Viking European Cruise: Barcelona, Part 1

Barcelona

This is the city I have been most excited to see! I love Bergen, but we had been there before. And I am so grateful that I, the last one to catch Covid of the 4 of us, was feeling well. 

We had a 3-day extension in Barcelona and we could have had many days more to see all of the wonderful attractions. 

I took these pics off of the deck of our ship. What a beautiful city!

Columbus Monument

Arc de Triomf (from the 1888 World's Fair)

Whimsy is evident throughout the city

There was unique and beautiful architecture throughout the city.

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

The most famous architect in Barcelona is Antoni Gaudi. His works were influenced by his passions in life: architecture, nature and religion. He integrated ceramics (sometimes using broken and discarded), stained glass, wrought iron forging and carpentry The result of his works is whimsical and so creative - I love it! He was nicknamed, "God's Architect."You can see several of his buildings and works throughout the city.

Festive street in the Gothic Quarter

Bridge in Gothic Quarter that looks very much like Bridge of Sighs in Venice

Parc de la Ciutadella

In front of the Museu Nacional d art de Catalunya

Overlooking Barcelona from the museum

We were told the churches are so in need of money that they sell space on their cathedrals for advertising(?).

Catalunya is one of the languages spoken in this area and this is their flag.

Our son, Rick, and others had told us not to miss this place, Palau de la Musica. It is a gorgeous concert hall, built by Gaudi's teacher, for a place for a local choir to perform. It is absolutely spectacular and maybe my favorite sight in Barcelona. It is nestled between tall buildings and as it was being built, they struggled to find a way to let in light, which they solved in a gorgeous way!

This is the only auditorium in Europe that is lit during the daylight hours with natural light. The walls on each side are primarily stained-glass panes set in magnificent arches, and overhead is an enormous skylight and an inverted gold dome surrounded by blue, suggesting the sun and the sky.

We were treated to hearing this organ play.

The building in many places is cleverly held up with steel ballasters surrounded by amber glass, to reflect light and transfer sound. As you can see, this is a strikingly beautiful place with which the four of us were so very impressed.

Across the street was a great tapas bar where we had delicious tapas for dinner . . .

And next to there was this ice cream shop.

Our first day in Barcelona together was memorable and the next day held more wonderful sights to see!