We met up with Gabi and the boys for breakfast downstairs. There were so many yummy pastries to choose from. Our kids got very addicted!
I forgot my phone so quickly went upstairs to our apartment and said hi to them from the balcony.
Once we had eaten, we took a stroll around Sagrada Familia park and found another playground for the kids to run around.
Since Gabi and her boys were going away on a camping trip this was the last morning we could spend together. The kids had such a great time, especially Luca and Rafi. They have been best friends since they were 2! Luca misses Rafi so much at school. I do hope we can catch up at least once a year to keep the friendship going.
While we were saying goodbye to Gabi and the boys, Sara and Maria arrived to spend the rest of the day with us. The only thing on my list for the day was to visit the Sagrada Familia Market. Unlike the famous La Boqueria on La Rambla this market is much smaller and more for locals. We walked quite a while just to find out it was closed for the day :(
I was hoping to get something to eat for lunch - boo!
Not to worry, Sara came up with Plan B for us. Going to a non-touristy restaurant.
Maria and Ashley - they were both feeling more comfortable with each other.
We walked to the other side of Sagrada Familia where more restaurants and cafes were located. Full on Spanish tapas lunch! Yum yum yum!!!
Then we walked up to the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. It was built between 1902 and 1930 - yes it took 28 years! From 1916 to 2009 it was home to the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Such stunning architecture. Later in our stay in Barcelona we visited another Modernismo style building and learnt a lot more about it.
This is the administration pavilion which is the largest and most richly decorated building of all.
We visited here before when Oliver was only 1!! Look how much he has grown!!!
The kids all enjoyed visiting different buildings and learning about the hospital. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around all the different pavilions. It was great fun!
Hypostyle Hall - This is a room with pillars which bear the weight of the entire Administration building. It was designed as a space of communication and distribution. During the hospital's final years, it housed the emergency services. It was so hot outside but without any air-conditioning it was pretty cool.
We moved on to Sant Salvador Pavilion which is now restored to its original appearance and showcases the history of the institution and Lluis Domenechi i Montaner, the architect.
I loved the view from the windows:
I think to the kids this was the most interesting. The Sant Rafael pavilion was built between 1924 and 1918 and originally housed the Trauma Department. This pavilion has yet to be restored, only the additions from over the years have been removed to recover its original design. There were intensive mosaic works on the ceiling and walls.
Then we went out to the Gardens. Such a wonderful use of space, carefully designed with patient well being in mind.
Family + Maria photo - the building behind us was the Operating House.
Oliver was fascinated with all the sculptures around. He took these pictures. I have read that the architect Domenech i Montaner's projects' were full of symbolic connections. Good and evil, health and sickness, angels, gargoyles etc.
At the very end of our visit we returned to The Administration Pavilion. The most richly decorated building of all. Especially the Domenech i Montaner Hall.
There were seats to admire the amazing work in this hall, but as you know having noisy little monkeys with us we had to leave after 5 min or so. I managed to get a picture of them :)
This is my favourite shot of the day - Afterwards people told me about using a timer function but I didn't know. This is using my toe shot!
I think there were 4 pavilions that we couldn't get in to but I think we did really well.
Sara recommended us to try this "Spanish milky drink - Horchata". It is made from tiger nuts, water, and sugar. The one with added lime was very good. I like trying new things :)
To walk back to our apartment at the end of the day we had the chance to admire Sagrada Familia from different angles. We just couldn't get enough - such an amazing building.
