When we woke up we went (me with bed-hair) to breakfast in a chandelier strung room where light was reflected by huge mirrors and where all of the guests where looking very well to do. I laughed as I walked around grabbing more than the average amount. I looked quite the sloppy pig of an American that morning, and for once I really didn't care. I ate my two eggs with pride and I patted my troll-style hairdo (I used to call it that but Ahmee's said I should just use the phrase "Europe hair") as we all slowly started waking up. When we went back to the room I brushed my hair, washed my face, and brushed my teeth and jumped into my tennis shoes (I'd gone to breakfast with flip-flops on), and then I was ready to go. We went down to the desk and asked where we could get a double decker tour. The man at the desk told us we could get the tickets there, told us the Bus left outside El Corta Ingles (just around the corner by the way), and warned us of pickpockets. As he got our tickets I asked Ahmee and Poppy if I should leave my wallet behind. I eventually decided that I would based on the fact that normally only the guides warn people against pick pockets, when people in the hotel do you KNOW that the rate of theft is higher than normal.
We walked around the corner and down the street to catch our bus. Unfortunately all of the upper seats were taken so I had to crane my neck to see the apartments that Antoni Gaudi built, to see the house that Antoni Gaudi built, and to see all of the other landmarks that came before the Sagrada Familia (also done by Antoni Gaudi).
Who is Antoni Gaudi? He's a genius who loved nature and was an artist/architect who also HATED straight lines and corners. It's said that Antoni Gaudi perfected the curve. It's also said that Antoni Gaudi is one of the pioneers of the Modernista movement (style of building which he adhered to), this however isn't true. Other architects played a part of this movement that seems centered around the city of Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi just might be the most prolific or the most famous due to his over-the-top architecture.
When we stopped at the Sagrada Familia I was struck by the size of it. It's not even done and it's massive! It didn't surprise me to hear that Antoni Gaudi was obsessed with building this temple, that he never married, and that as he aged he became more immersed in his work. He was killed early though, by being hit by a tram, leaving his work to other architects (he hadn't laid out really finite plans though for the building so parts of it don't match-the entrance we passed through was very modern looking). He'd planned on that happening though. 
Later our guided tour told us that when asked when his temple would be completed he replied, "There's no need to worry, my client has all the time in the world and is in no hurry." He's got to be one of the greatest architects of the 19th century (my personal opinion).We went through the most recently finished section and into a dazzling kaleidoscope of light. As we got into line to go up the elevator to see the view of the temple from the terrace I noticed many things. First, the colors and the style of the stained glass windows were amazing. Second, that the pillars looked like trees (at the top they branched off into three sections. Third, that the ceiling had stars of gold in them (or rather circles with rays coming out of them). Fourth, that in the middle of the temple they were still doing a lot of work. Fifth, that the temple was by far the tallest place of worship I've encountered thus far.
All of those things crossed my mind as the line inched onwards. Other things of course caught my attention, like the other tourists (particularly one woman who walked right through someone else's picture and was completely oblivious to the fact-quite funny), like the marble displays they had set up, like the plaster molds that were being made right before our eyes, like the goofy French man who was sitting right next to Ahmee and who was very joyous to sit on the bench and scoot when the line moved, and like the people who didn't realize where the line really began (this was when we reached the front and were about to get into the elevator).
When we went up I remembered that the book had warned people who were afraid of heights to stay away. I figured I'd be fine as long as I had stone around me. I was wrong. When we got off the elevator we went out onto a terrace that overlooked the section of the temple that was being worked on. In the middle of this terrace there was a metal plate that dented in slightly when you walked on it. I avoided this plate and took pictures of the bullet building that's famous for Barcelona (resembles the building in London-we've named them both bullet buildings because they look like a bullet that's been propped up), and of the view of the city rooftops. Then we moved on to other sections of the tower. Many sections were closed off though, making it difficult to grab pictures. I did my best though. I hope they turn out well. I loved the towers that were already done (they had netting on them to keep them from falling off or decaying-I suppose), and I loved the views of the city (could see a school from there). What Poppy and I didn't like much was the dizzy sensation we got when we looked at the ground too long, not to mention my knees going week. We were more than happy to head down the stairs. What we didn't realize was how far up we'd come. We were going down stairs for what felt like ages! I became even more nervous when the windows stopped having a nice block to keep people from slipping through. When we reached a different flight of stairs I tensed up even more when I saw how small they were and how only one side had a railing. I made sure to take a picture of these stairs though because they were a perfect example of the spiral staircase (looked like the interior of a shell).
