Barcelona day 3

Thursday, October 10, 2013,  Barcelona, Spain

We are staying in an area called the Eixample.  It encompasses the Old Town, the port, the Picasso Museum and the Olympic stadium.  It was designed in the 19th century.  The city blocks have the corners cut off, like dogearing a sheet of paper, making the blocks eight sided.  Small dogears, just enough to make each intersection roomier.  This extra room is used for parking, cafe seating and dumpsters.  The idea was a progressive plan in which each 20 block square district would have its own hospital and large park.  Each 10 block area would have its own market and each five block area would have its own school and daycare center.  It didn't really come to fruition , still it is a nice area.

One of the most, if not the most famous sights in this area, in all of Barcelona actually, is the Antoni Gaudi designed Church called the Sagrada Familia.  He started work on it in 1883 and worked until his death in 1926.  It is not finished and the estimates are that it will take another 20 years to complete.  It is amazing, odd, weird and beautiful all at the same time.

The walk over to the church took us by many Gaudi designed buildings.  He did not seem to like straight lines.  We have included two pictures of the church, one inside and one out, as well as a picture of a building facade.  You'll see what we meant.

Colleen and John