Barcelona day two

We started bit later than we intended today. After a disappointing breakfast at the Hotel Oasis we were on the ‘Barcelona Bus Turistic’ (hop on hop off bus) by 10:30am. The plan was to do the red line today which is a two hour round trip and if we had time to also cross to the Blue line and see the ‘Sagrada Familia’ which is Barcelona’s most iconic tourist stop. Along the journey you can not help but notice the ever changing layout of the city and also the changing and different architecture that has been bought about over the last few hundred years or so. One of the most renowned architects was Antoni Gaudi who’s love of nature is reflect in his designs and are easy to spot as they are so different. Gaudi spent a huge part of his life including the last 12 years working on the Sagrada Familiar until his death in a tram accident in 1920.(see pics)
However on the way round the red line we discovered the art museum, which was closed on Mondays, but offered and amazing view of Barcelona which is a city of 1.5 million people. (see pics)
After getting some pictures of the view we walked back to the bus stop. Along the way noticed an outside elevator going up towards a gondola, so we set off to investigate. This gondola ride which takes a right angle turn half way up took us even higher, to a very nice castle called the Castle Of Montjuic which was first built around 1640.
The view over the Harbor and the city from the top of the castle roof was stunning. It gives you an idea of just how big Barcelona harbor is (see pics).
Once back down we were on the bus again and carried on around the red line. It was getting later in the afternoon so we stopped off at restaurant that offered all you can eat salads and grill so we had a big feed here that only cost €22 for both of us and that was three courses and drinks.
Feeling very fill we climbed back on the bus and along the way switched to the blue line. We did not get off until we arrived at the ‘Sagrada Familia’.
This is one of the most amazing feats of mans brilliance and in particular that of Antoni Gaudi that we had ever seen. It was on par with any thing else we could think of or had seen. It is a huge modern church that is still under construction that started back in the late 18th century. It has to be seen to be believed. Every part of it tells a story. The attention to detail in the most little thinks from how light reflects on to a column to where the choir sit around the church to give the best acoustics is incredible. Gaudi died before it would be completed but left plans, designs and models about what he wanted but also wanted future architects to have the ability to reflect the changing centuries as time went on. It is well past the half way stage now and construction continues by donation and the contribution from tourist visits. We got an elevator ride up to the top of one of the huge towers. This was very very high and quite daunting inside. (see pics)
After this we headed home via a long walk down the long and busy Rambler St crowded with tourist and merchants plus all the normal shops.