What's Up With The Wheelers

Barcelona Photo Dump! Way too many pics because, well, if they don't get uploaded here they may never get looked at again. Plus, it was a truly remarkable day and one I want to remember forever.

So Barcelona--can't you just hear Ed Sheeran singing? The city carries charm and nostalgia for us, but not because of sangria or even dancing in the street. Instead, I think of these quaint little bungalows in the tiny beach town of Malgrat de Mar. Seventeen years ago we "camped" here with Brooklyn, Talia, Papa Kay and Uncle Lance. As soon as we added Barcelona to our itinerary, I started researching to see if Camping del Mar still existed. Amazingly, it did! Not only that, the bungalows have received a fresh coat of paint over the past couple of decades. Check out the last pic of this post to see the comparison.

In truth, the property was much expanded and improved. It had a lovely store and restaurant where we were able to purchase fresh bread, cheese, and eggs every morning. The pool had also been remodeled, although we waited a day to check it out since we wanted plenty of time in the city.

As for Jason, this hard-working man stayed up super late working most of the time we were in Spain, getting only a few hours of sleep before joining us as tourists during the day. He's incredible and never complains, but gosh, the intensity of his work can be exhausting.

Fortunately a tasty breakfast is perfect for waking up, especially when Nutella is involved.

Here we are waiting for the train to pick us up from Malgrat. We missed the first train so we had a little bit of time to enjoy the beach.

Here we are riding the train. Annika was pretty surprised by the topless beaches. I recall her asking, "Mom, is that legal?"

Thanks to Brooklyn's navigational skills, we quickly scurried to La Sagrada Familia, only to discover that our scheduled entry was two hours later than I'd anticipated.

So, we had plenty of time to admire the exterior instead. The cathedral has changed significantly since the last time we were here, especially with the completion of the Christi tower.

This photo reminds me of Papa Kay checking out La Sagrada Familia for the first time was well.

Whether you love it or find it to be too much, La Sagrada Familia certainly makes an impression.

Of course, even great architecture can't be properly enjoyed on an empty stomach. Eva's ice cream al rescate.

On a sugary high.

Within the gates at last. We started with the Nativity facade on the East. The carvings are so intricate! I love the idea of musicians, including a bassoon, heralding the birth of the Christ child.

Jesus and Joseph. The sculptures of La Sagrada Familia tell so many beautiful stories! It's easy to appreciate the cathedral's beauty up close, just as it feels cohesive from a distance. The middle ground, however, can seem confusing and muddy. I feel like perspectives on life are similar.

I also loved that there were insects on the beautifully cast doors. As Annika would love to remind you, even spiders are God's creations.

As a "familia numerosa," our family contacted La Sagrada Familia ahead of time to request a discount. Imagine our delight when we discovered that our discounted tickets included a tour of the Passion Towers!

Don't drop your phone! Also, if you looked up you could see some of the bells in the belfry. Gaudi intended for the cathedral to have enough bells to span the entire range of a piano.

Representation of abundance or the sacrament? Perhaps both.

I was pretty amused by the bottles incorporated right into the facade.

Eli looks like he's trying to figure it all out.

The spiral staircases were a work of art all in themselves. I felt like I was descending deep into the heart of a nautilus.

On the inside, the stained glass lighted a magnificent forest of stately columns. The vibrant colors were a remarkable change from our initial visit.

We credit Gaudi with La Sagrada Familia, but it is truly the masterpiece of so many artisans.

The West facade is the Passion Facade, depicting the death and crucifixion of Christ. Far more austere and angular, it stands in stark contrast to the detailed ornamentation of the East facade.

The South facing Glory Facade depicting the resurrection is still under construction, so I am excited to visit La Sagrada Familia once more in a couple of decades to experience all it has become. I'm guessing this gent will gladly join me. Love you, Peanut Butter!

Celebrating La Sagrada Familia with the tastiest kebab of our trip. It definitely hit the spot!

Okay, this is where Maximizer Me kind of overdid it a bit. As much as I adore Antoni Gaudi, exploring La Sagrada Familia and the Parc Guell on the same day is a lot. As amazing as the park was, I kind of felt like we were all saturated. We still loved the park, but didn't appreciate it quite as much as we would have if we had experienced it with fresh eyes and legs. If I had it to do over again, I would at least splurge on an uber to take us there!