Montserrat Mountain | Team Starnes Takes Barcelona

James and I spent the second part of our day excursion at Montserrat Mountain, which is located just about an hour outside of Barcelona. The mountain is easily recognizable for its peculiar rock formation, but most of its visitors are drawn to its "rare" La Moreneta, which is a statue of a dark-faced virgin Mary with infant Christ.

Colònia Güell | Team Starnes Takes Barcelona

The Colònia Güell is another one of Antoni Gaudí's works and it is located in the town of Santa Coloma de Cervelló, just outside Barcelona. Just like Park Güell and La Sagrada Família, the Colònia Güell definitely has that signature Gaudí style that people recognize so well (organic shapes and textures like corals, rocks, seashells, fluid lines, etc...) 

Inside the Sagrada Familia

The inside of La Sagrada Familia is just as breathtaking as the exterior. Its massive structure nearly makes it impossible to capture its beauty in one picture. The stained glass windows cast rainbows all over the walls and you feel as if you are walking through a kaleidoscope--it's just incredible. I would absolutely recommend paying to go inside, as it almost feels irreverent to just take it for its exterior and not pay your respects to the inside.

James and I went our separate ways while inside and admired in silence. It is a peaceful series of spaces that leave plenty of room for worship or self-reflection.  The calm interior was a welcome change of pace from our hectic Barcelona itinerary.

View from the Tower at the Sagrada Familia

We enjoyed going up one of the towers of La Sagrada Familia, but in the spirit of full disclosure, I didn't think it was as awe-inspiring as expected. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we did it, in a kind of check-that-one-off-the-list kind of way, but I wouldn't pay to do it again. 

Here's what you get:

- an elevator ride up to the top one of the towers

- a different perspective of the Cathedral

- an awesome panoramic view of the city

- long single-file walk back down

The views of the Cathedral are limited because of the tall railings and thick walls, so I had a hard time getting a clear view. Plus, it's pretty tight quarters and you're maneuvering around maybe 20 other people up there.

There are one or two areas where you can go out on a balcony and get some good pictures of the cathedral and the city, but those are hot-spots and you will have to wait your turn.

And once you're done, get ready and hold on for dear life for the single-file long walk down.  

Eh. To each there own, but I found the exterior and the interior to be wayy more worth the money.

Mercat de la Boqueria

Without a doubt, the Boqueria was our favorite spot in Barcelona. The endless supply of fresh fruit and freshly pressed juices for only one euro was enough to make any carnivore (like myself) to go raw or vegan. It was **literally** the most refreshing part of Barcelona. You can find nearly anything you could want inside this large market: fruit, meat, seafood, bread, pastries, vegetables, cheese, spices, etc... If we lived in Barcelona, trips to this market would be a part of our weekly routine!