Day 10: Park Guell

This morning we took it slow and easy and even had coffee and shared a croissant on the roof deck.   At midday we travelled by bus for an hour to Park Guell.   This afforded us the opportunity to see a variety of neighborhoods and shops.   Emerging from the bus we walked through a park with sweeping views the entire city below and the Mediterranean beyond.   There were a variety of wild flowers and even some large cactus plants.
 
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The park was the idea of Eusebi Guell, Antoni Gaudi’s patron.  He was planning a gated community for the nouveau riche.   The main gate and two houses were built along with a grand staircase, marketplace, and terrace and then work stalled when World War I began and never resumed.  
 
We entered the Park from the side entrance, which in retrospect was not the best idea as we saw all the major aspects of the park in reverse order.   Entering from the main gate as Gaudi planned the site is quite impressive.
 
Harry was disappointed that the park was so overcrowded.  Harry: "For some reason, I couldn't see beyond the crowds to enjoy the whimsical art and design."  Marsha on the other hand loved the trencadis mosaics - pieces of broken dishes and tile that decorate the surfaces.    Harry noted that Marsha’s photographs of the visit would probably be better because she liked what she was photographing.  
 
On the return trip by mini bus and metro Marsha exited at the Placa Catalunya and did some shopping while Harry went back to the apartment.  
 
We’ve just packed up for an overnight adventure to Montserrat by train tomorrow morning. ​