One day we spent in the capital of Spain — Barcelona. We went there and vice versa by suburban train. It takes about an hour to get from the nearest town to Barcelona and the road goes along the sea shore, which is very beautiful. I must say some words about the train. We were not surprised to see animated railroad maps with current positions of the train and names of the next stations above the doors, but we were impressed with music that was playing in the train. It was quiet light classical music. It makes the ride much more relaxed and pleasant.

In Barcelona we took metro everywhere and walked a lot. And while walking we discovered that the capital of Catalonia is a very big city! We were so tired at the end of our day but that was a great day! We were smart — we didn’t have a goal to see the whole city in one day, we wanted to see the city of Art Nouveau, mostly by the genius architect Gaudi.

Casa Batllio

We started with one of the most expressive and famous buildings by Gaudi — Casa Batllio that works as a museum now. Of course, we went inside to see the interiors that Gaudi created for the family of the landlord Batllio. They are lack of furniture but full of sea images: staircase — back spine of a sea animal, wavy walls — sea waves, chandeliers — jellyfish, columns — fish bones, color — seaweeds on the sand of a beach. So it’s very interesting to fell the impression of living in such a place — one of the most unusual houses in the world.

Casa Terrades

Then we went further down the street — Passeig de Gracia — and saw some more outstanding buildings in that unusual branch of Art Nouveau style — vivid, colorful, vigorous Spanish one. They were Casa Mila with the remarkable façade reminding more of a sea in the storm with seaweeds on the tops of waves that play the role of wrote iron balconies, Casa Terrades with Gothic style elements — 6 spire domes, shaped so sharp that Spanish people call them “6 needles”, with many more interesting buildings that it’s just impossible to describe. That district of Barcelona is not by chance called “Ilia de la Discordia” — “the District of Dissensions” as all that wonderful buildings of gorgeous “turn of the century” style are so different, bright and unique that they can’t stay still and don’t compete with proud. That entire district is charming, full of beauty, sun shine and warmth of people who came here from all different parts of the planet to see those creatures of inspirable artists’ imagination.

When you go further and further down that district, you finally see the tops of high spire domes – it means you’re close to the pearl of Barcelona with its numerous gifts — “Sagrada Familia” or the Holy Family Cathedral — which is the life-time and most stunning creature of Gaudi’s genius.

Holy Family Cathedral

It’s not finished though — only one Nativity facade was done under the supervision of the architect himself. Gaudi tragically died in 1927 when he was crossing the street deeply into his thoughts and didn’t notice the approaching tram. Thanks to that original façade by Gaudi the whole cathedral looks like a sand castle on the warm Mediterranean Sea shore under the eternal sunny sky of Spain. During the civil war of 1936-39 the original drawings by the architect were lost as well as the models of the cathedral, so the construction works were stopped. Only 15 years later in 1954 they started it again according to the new general plan. By now the other Passion façade was completed by contemporary architect Subiracs in the different and eccentric way — there is the main entrance to the cathedral here now.

Dasha and Passion façade

But as I mentioned already there is no main dome yet and when you look up from the inside you see the endless spire domes of towers and blue sky.

Sasha and I decided one day (hope it’ll happen in our life time) to come back to Barcelona and to see this cathedral — the undertaking of the great Gaudi — finished. The desire of our hearts is to pray here for the peace of Gaudi’s soul in his life-devoted work, to pray here for this wonderful city of Barcelona that gave such genius to the world and for the peace of the whole planet so that such great monuments would stand forever being symbols of human imagination’s power and glorifying God.

After that we had time to visit briefly another creation by Gaudi’s vivid imagination — the Guell Park. It’s wonderfully planed and mixed with some pavilions and houses, designed by Gaudi. By the way, the architect had his house here which was his residence for many years — from 1906 till 1926 and it’s a museum now.

Gaudi's house in Guell Park

The park is bright in colors, vivid in lines and absolutely fantastic. Constructions there seem more like sand-houses or Christmas gingerbread colored homes then something of breaks and mosaics.

Dasha in Guell Park

Coming inside through the Dragon wrote-iron gates you go up along the magnificent stairway to the Hall of 100 Columns with cheerful mosaic ceiling and unusual proportions. On the way there you’ll be charmed indeed with the superb sculpture of a blue and green lizard — the fountain that became one of the most favorite symbols of Barcelona.

Dasha and the symbol of Barcelona

Be careful then — everyone wants to have a picture with this nice cooled down animal.

Finally you find yourself on the square above the Hall with wavy white-yellow-green-blue and red mosaic branches which shape the observation point. From this place you can go the sea-wave gallery or to the top of the hill or just to walk around,

Sasha in Sea-wave gallery

but the best you can do here is to enjoy a magnificent view of the capital of Catalonia.

Barcelona panorama

That is the view of Barcelona we remembered — roofs of endless houses separated with tinny street lines in the hot mist and the strip of the Mediterranean on the horizon sparkling in the setting sun rays. That was the beautiful culmination of our day and the image of Barcelona we’ll treasure in our hearts forever.