From the windows of our airplane, I can see the Mediterranean glistening in the morning sun.  Another sparkling day in one of my favorite European cities.  Today, people will walk the La Rambla, shop in the Mercat, eat paella, marvel at Gaudi’s architecture and indulge in some incredible Rioja wine.  But they will be doing it without us.

Raye and I settle in for the long airplane ride home, but not without reliving all the amazing things we saw, food we ate, people we met and roads we traveled.  It was better than we imagined, but at this stage of life, I have come to appreciate new motorcycle adventures for the uncertainty and unmatched sense of discovery you get when you make time for these kinds of experiences.

The last thing we discuss before drifting off to sleep is the one thing that will help me overcome the sweet sadness of leaving: when and where do we go next?  The truth is, I don’t really care.  Just as long as another ride awaits.

Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) was a brilliant architect whose unusual works helped establish Barcelona as the center of the Modernista architectural movement. Gaudi’s works even today are famous worldwide. But his dreams were only partly realized. Although he designed many fantastic buildings in this city, he died before he completed his most famous project, La Sagrada Familia, because he was hit by a tram. (I just can’t get over how odd that seems.)

Before we left on this trip, we spent a wonderful evening with our good friend Dave who lived in Spain for two years. He told us about many things to see, but he was emphatic that we see some of Gaudi’s works, particularly the unfinished La Sagrada Familia, “holy family” cathedral. So today, day two of our Barcelona respite, was set aside to do just that.  Tomorrow we will start our motorcycling through the Pyrenees.

Indeed it was obvious after seeing these amazing buildings why Gaudi put Barcelona on the architectural world map. We saw the apartment building La Pedrera, “stone quarry” in Spanish. Also Casa Batllo, and finally La Sagrada Familia, which was spectacular. Here Gaudi put many of the techniques he had learned throughout his life into practice. Influenced greatly by nature, Gaudi incorporates rather fantastic floral and plant life imagery, mosaics and brightly colored tiles, and flowing lines into all his designs.

La Sagrada Familia brings it all together in an unforgettable way. After touring the building, I walked away impressed by many things: — it is nearly 56 stories tall (558 feet); — it features the entire passion of Christ in sculpture throughout the building; — there is a mysterious cryptogram on an outside wall; — the lineage of Christ is carved in wood on several of the main entry doors; — Gaudi spent the last 43 years of his life working on the building; and — private funding allows the work to continue today. It is hoped the cathedral will be completed by 2026 in time for the 100-year anniversary of Gaudi’s death.

There are several good websites to visit to learn more about Gaudi and his works.