Travelogue Part 2 – Spain

Let’s start with the trains.  Larry’s first (and only) previous experience using trains had been on the locals around Munich when we were there in 2013.  That trip involved only taking the local from the suburb where we were staying into Munich for Oktoberfest, and back again.  This trip is a whole different ballgame.  We have been getting everywhere using a train of some sort.  Metro subway trains around town.  Cercania short distance trains for the suburbs, and the high speed Ave & TGV trains for longer trips.  This is an experience that most Americans never get to have.  It is such a convenient and comfortable way to travel, and as I mentioned previously, the high speed trains are very smooth.  What constitutes high speed?  Well as I type this, 
we are on the way back to Barcelona on the Ave, I was trying to keep track, but my Waze app only goes as high as 147mph.  It stopped increasing a while ago.  The train display says we are going 302 kilometers per hour right now, around 187mph.  Not quite Japanese bullet train velocity, but pretty darned fast!

We split our time in Spain between Madrid and Barcelona, with the extra day being spent in the latter.  Because I LOVE Barcelona.  While in Madrid we took a day trip up to Segovia.  My plan was for Larry to get a tour of a pretty cool castle.  I was taken by surprise when we came around a bend into view of the Aqueduct and Larry exclaimed “OMG!  I have wanted to see this forever!” It turns out he had read about, and seen pictures of, the aqueduct in an ancient history class, and always wanted to get an up close view of the engineering to see for himself.

The aqueduct at Segovia is one of the best examples still standing in the world.  Built in the second century, under Emperor Trajan, it originally ran a little over 10 miles, from the mountains into town, ending where the castle stands.

On arrival night, we had walked over to the Plaza Mayor, but I wanted Larry to see it during the day for the full effect.
The mural covered east wall is much easier to appreciate in daylight.  From th
ere we strolled over to purchase cookies from the cloistered nuns.  The monasterio is a nondescript building, just a few steps away from the Plaza Mayor.  After ringing the bell and asking for cookies, you are buzzed through the door.  Not surprisingly, it is a very quiet walk down hallways to reach the walled lazy susan through which cookie transactions are performed.
We arrived with only minutes to spare before siesta time, and scored one of the last boxes of lemon cookies.  They are reeeaalllyyyy good!

Final day was spent at The Prado, for a touch of culture.  We grabbed a picnic lunch at Mercado San Miguel to carry on the train.  We have purchased first class tickets to include lunch, but the train concession workers are on strike, so we are on our own.  The Mercado is a fantastic place for a picnic, whether purchasing to take away or to eat there!  They have great selections of whatever you want.  We walked in, set down our backpacks, and took turns getting our picnic selections.     I went to the olive vendor and got a selection of olives and stuffed peppers.  Larry took his turn to get two types of paella to go.  I grabbed cheese, Lare grabbed bread, and off to the train we went.  What a feast we enjoyed!  We were delighted to find that we could get wine to accompany the meal.

Our apartment in Barcelona was a 5 minute walk from Las Ramblas.  So staying in the theme, we enjoyed a fantastic Seafood dinner at La Boqueria.  This market is 5 or 6 times the size of the one that we purchased lunch in. 

We spent a lovely day at Montserrat Monastery.  It’s built into the mountainside rocks about 30 miles outside and above Barcelona.  This place is so peaceful and beautiful, and the views are amazing.  It is home to the Black Virgin, a destination for Catholic pilgrimages.  The legend of the Black Virgin can be read here:  http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/hope-popup3.htm

That evening Larry’s sister and Brother in law came to Barcelona from their home in Germany to hang out and play with us for a couple of days.  What a blast!  We spent a day doing the Gaudi tour, beginning with the Sagrada Familia, and ending in Parc Guell.  Antonin Gaudi’s style is controversial.  You either love it or hate it.  I am in firmly in the love category.  His style has been described as Art Nouveau, Spanish Gothic, or most commonly Catalan Modernista.  I think he was a brilliant engineer and an amazing artist.  I adore his interpretation of curves, light and style.   Construction on The Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and, except for a break during the Spanish Civil war, has been almost continuous since.  It has been a slow process since the financing has been primarily dependent upon private donations.  At some point around 2010 they announced that they were about halfway through.  The church was consecrated in 2013.

The exterior of the basilica is striking and unlike anything else I have seen.  The interior is flooded with light and color.  I find it to be one of the most joyful church interiors I have ever been in.  We did not take the elevator up into the spires, but I plan to next trip.  I will be back.  I love Barcelona and want to see the finished product.  This is a model of what it should look like on completion.  The current estimate is that construction of the Sagrada Familia will be completed in 2026.  Actually, now that I think about it… I am pretty sure I will need an interim trip just to check on progress.

Post Script Note:  Many of you know that the primary reason for us coming here was to inspect a boat for purchase as our home here in AD.  The one we looked at was, on the surface, almost perfect.  This purchase is just like a home purchase, and requires a pre-purchase inspection.  Luckily we had hired an incredibly through and observant inspector.  His observations unearthed a couple of issues, one of which was a potential disaster.  Subsequent testing that he recommended showed his suspicions to be correct.  So… our search continues.  Stay tuned!