Picasso Museum and Gaudi, Gaudi, Gaudi

Weather continues to be beautiful. It can get kind of warm walking in the sun, but is cool in the shade and often a breeze. We really enjoy being in the apartment where we can have a relaxed morning and each get ready at his/her own pace. We are in line at the Picasso Museum before they open. A long line is already forming. We use Rick Steves' tour of this museum which is in his Barcelona book (not an audio tour). Our ArtTickets cover this museum so we don't have to wait in line and go right in. This museum is of Picasso's early work and life so doesn't have later works. For example, there are some pictures he did when he was 9 years old. Guess his father kept everything he did so his early life is well documented. it helps me piece together his art life, its stages, its creativity and innovation and to understand why he is considered to be such a great artist. The museum is housed in an old building which is interesting in itself.

After the Picasso Museum, we get on the Hop On Hop Off bus to go to Park Güell. It takes forever! There are many more people and more traffic than yesterday so the bud crawls along. The line to get on is horribly long at the first stop we go to so we go to a previous stop and get on when the bus is empty. We get seats on the top level that are partly covered but nevertheless it gets very hot sitting up there. At least, I have my sun hat with me today. We are tired and hungry when we finally get to the foot of the hill for Güell Park. We find a small p,ace to get some lunch. It's okay. Nothing special but we feel better and ready to tackle the hill to the park. 

The park is quite large. We start walking up the hill enjoying the fantastical Gaudi structures along the way. How he thought of these things, I don't know. The higher we climb the fewer people there are. We climb to the top where the house Gaudi lived in is. It's not open to the public. We make our way down and back to the Hop On Hop Off bus. It is a tedious ride back to our starting point and a couple mile walk back to the apartment. 

We are ready for some relaxing time! It's been a full good day. We are glad we will be coming back to see more sights in Barcelona. A nice dinner at Origens near the apartment completes the day. This is an all organic, locally sourced menu with interesting selections.

       Who's that woman standing in my picture??

                      Gaudi and more Gaudi below