June 28 - Barcelona
We woke up early, learned that France beat Spain in the World Cup quarters from BBC World, ate, showered and got a cab to Placa de Sant Jaume in the Barri Gotic area. We started with a little shopping at a couple of ceramics shops and then walked to the Sinagoga Medieval de Barcelona, the old medieval synagoge that's being restored. Its on top of Roman ruins, some of which are visible.
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The sign for the Sinagoga |
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A view inside the Sinagoga |
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The ticket |
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We ate a quick sandwich at a little sandwich shop, and then walked over to the Cathedral.
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An overhead bridge like the "bridge of sighs" in Venice |
The Cathedral includes a cloister with a flock of geese said to be of a lineage from the geese on Capitaline Hill in Rome, a pool with fish and a turtle, and palm trees. The cathedral itself is very dark. It has a unique, open alter, and a tomb for St. Eulalia, who was martyred after 13 tortures (she was crucified on an X cross).
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The facade |
The main alter in the Cathedral |
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A tombstone in the floor |
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The geese, fish and, yes, there's a turtle there with the fishes |
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The fountain by next to the geese |
The tomb of St. Eulalia |
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The pipes for the pipe organ |
A detail of the choir |
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A view of the ceiling |
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Keystones and stained glass windows from the cathedral |
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The ticket |
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We then walked around the Cathedral to see a few other sights, then walked north to a modernist house, Casa Marti.
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Casa l'Ardiaca |
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Sign for Casa Marti |
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A dragon light outside Casa Marti |
I thought this tatoo was amazing! |
We walked back into Barri Gotic, doing some more shopping along Carrer Banys Nous, especially at Caelum, Carrer de la Palla 8, a shop specializing in "temptacions de monestirs" (temptations of the monistaries), finally stopping at a tapas bar, la Calxa, for dinner - the tapas were really fresh and really good.
We walked out to Via Laietana (I bought an FC Barcelona jersey at a tourist shop, this one official) and got a cab back to the hotel.
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I bought a homemade CD from this classical music group playing on Placa Nova |
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Old water spigots on Avenue del Portal de l'Angel |