[Worldtrippers home] [2025 Crystal-Viking]
We had a rare stay overnight in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is the capital and largest city in Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It is also the second-most populous city in Spain after Madrid.
With the overnight, Russell had the rare opportunity to present his lecture on Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s most famous architect. (Normally passengers embark or disembark on a single day in Barcelona. Which means they don’t actually get to see Barcelona. Which means there’s no reason for Russell to give a talk on Barcelona’s architecture.)
Yesterday, July 13, Russell requested a Gaudí-related excursion, and he was assigned to escort the 5.5-hour “Gaudí’s Houses of Modernisme.” (Gail stayed aboard ship.)
The first stop was Casa Vicens, which Russell has never visited before. This was Gaudí’s first commission, when he was only 30 years old. The group was given a Viking-exclusive “privileged access,” which means guests were permitted to enter the house before it opened to the public. Guests also enjoyed a Spanish brunch on the patio outside the house.
The second stop was Casa Milà. This is a free-standing stone apartment building with no load-bearing walls. The neighbors hated it when it was built, and gave it the derogatory nickname of “La Pedrera” (“The Stone Quarry”). The owner also hated it, and Gaudí had to sue for payment. This ended up being his last residential commission.
The third stop was La Sagrada Familia. This basilica, which has been under construction for almost 140 years, has become the symbol of Barcelona. Gaudí himself died when it was only 25-percent completed. The main structure is due to be finished in 2026 (the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death), but finishing touches will take another eight years. When completed, La Sagrada Familia will be the largest church in the world.
The final stop was Russell’s personal favorite Gaudí building, Casa Batllo. This house is the epitome of Gaudí: it has few straight lines and no flat walls. Russell and Gail were able to tour the house last year during the off-season; today, it was jam-packed full of visitors.
Today, July 14, was both disembarkation and embarkation day. The 998 guests who sailed the Viking Vesta’s maiden voyage departed, and 998 new guests arrived. For the next 14 days, we will sail “Iceland, the British Isles & Iberia,” though not in that order. We will visit several ports in Spain, sail through the British Isles, then finally arrive in Iceland.
At that point, on July 28, we will disembark and fly home. Our current adventure will finally come to an end; it will be our first time home since mid-March.
