seny i rauxa: Jessica, Stanley, Barcelona

We received an unusual visitor after we returned from vacation. Our cousin, Nickie, sent us Flat Stanley as part of a class project. Armed with our instructions to take some pictures of him around town and answer some questions we tried our hand at being tour guides. We ended up with 50 pictures of our excursion, which may have been getting a little carried a way. But you know us, go big or go home. Right?
So we started the day at the train station in Valldoreix where we quickly realized we had forgotten the camera. When I say we, I mean me. Bad mom. The camera was the whole point. Nick went home to get it and after that small hiccup we were on our way.
We took the train to Provenca then the metro to the Sagrada Familia! I finally got to see it. It's a very impressive building. There was a line to take the tour so we passed on that but we walked around the gate and took some pictures. The Cathedral was designed by Gaudi and he worked on it until the end of his life, I think. It's still not finished. I think the estimate at this point is another 20 years. I believe the reason it takes so long is that it doesn't accept government financing. But, I don't have the books in front of me. The four sides of the Cathedral each depict different scenes from Jesus's life. I believe the one behind the kids is the Death and Resurrection.

Joe said this building is where Gaudi lived when he was working on the Cathedral. Now it's where the school groups gather and since we didn't make it inside the gates, we'll probably have to get back to you on any more stories about that.

At different points around the Cathedral there are words repeated. Here is one section....Sanctus...Holy

Below is the Nativity facade. The spire in the middle is actually a Christmas tree. It has doves on it and appears more green in person.

The detailing is just amazing on the building. I like this facade a lot. The other side has a more cubist/modern look to the sculpture on the facade.

From there we decided to walk to Placa Catalunya. It's about a ten block walk but the day was gorgeous and we took some pictures along the way.

I can't remember what building this is...

As we were walking by this church the bells were ringing. I tried to get a picture of the bell swinging but...I'm not sure it really worked.

We walked to Passeig de Gracia, where more Gaudi buildings are, as well as shopping. It's sort of the 5th Ave of Barcelona. Here is Stanley in front of Casa Batlo. This is the Gaudi house we've toured before.

These are the street lights/benches that line Passeig de Gracia. I love them.

We finally made it to Placa Catalunya so we could help Flat Stanley feed the birds. Yes, we sang a few bars of Mary Poppin's Feed the Birds as well.

Flat Stanley trying to get more information on what to do in Barcelona at the info stop.

After all the walking we decided a stop was in order. We crossed the street to treat ourselves to a little Americana at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Here is Nick setting up the shot of Flat Stanley reading his menu.

And Flat Stanley admiring the rock icons.

After we refueled we turned the corner to go down La Ramblas.

Where we entertained Stanley with the street performers.

He liked it so much he thought he'd try to get in the act...

But that was a one man show so he moved on and tried this one...

He was quickly bored by this...(and you can only imagine the amount of embarrassment this caused Andrea who is solidly in the middle of her teen "OMG I can't believe how embarrassing you guys are for breathing") stage.