Sagrada Familia

Yesterday a group of us walked to the Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed mostly by Gaudi and continued after his death in 1926 by other architects who followed his ideas as best as they could. Many of his papers and design ideas, like so much else, was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. 

My favorite thing about this imposing, soaring monument is that it has been in the process of construction and will be for generations.  It is an expiatory cathedral,  funded only by donations.  Trades people in Barcelona often spend the last two years of their career working on the cathedral.  Like the early cathedrals, no one now alive will see its completion.  I couldn't help but think of the Watts Towers.  Gaudi was very ill as a child and spent a lot of time walking in nature, and it is all there in concrete and stone.

We stayed for two hours then ended the day by walking down the Ramblas, a wonderful space for walking, looking, eating and drinking, enjoying street performers, artists and, for me, looking out for pickpockets.  We came back exhausted and intact.  Another great day.  Kathy