Sagrada Familia y Mi Esposa
I went to the Sagrada Familia with a Get Your Guide tour on the morning of Friday May 30th.
I should have known better. I don’t really like large tours. I like more intimate, personal ones. It got started late. The security was very tight. Remove belt. Empty pockets. Use headphones. Stand in the sun for half an hour while guide goes through the standard rap all guides are taught to say. No personal insight. Many words. All information lost.
The building itself was impressive. Originally expected to be completed last. Begun in 1882. Expected to be completed in 2033. (That last bit I got from the tour guide, but it’s probably a lie, given their track record of predicting its completion.) The detail that went into it is impressive
The above is just a small piece of this enormous structure. Finally, we got to go inside.
There is a rationale behind the color scheme. Our guide told us, but I did not retain it. Not all our guide’s fault. Im not known for retaining detailed information. Ask Gail.
I had signed up to go up in one of the towers for a magnificent view of the city. They didn’t tell me that I would be taking an elevator up, but have to take 500 or so stairs down, most with no handrails. Ken and Cathy told me that. Andvafter so long in the sun, i was not feelin at my best. I canceled that. No offer of a refund.
After my siesta, I explored the neighborhood around our Airbnb. I was things like this.
The best part of the day was this:
And that’s because I, finally, after a week apart, saw
Ken, Cathy and I got to the church, Parròquia de Sant Ramon de Penyafort, early, so we got to see the rehearsal. Gail sat next to me during Mass. One of the intestesting things about this church was the Black Madonna.
Finally, after Mass, we got to see the choir sing. I love watching Gail sing.
Afterward, I mingled with Gail and our choir friends. Then Gail went on to the choir’s “Last Supper”, while Ken, Cathy and I returned to our Airbnb. Later today, May 31, Gail will rejoin Ken, Cathy, and me for the next phase of our adventure!!!
