{"id":1094,"date":"2025-07-10T07:55:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T07:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2025-07-10T07:55:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T07:55:53","slug":"goodies-gaudi-and-a-grand-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/10\/goodies-gaudi-and-a-grand-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"Goodies, Gaudi and a Grand Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This morning was spent transferring weight. From the bank account into our luggage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We made our way to Placa de Catalunya where after avoiding the pigeons (we both had bad\/good luck with them in Amsterdam), Nikki partook in some retail therapy (I also had to get a few necessities).  In between we marvelled at Casa Mila, which was a great precursor to our planned evening activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a late lunch we made our way up to Park Guell. Yet another Gaudi creation and the similarities and design ethos was very evident afterwards seeing Casa Mila and Park Guell back to back. We meandered our way through the now quiet gardens having purposefully selected the last time slot of the day. Unfortunately it was overcast so there was no sunset to watch from the many viewpoints but the views of the city were still spectacular. (I may have a use for that word again shortly)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We then decided to skip public transport and take a 30min walk down to our next attraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This also meant we could have a brief pitsop at a coffee shop along the way. It was 8:30pm and the late lunch was starting to seem a long time ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two days ago Nikki’s surprise birthday treat had been postponed due to a downpour and I must admit to being worried it might happen again watching the dark clouds gather in the distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sercotel Rosell\u00f3n Hotel, a 10 minute walk from our hotel, has a roofrop bar that overlooks Sagrada Familia. It’s not easy to get in and there was a fair amount of disappointment on the 7th when the weather didn’t play ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, today as a result of rescheduling, they were kind enough to accommodate us. It was actually closed to the public and only open to residents so not very busy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The view of Sagrada Familia was…spectacular and again timing was everything as we were able to watch the lights of the church and city slowly come on while we sipped our drinks and enjoyed some patatas bravas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona keeps delivering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Pretty but dangerous <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Power snack in between shopping<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Casa Mila<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Window shopping…thankfully<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Park Guell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of the many interesting pathways in Park Guell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View from Nature Square<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Dragon Stairway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sercotel Terrace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Radisson Red V&A Waterfront vibes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A perfect ending to the evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
An unforgettable memory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning was spent transferring weight. From the bank account into our luggage.  We made our way to Placa de Catalunya where after avoiding the pigeons (we both had bad\/good luck with them in Amsterdam), Nikki partook in some retail therapy (I also had to get a few necessities).  In between we marvelled at Casa […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,91,6],"tags":[101,103,104,97],"class_list":["post-1094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royandnikki","category-spain","category-travelogues","tag-barcelona","tag-gaudi","tag-park-guell","tag-spain"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3315-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Ocy4-hE","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1162,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/15\/poolside-swaps-retail-stops-churros-on-top\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":0},"title":"Poolside Swaps, Retail Stops & Churros on Top","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"The beauty of having plans is that you can change them.\u00a0 Today we were going to travel to the medieval town of Toledo. We realised late yesterday that the odds of us having the energy to properly enjoy the day trip with the temperatures expected to reach 37 degrees were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Roy & Nikki"","block_context":{"text":"Roy & Nikki","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3814-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3814-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3814-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3814-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1132,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/13\/baroque-and-roll\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":1},"title":"Baroque and Roll","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Our first day in Madrid started with a short bus trip to the Museo Nacional de Prado. \u00a0 The guides we had read had stated that you would spend about 2 hours here. We might not know a Rubens from a Rembrandt, but two and a half hours later, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Roy & Nikki"","block_context":{"text":"Roy & Nikki","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3658-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3658-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3658-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3658-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1046,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/07\/saltwater-sangria-sunset-streets\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":2},"title":"Saltwater, Sangria & Sunset Streets","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"The day started off earlier than usual. Nikki agreed to join me for an early morning sunrise swim at Cas Catala, a quaint little beach a few bus stops away from our hotel. Nikki was able to watch and chat to the regular bathers while I managed a fun swim\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Roy & Nikki"","block_context":{"text":"Roy & Nikki","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3025-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3025-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3025-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3025-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1149,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/15\/palaces-parks-and-paella\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":3},"title":"Palaces, Parks, and Paella","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we had a visit to the Palacio de Real Madrid. Getting to these attractions a little early always pays dividends as it allows you to take in the surrounds and, in this case the Palace itself before entering. Also booking for the earliest time slot means, while there are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Roy & Nikki"","block_context":{"text":"Roy & Nikki","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3751-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3751-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3751-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3751-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2017\/07\/12\/london-to-paris\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":4},"title":"London to Paris\u00a0","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"It was finally time to say goodbye to London. It was a tough one, there is still so much to see and do, and Karin really made us feel at home. It was like we were leaving home all over again.\u00a0 London St Pancras International Station\u00a0 A final cuppa on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "France"","block_context":{"text":"France","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/france\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/img_2772.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/img_2772.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/img_2772.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/07\/img_2772.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1076,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/09\/croissants-cathedrals-catalan-culture\/","url_meta":{"origin":1094,"position":5},"title":"Croissants, Cathedrals & Catalan Culture","author":"Roy","date":"10 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"After a quick coffee and croissant on-the-go we made our way down to Sagrada Familia.\u00a0 Much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the moment it first comes into view is a special one. 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