Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (September 16, 2025)
Today marks my 80th day on the road … the longest I’ve been away from home and certainly the longest international trip I’ve ever taken (except the semester I spent abroad at Thames Valley University in 1992). As I reflect on my time here, I’m really grateful for all the people I’ve met along the way and relationships I’ve been building these last few months.
Mostly, I’m glad that Violet has joined me and that we get to adventure these parts of the world together. So today we crossed off our list (arguably) the most famous location in Barcelona: Sagrada Familia.
You’ll have to read the history of the Sagrada Familia on Wikipedia if curious
There has been so much written on the Sagrada Familia, I’ll just share the short synopsis here. First thing to know is that it is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world and the second most visited church in Europe. The Sagrada Familia is famous for Antoni Gaudí's unique architectural style, which fuses Catalan Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Gothic elements with nature-inspired forms and symbolism. It's also famous because it's an unfinished architectural marvel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a striking landmark that dominates the Barcelona skyline. The building's intricate design, breathtaking light from its stained-glass windows, and spiritual atmosphere further contribute to its lore. For the full story, check out Wikipedia.
Now, when I say it dominates the Barcelona skyline, it’s like a kid was playing with a lego set and their big brother decided to build a Lego House monstrous set in the middle. It’s surreal. No pictures will do it justice, but imagine a building that’s several times larger than anything surrounding it. Perhaps the Empire State Building or similar structure if there were only 4 story buildings surrounding it. It just sticks out of the ground like “HELLO, I AM THE CHURCH!!!”
It truly is unlike any “church” you’ve ever seen before anywhere — including the Vatican itself. Some people come for the architecture. Others come for the selfies. But most people who come to Barcelona come to this spot and stare at this incredible building. Violet and I were no exception.
It also had Violet and I talk quite a bit about the difference between spirituality and “religion.” So much so that it reminded me that Violet had never seen Monty Python’s The Life of Brian. So we agreed to go straight home after our time here and watch it. Despite being made in 1979 (more than 45 years ago) according to Violet, “It still holds up!” That’s about as good a review as you can get from someone who has experienced virtual reality and played the most incredible high resolution and immersive video games.
Earlier that morning, I went on a walking tour while Violet was getting her teenage beauty sleep and had the opportunity to see Sagrada Familia from afar (see the first picture, top-left in the gallery above). Follow the skyline and watch the church POP OUT several times larger than anything else.
I also liked all the street art that follows me everywhere I go. Wherever there is a wall, some artist sees it as a blank canvas and leaves their mark. I know this is often seen as graffiti, but this is so much more artistic than that. It’s more like the artists of the Berlin Wall than graffiti.
Something about the flowers, art and cityscape that all fits together. I also found the olympic pool, but not sure if we can use it. I’m going to ask my host to see what he knows. It was this statue that first caught my attention and then I turned around and saw the entrance to the olympic pool along with an epic view of the city behind.
And that’s what I love about “getting lost” in a city. You walk around and discover things. Like when Violet and I were down at the beach, we saw a gondola that seemed to originate from close to where we were staying. Sure enough, as I wondered around, I found where you could buy a ticket and get on. So instead of taking the bus, metro or ferry, turns out you can take a gondola to the beach. Violet and I may just have to go that route. Why not?
Who knows where the rest of Barcelona will take us. Violet has been intentionally shifting her sleeping to staying up late and sleeping in during the day so that she can experience the nightlife here. I’ll see if I can manage one night out with her so I can share what’s happening here in the evening hours. If it’s anything like Madrid, I suspect we’ll have a ton of fun. More to come.
