The Columbus Monument built in honor of his first voyage to the Americas. It is meant to serve as a tribute to the fact that he reported to Barcelona after his first trip there.
Antoni Gaudi is a famous architect whose work can be seen all around Barcelona.
Beach area. Our guide explained how different Barcelona is compared to what it was like before the Summer Olympics in 1992. They didn't really even have a beach before the games. They created 2 miles of beach and a marina in anticipation of the games. That is just a little example of how the city is different. The guide said the games totally transformed the city economically and made it a huge tourist destination.
I have no idea what this guy was doing! He was hanging out in this little pond near the Sagrada Familia.
The grand dame of Gaudi's work and probably the most visited place in Barcelona - The Sagrada Familia. These pictures absolutely do not do it's massiveness and details justice. I think I was just really burnt out on touring because I didn't take many pictures and I can just kick myself because of it. Construction of the church began in 1882! Gaudi joined the project at the end of 1883 and worked on it until he died in 1926. It is an expiatory church, which means that it has been built only by donations. When it is finished it will have 18 towers - 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to Jesus and one to Mary. The towers and architecture as you go around the church tell the stories of the bible. It was very interesting to hear our guide talk about it...of course I don't remember any of it. It is expected to be complete in 2026 to mark the centenary of Gaudi's death. 144 years to build a church. That is crazy to me! In my opinion, it is one of those things that you have to see to believe. It is just so magnificent and detailed.
Park Guell...just another thing in Barcelona that Gaudi had a hand in.
Connor's photography as we were leaving the park.
Something else that I have a picture of and have no idea what its significance is. I really need to do a better job of remembering everything from our travels.
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys - originally built in 1927 and then renovated in 1989 in preparation for it to serve as the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Our final stop was an awesome park high above the city. You can see for miles and miles up there.
Adeu Serenade of the Seas!
Here you get a better perspective of just how big the Sagrada Familia actually is!
Relaxing and having some family fun on our last night before the boys and I continued on to the US and Harry went back to work in the sandbox.
We were all on the same flight to London and then we had to part ways. Our next stop was Chicago and Harry was bound for Dammam, Saudi Arabia. We were all exhausted by the time we got to Chicago.
Finally en route to New Orleans!
Last flight!
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