I was more than a little happy to be off the staircase and I stood there waiting for Ahmee and Poppy to come down. When we were all back together we walked around and out the opposite side to see the super-ornate facade that Gaudi had worked on when he was alive, and to go through the museum within the temple dedicated to him. After this we went to the restrooms, went through the giftshop (me getting a little something), and then walked back to catch another tour bus.
The museum had shown me the plans for what the temple should look like once it's finished. It's like no other cathedral I've ever seen in my life and I loved it. In thirty years the Sagrada Familia MIGHT be finished. I wonder if when I'm 46-50 I'll be able to travel to Spain the check it out.
On this bus we managed to get top seats. I sat and listened to the recording as we passed through various sections. Most notable in my book would be the Diagonal street, the (now only used by the Royal family for special occasions and for banquets), the stadium that was used for the Olympics, and the history of the areas we were in. This trip took about an hour and by the time we got back I needed to get to work.
During the ride though I had several people sit with me. The first was an older French woman (I helped her with the machine and showed her how to select her language-to which she said Merci, me not knowing enough french said it's ok), the second was an Italian woman who moved a lot and had to button up her jacket (was kinda cold up there), and the third and last person was a snoody Englishman who didn't spare me a glance or a word (no biggie, I didn't really want to talk to him anyway).
Once we were done with the tour we went on a search for a place to eat. We went by the Txapela to see if the tapas bar was open. This was filled though and we decided that we'd go elsewhere. As we walked back toward the hotel we had a short man in a trim business suit stop and talk to us. He asked if we were from America and if we were looking for a place to eat. We told him yes and that yes we were looking for a place to eat. He said that the tapas place was too full and said he knew a place where the locals went to eat (and that it was really good).
As he walked we followed and found out that his wife was from the United States, that he owned a leather company (he was excited to show us his window), and that he'd show us his window and his favorite restaurant. We knew we weren't being hustled because the man had on all kinds of expensive things, had stepped out of a penthouse, and spoke with fluent English. He walked us across the street and down to the left where he passed his window and showed us first the restaurant, saying it was wonderful, and then he took us back to his shop where he took us into his "storeroom" where fur jackets, leather jackets, and suede jackets where all hanging neatly. He explained that his leather was the best. It was thin, it wasn't bulky, it was soft, it wasn't tough, it didn't stink, and it was used by designers (also mentioned a fashion show was going on just across the street in the upper floors). He got Ahmee to try on a leather jacket, got me to try on the same form of leather jacket, and got Poppy to try on a blue suede jacket saying that he'd give us a major discount for it, $500 instead of $800. We thanked him, told him his store was incredible, and went on to lunch (me remarking at how it was no surprise he'd gotten to the top if he was that good of a salesman). After eating a HUGE lunch we waddled back to the hotel where I got on the computer and worked.
I got my Unit study guide mostly done before dinnertime. For dinner we went next door to the pizza place where Ahmee got a pizza and where I got a tomato and lettuce salad. We were extremely early, we were there at 6 o' clock. Europeans eat dinner fashionably late and spend a long time eating normally. The average time for dinner is at 8 o' clock in Europe. We were lucky the pizza place was open, because we hadn't had lunch that day (surprisingly enough I wasn't hungry). My salad stayed down just fine. My stomach liked the simplicity of the tomatoes and the lettuce. It also liked the carbonated beverage I gave it.
We kept the meal short but enjoyed each others company plenty (laughing at various things and commenting on the day and what Ahmee and Poppy had been up to while I was working in the room), so that I could go back up to the room and work some more. That night I finished the Unit 5 study guide and the test. I knew that if I continued at that pace I'd be able to get everything I wanted completed and turned in before Monday. That night I wrote a few emails to friends and family and then went to bed, still somewhat restlessly.
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