Last Days

December 26 and 27

Days 77 and 78

Well, we won't make it around the world in 80 days, but half way in 79 will have to do!

Yesterday we made it to my favorite Cathedral.  Sagrada Familia.  This place is built to make us feel at peace.   It feels organic, like a forest. As the architect,  Antoni Gaudi planned it.

The sun shines through the stained glass creating reflections on the walls. 

We were fortunate to be there on a bright, sunny day!

Today I got to see Parc Güell.  Another Gaudi creation.

The entrance. 

The cool chameleon at the top.

the gift shop and home you can tour.  Apparently the one in front is a coffee pot.  Gaudi and I have love of that beverage in common.

Columns and sunbursts hold up the observation party deck above.

The mosiac benches up here are fantastic!!

Then as you reach the top you find  a shaded Vestibule.

Total perma culture.  Use what you have at hand.

Genius.

The last ticket for today was for the Picasso Museum.

His contemporaries were Braque,

And Lescaux.

Look at this brilliant way to draw a figure, by Picasso.

Picasso and his father kept pigeons and were both very fond of them.

This was the inspiration for his famous Peace dove.

Picasso donated his collection of sketches to a museum in Barcelona.  This is a wall of postcard size copies of the works.

Here are two early landscape paintings.

So different from what he is now known for.

Afterwards I walked home and we had some Spanish nachos.

It will be hard to leave, but easy to be home again!

See you soon!

Heartland

OK.  Here's a quick one.

We have found so many hearts here.  And some great murals containing them.

So I just have to share a few.

Those two were from Reus, Spain.

This is a cute window treatment in Girona.

Now to Barcelona.

First, Tony's coffee.

This is a barbershop. 

This was the #1 Gift of the Day .

This lovely leaded glass glass balcony where we imagined ourselves drinking coffee every morning.  Maybe then drinking dark vermouth every evening.

These are random stickers and paintings.

This is festive detritus. 

And for real, how great is this planter?

Love ya, mean it! 💞

Barcelona

December 26

Day 77

We have arrived in Barecelona.  Our last stop. 

We connected with Sam and Joe.

Did some sightseeing in Girona and nearby Malgrat de Mar.

Tony and I got to go to Christmas Eve service at Sagrada Familia. 

We were able to look up the Bible verses and follow along, and sang Silent Night as they had Communion.  

It was a really nice way to get into Christmas.

It's very different in Barcelona from Andalucia and the Unrestrained Christmas Cheer there.

Here people are out playing with their kids and walking on Christmas Eve  and Christmas Day.   Having sunshine changes things!

We found a legit manger, with chickens!

More ruins.

The Ramblas. 

The Block of Discord.

We have enjoyed Joe and Sam's company.  They have found us some great walks!

We are going out to explore more of Barcelona sunshine!