Completion of my collection - Day 9

October 7, 2018

Last night I fell asleep before midnight. I was tired. I set the alarm for 8am and thought about sleeping for a bit longer but shortly after, I changed my mind. This was unfortunate as I had gone to the bathroom at 8am but now, only a short time later, both bathrooms were occupied and I could hear the showers. Even 30 minutes later...still being used.

I finally went to the common room and asked about if there was another shower available. There were two more but neither had toilets. What??? Anyway, I showered and readied for my day, bathroom break before leaving. I checked out and placed my bags safely in storage for the day.

I’d checked how I should travel the metro to get to Park Guell. I was concerned about time and did ask if I could get a taxi for €5 as I had that in coins. She said no so...off to the metro.

Upon reaching. P. De Gracias, I realized that I could find my T10 pass nowhere. UGH! I had done so well keeping it and using it. I know I had used probably 7 rides and at €10.80 that was an amazing deal considering that one ride is €4.60.

I bought a day pass at €8.60 and continued on...clock was ticking. Unlike before, you must make a reservation to get into the Park, seriously :-( My time was 9:30 and with the checking out procedure and now the time to look for my ticket and buy a new one, I was running very, very late. There is a grace period but that was only 30 minutes and it was now 9:25.

The metro times were more spaced out as it was Sunday so it took until 9:45 to catch my train and go 4 stops, UGH!

I raced out up the stairs to ground level and check my GPS to orient myself and determine what direction to go, it seemed to be...not so difficult but that was not the case. After one block, the turn revealed stairs...lots of stairs. The stairs were steep and went for blocks. This was like hiking. I went as fast as I could and was breathing very heavily most of the way. A month of recuperating from surgery had taken its toll on me.

Once I reached to top, feeling in need of water, I just continue on. I had less than 10 minutes and the park was large. The ticket said that I could validate at any entrance so I was jut trying to find one.

I came to a junction and had to make a choice, left or right, GPS said right, sign said left. I went left...damn it. This was the way to the park but not to an entrance that I needed. Now I was at a crazy stride and my feet were a bit sore and my calves on fire. I just walked as fast as I could I a direction that seemed reasonable. It was now 9:57.

At 10:01, I reached a viewing point and a Park attendant. I explained what happened and he told me that I had to go to this other entry point that I could see but...minutes away. I raced over. I reached this line at entry and found someone to ask. 10:04. She said I had to talk to another guy, helping a group 10:07. He was finally free. I explain and show him my email but my pdf pass won’t open. He sees my reservation number and said he had to call the office below. He said it would be ok and 10:15 I was allowed to enter. I was so exhausted, anxiety ridden but now so happy to be there.

At the viewing platform there the curvy seating is, about half is under renovation :-( Also, there were so many people it was hard to get good shots of the curvy structure. Then...it was obvious that people had stolen tiles from this work of art. What had happened in 10 years. I was a bit sad. This was not my experience from the previous visit and certainly not what I expected. :-(

I photographed the structure as well as I could and took close ups of mosaics that really struck me. This is very important to me as I hadn’t done it before, I was thrilled with those shots.

The platform offered a view of two gingerbread looking houses that could have inspired Tim Burton or even Dr, Suess. The window shapes were ones easily seen also at Casa Batíllo. Their roofs and chimney structures are right out of a childhood fantasy. Also on display was Barcelona, all the way out to the Mediterranean. What a view...lucky me.

I went to the lower level where the supports for the upper viewing deck / colonnade- ish area is. The columns are octagonal and tapered with white mosaic ceiling. There is a central area with a group of mosaics in solid colors and a center very colorful one. The order of the layout of the columns is interesting as they are more densely spaces in one area than others,

From here the direction takes you down the steps. The sidewalls are all solid mosaics with central areas of colorful patterns. The variety of color and pattern is impressive and even thought provoking as I wondered what story he was trying to tell.

The central area of the stairs was the home to two whimsical mosaic sculptures and then at the bottom, a brilliantly colored iguana. What a scene this was.

At the bottom. I was able to get a better angle on the columns and the viewing deck...an engineering feat. Also, a closer view of the gingerbread houses. They are both incredibly fanciful and such a visual treat but I’d choose to live in the one with the spire and blue tiles.

I’d made it, against the odds...lol I’d returned to Guell and even with the crowd of tourists, renovation in progress, and the damage visible to the wavy seating, I’d enjoyed being here.

I’d walked to a different metro station this time as I was told it was easier, I don’t know if easier is accurate but it was downhill and fewer turns...so I’ll take it. It started to sprinkle bur I’d made it to the metro in time.

I exited Passiage de Gracias and went to Alsur Cafe. I was ravenous and knew this would it the spot. I had the scrambled eggs with toast and the yogurt with fruit again. It was just as tasty a second time. That’s always a relief.

From here it was a 2 block walk back to the hostel. I worked on charging my phone and answered a few messages, before leaving I also wanted to clean up a bit as i had gotten quite sweaty and didn’t want to stink on journey home.

Around 1pm, I was ready to go (3:30 flight) when I learned that it wasn’t possible to get to the airport the way that I got here. I was puzzled by this but tried to follow. There was normal busses but that not put me at the airport until 2:30. The airport bus was €5.90 but only left every 30 minutes and that might cause the same issue. She offered another alternative that should have gotten me to terminal 2 and then I could take airport bus to terminal 1but that can be a 20-30 minute process, I see that this was becoming messy. No matter what, I needed to go!

I reached the lower level of Passiage de Grasias and was stumped as the A1 train that she told me was there...I could find and not even on a guide.

Waisting almost 15 minutes, I now needed to really do something as it was 1:30. I bit the bullet. I hailed a cab, I’d read that it would be around €30. He did get me there in about 30 minutes but it was almost €34. I’d now spent €53.40 on transport. UGH!

Security and immigration were there usual pains as there were so many people departing on this day, Sunday,

I sat next to a lady on the plane and talked about travel. She was older than me but was of a mindset that I’ve believed most Americans to be. This is - not speaking the language and doing something out on your own are things to fear, I think that is sad as there is much to see and experience that will never happen for her and others like her. She had taken a structured cruise and that was easy. Once she got on the boat, her luggage would be in one place the whole trip snd she also knew what her meals would be, This is sanitizing the experience of travel, to me.