Barcelona (Post-Cruise)

We’re very happy we are staying our last two more nights in Barcelona! First reason is because we didn’t get to see everything when we were here before the cruise and the second reason is that the weather is beautiful! Clear blue skies! We are staying in an apartment, which is a great choice for families. Much more room than a hotel and you can do some of your own cooking so it saves money.

 

Today was  a very special day for Eric because he received his First Communion. I thought it would be a great experience (and good story) if he could receive his First Communion at Sagrada Familia, which is the most famous church in Spain! Okay I’ll admit that the whole service was in Spanish so he didn’t understand a word BUT he doesn’t exactly understand everything that’s going on at our church either! The service was in a special area of the cathedral with mosaic tiles on the floor and vivid murals on the walls. There were high domed ceilings along with stained glass windows that were at the very top of the church. This special area is called the Crypt because it is where Antoni Gaudi is buried and we could view his tombstone.

                          

The architect Antoni Gaudi started the plans for this church and it became his life’s work. He died in 1926 and the church is still not finished! The construction has lasted 100 years and it still has another 40 or 50 years until it is completed. It is the most Gaudy (play on words) church I’ve ever seen! There are steeples, sculptures, intricate religious scenes, etc. wherever you look and that’s just on the outside! Definitely sensory overload!

I think it is time for us to come home because the kids are now thinking about their house, friends and dog, Stella (I think I miss her the most!) We have an 18-hour journey ahead of us tomorrow so we’re hoping there are no additional delays. We were counting all the types of transportation we’ve been on during our journey and it was quite Impressive! We figured that we have been on 9 different modes of transportation throughout this trip: Plane, Taxi, Motor Coach, Shuttle, Cruise Ship, Tram, Funicular, Train, and Subway. Pretty amazing considering in America we are usually just in a car or (for the kids) a school bus!

Time to pack it up and head home!