So now I'm in new city, I have no idea if Nate is lost or has just missed his flight, so I figure I should sleep in and see if he's just
on a later flight. But, for some reason I wake up rather early in the morning and have the urge to look out the window. When I do, I
catch this rainbow and RUN over to my camera (always nearby) just as it's fading out of view. I could lie and tell you that's a quaint 500 year-old
Church on the hill up there capping my perfect photos, but reality is it's a communications tower. But, it does look nice regardless, just think of it
as a 5 year-old communications tower amongst 500 year-old buildings...maybe it's on the ruins of a Church...you never know.
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Ok, so Nate arrived by 13:00 Saturday afternoon, and it rained quite a bit of the morning, so no big loss there. I caught up on my music
videos quite a bit anyway. So, first stop is the amazing La Sagrada Familia. This cathedral is nowhere NEAR complete, but more impressive
than 99% of complete cathedrals I've ever toured. Antoni Gaudi was the architect, and this year is the YEAR of Gaudi, thus the large orange
sign in to the right with perky kids singing REALLY old American songs in Spanish in front of a cathedral. A rather strange event, but I think they
must book the stage nearly all hours of the daylight, so "Up With People" acts make it in as well.
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Gaudi is dead, but he did pass on some of the information about how to finish consruction. However, from the looks of the new area, not quite
enough. You can definitely tell where Gaudi left off and where the new people started. Gaudi's area seems to "drip" in stone, the new area seems more
angular and interesting, but not nearly as impressive. Perhaps they'll get the hang of it with time. There's quite a bit left to do, the entire center building,
the major cross and highest steeple in the center and most of the extended side of the cathedral remains. That's to mention nothing of the interior work
once the structure is in place. Anyway, to go closer to the building you have to pay for a ticket, but it is well worth it to see everything close up.
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This poor guy is stuck at the bottom of one of the BIG columns supporting one of the two major facades of the structure. I kinda felt sorry for him...he
doesn't looks too pleased.
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While the first side is rather conventional, although done in an unconventional style of masonry, the other side is MUCH more symbolic. Even
though Nate and I didn't opt for the guided tour, I think it would have DEFINITELY been a good idea, as there must be HOURS of material on
the style and meanings of the sculptures that adorn the other facade of the building. Here you see one example on the left. Notice that
going up, down, sidesways, etc, all the numbers add up to 33 across the cube. I assume this must relate to the idea of the number "3" being
perfect and double that being better or such...I'm sure there's a website out there somewhere folks...
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Same thing, but this time in some REALLY impressive metal doors at the base of the structure. Lots of imagery integrated into these
verses telling the passion story (from what I could tell) from each of the gospels. Another example is an area between words where some coins were
embedded into the door, I assume symbolizing the 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas. I'm sure quite a bit of time could be spent on the doors alone.
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A statue of Jesus being lashed forms the center of the base area. Certain words on the doors are also overlaid in a gold-like finish
as a highlight.
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There's that guided tour...
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A very complex set of statues, I assume depicting the Stations of the Cross, are scattered across this side of the structure. At the
center top is the cruicifixion.
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This is part of the "new" area and shows a martyr, Anthony Claret I think (listed on the bottom of the statue)
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After a LONG wait in line, which is well worth it, you can pay a few euro to ride up in a very SMALL elevator part way up the spires. This is
very much worth the price as you get a good view of the city and of parts of the structure.
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Inlaid mosaic is a theme and makes the spires very festive in certain points.
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A panoramic of one of the spires, one side says Hosanna
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Looking down one of the spires...
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Where I aspire to be once done with this side of the cathedral, this is the main cross on the other side between the two spires
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Each of the apostles has a place on the spires here, three per on four spires, I believe
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Near the base of the spires the stairway's design is very elegant
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Nate pauses to take a picture of the stained glass windows as we attempt a spire on the other side...elevator out of order here, only
stairs are available
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Ok, so that must not have been the best idea, since this is a photo from the way back down...none from this side made the cut. But, that's
mainly due to the fact that the light was the opposite direction and most of the small features were similar between the spires. Still, a
worthy walk if you're not too adverse to climbing a LOT of stairs.
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A bit later the sun came out and illuminated the other side a bit more evenly. You can see again the doors at the base and cross at the
center of this photo in a shadow.
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Just below the crucifixion scene, you can see the impression of the face of Jesus as he walked with the cross after pausing.
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Now...on to the sinner part of this day!
