BARCELONA, SPAIN

Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the second-most populous municipality of Spain, with a population of 1.6 million within city limits. Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination renowned for its architectural works. It is a major cultural, economic, and financial centre in southwestern Europe, as well as the main biotech hub. Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe's principal seaports and busiest European passenger port, an international airport which handles over 50 million passengers per year, an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.^[ Barcelona has a hot summer Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm to hot summers, while the rainiest seasons are autumn and spring. The rainfall pattern is characterized by a short (3 months) dry season in summer, as well as less winter rainfall than in a typical Mediterranean climate. However, both June and August are wetter than February, which is unusual for the Mediterranean climate. In the coldest month, January, the temperature typically ranges from 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) during the day, 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F) at night. In the warmest month, August, the typical temperature ranges from 27 to 31 °C (81 to 88 °F) during the day, about 23 °C (73 °F) at night. The cruise ended when it docked in Barcelona. Our return flight home wasn’t until the next afternoon so Rosemary booked a hotel for the night in the city centre. Our Hotel Room
The hotel room wasn’t fancy but clean and comfortable. The bed looked like the two sides could have been separated, but they put a smaller bed in the room instead. I got the big bed.		The room didn’t have a built in closet. Instead the room had a simple piece of furniture instead. Since we were only there for one night, neither of us used it.
Rosemary chose the smaller bed, which was fine by me. The City We wandered around the area before having dinner.
Barcelona Cathedral Down the street from our hotel was the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, which is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain.	A busy shopping street, no cars allowed.
The street led to a large square lined with trees and historic buildings. Not sure if the buildings are apartments or offices.	As we walked through the square, we spotted a street entertainer making large bubbles.
During our walk, we spotted a canopy sheltering an outdoor café - cappuccino time!	More street entertainers.
The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, otherwise known as Sagrada Família, is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. The church was added to an existing UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica.	The exterior has three elaborate facades. This one is known as the “Passion Façade”.
Eucharist Door of the Glory Façade.		The entire exterior of the church is covered with elaborate stone works depicting various events in Christ’s life, each one gaudier than the last.
The Nativity façade was the first façade to be completed. Dedicated to the birth of Jesus, it is decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life, the sculptures are ornately arranged and decorated with scenes and images from nature.	Detail of the ceiling in the nave. The architect Gaudí designed the columns to resemble trees and branches.^[
That must be the world’s longest spiral staircase.	The crucifix hanging over the alter. I don’t why there’s giant umbrella over the cross.
Bronze statue of Saint George. He was a soldier in the Roman army and was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith.	Ceiling and columns of the nave.
Colourful windows in the nave.		Drawings on the floor of the entrance to the church.
Drawing of Mary and Joseph on the floor.	The Passion Façade is austere, plain and simple, with ample bare stone, and is carved with harsh straight lines to resemble the bones of a skeleton. Dedicated to the Passion of Christ, the suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion, the façade was intended to portray the sins of man.
Back on the street, we headed back towards the hotel.	The first door on the left is for the “Immersive Rock Museum”. We were tempted to go in but didn’t.
Embedded in the wall of one of the buildings was a recess depicting the entrance gate to the ferry port.	Above the recess are a series of small balconies with ornate metal railings.
I’m not sure what this building is but the sign by the door reads “Rumba Beln Estudis”, translation “Rumba Belen Studies”. I just liked beautiful brick façade.
What other kind of statue would you put in front of a kid’s toy store?
Later that day we flew back to Paris for our return flight home the following morning.
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