our previous travels to Barcelona Ursula and I had strolled past the Sagrada Familia several times, but the crowds waiting to access the interior were daunting to say the least. This time Ursula was determined that the sights within would no longer elude us. She ordered tickets in advance with a reserved time.

Flowing Structure

There is so much to see of the interior that I will be presenting it in two parts, along with a more in-depth discussion of this fascinating basilica that has been under continuous construction now for the past 131 years, and which still has between 13 and 15 more years to go until completion.

For now, however, click on any image below to view a slideshow of the incredible details that decorate this unbelievable structure:

Closeup of Details

Modern Depictions of New Testamet Scenes

Typical Gaudí Architecture

Exterior Details

The Crucifiction

More details

Statuary

Whopping Cranes

4 Comments

Filed under Photography, travel

Tagged as Barcelona, cruise ship, Holland America, MS Ryndam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Sagrada Familía, Spain, travel

December 4, 2013 · 5:35 am

Barthelona ith in Thpain

Christopher Columbus Pointing the Way

I don’t speak a lot of Spanish (taco, enchilada, chile relleno, and perhaps most importantly, cerveza), but I do know pretty much how to pronounce things . . . except apparently in Barcelona. Here, the “s” is pronounced as a “th” sound, resulting in some potentially harrowing situations.

Ham made a great sandwich for a quick lunch

For instance, I was practicing this rather unique Barcelona-ism in case I had to say something in the local Spanish (Catalon is the predominant language here, but good luck getting me to try that) when I noticed Ursula was about to make a major misstep.

I hurredly said, “Wath out. Dog thit.”

By the time she asked, “What?” it was far too late.

Ursula and I had been to Barcelona twice previous to this occasion, so I didn’t really take many photographs this time of the city. Rather, I was eagerly waiting for something we hadn’t done before — the interior of Antoni Gaudí’s incredible Sagrada Familia. That will be the subject of an upcoming three-part series with Parts 2 and 3 focusing on the unbelievable interior.

Meanwhile, below is today’s slideshow of Barcelona. Watch for the Arc de Triomf, the Torre Agbar Tower, the bustling and crowded Las Rambla pedestrian mall, a very interesting guard house, and other sights of Barcelona: