Hi Readers,
Today has not been one of lots of touristy highlights as we are travelling again, this time to Budapest.
The only hassle of flying to another city is that it more or less uses up most of a day, as when it is an international flight, such as this one, you must check in a few hours beforehand.
Luckily we both don't mind sitting around an airport.
As I mentioned in my last post, we were hoping to do the Basilica just around the corner from where we are staying. We tried yesterday, but the towers were closed due to the wind. We took our chances and purchased some tickets online for today, keeping in mind that this is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona, so we had to book early to get a slot. There were times of the day that were sold out, they just can't fit everyone in!
As we walk to the Basilica at about 8.20 we were feeling optimistic as it wasn't windy in our street.
Our hearts sank however when we rounded the corner and found an icy wind blowing at street level, so you can imagine what it must have been like 150 metres above the street.
You guessed it, the towers were closed. Disappointed, yes, but we were more or less expecting it and accepted it without any fuss.
While we were waiting the half hour or so to get in I practically froze my buns off, as I was only wearing a jumper and t-shirt, as the previous days were warmer. My smarter wife could only laugh at me as she was rugged up in a coat.
As she has constantly told me on our trips, "There is no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing".
I do have a habit of under dressing for the weather!!
As for the Basilica, it is an architectural piece of beauty. It was started over 100 years ago and is an ongoing piece of work. Despite this, for the hour or so that we were in there I just froze, but it was well worth the effort.
If any Readers visit Barcelona you must tick this place off your list, there is nothing like it anywhere else. Over the years I've been in and looked at countless churches and cathedrals in different cities, and they can become mundane, but this one is in a league of its own.
The place still has 20 years of work left.
The stained glass inside is just brilliant.
As well as lifts to the towers, there are a number of spiral staircases. Halfway up on the left are the areas
where the choir sits on both sides of the Basilica.
These red windows catch the morning sun.
And the blue ones catch the afternoon sun.
The architect who began the Basilica, Gaudi was dedicated to the Lord's Prayer. It takes a prominent place in the Basilica.
After I started to have icicles forming on me we decided to head back to our digs for a hot cuppa, finish packing and check out, but not before I was able to hit a bakery for a few empanadas, a Spanish food I'd been admiring but hadn't tried yet. It's not disappointed!!
As well as scooters everywhere here, as well as the Tuk Tuks in Lisbon, another popular mode of transport are the Go Cars. Would love to try one, but I'm just not game in this traffic!!
Believe it or not, this is one of their subway stations. So clean and so safe, we were shocked.
At the airport, and all forms of OHS are abandoned.
How this bloke never lost his footing on the ladder is beyond me. He wasn't even on the top rung, but on the tips of the handles above the top rung!!!
And what's a post without a selfie! Here we are in the Basilica.
And what's a post without a sock photo to complete it. Here we are in the Basilica as well, but please excuse my pose as I was freezing!!!
Well Readers, as I write this we are on a plane flying over the Mediterranean again, this time to Budapest in Hungary.
From what we have seen on the news lately we can expect some cold weather, as sections of the Danube River in the city are freezing over. Not sure if I'll get out for many runs in Budapest, even though I did pack some leggings.
One highlight however is that we are meeting one of our sons, Sam who is flying across from London to spend a few days with us, so that will make up for the cold weather.
Until my next post...
Cheers!!
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