We couldn’t resist starting the morning out by the pool, but by midafternoon we were out on the town. Our two goals today: Sagrada Familia and Parc

Guell. The first is Gaudi’s masterpiece, a modernista cathedral dedicated to the Holy Family; the second is a park at the top of a hill with some famous Gaudi pieces, like the Drac (dragon)  you see here.

Sagrada Famlia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, and Chris agreed. These pictures don’t do it justice. I’m sure there is better language to describe it, but it is sort of neo-Gothic, contemporary, and classic all in one. The sculptures are particularly amazing on the “Passion Facade,” (at right) and in the interior everything from the stained glass (“rainbowy!” declared Amory) to the columns to the staircases was exquisite. I tried to learn about

it with an audioguide, but this was trying the girls’ patience so I settled for a book I can read on the plane. This spares you readers another pedantic blog...

After the cathedral, we headed to Parc Guell, a fun area with lots of Gaudi architecture. Here the kids are climbing a rock wall...I’ll give you both pictures for the perspective.

From the top of the park, we had a marvelous view of the Mediterranean and the city of Barcelona.

After our excursion, we returned to our hotel for a fantastic meal of tapas. We had fried artichokes (MUCH better than the other night), smoked eggplant in a balsamic reduction with chopped peanuts, crab salad, mini shrimp in guacamole, shortrib ravioli, ham croquettes, shaved pork with parmesan and capers, and cod with a garlic cream sauce. The last 2 I didn’t care for, but the others were delicious! Remind us to make the traditional bread appetizer here for you. Rub garlic on fresh toast, then rub the juice of a cut tomato, drizzle olive oil, and sprinkle kosher salt. Yum!