Over the Top: Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

The Basilica Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Basilica) in Barcelona is the most over-the-top cathedral in the world. And it’s still under construction!

Designed mostly by the inimitable Antonin Gaudi, it is Seussian on the exterior and equally fascinating inside. The way Gaudi plays with light with the stained-glass windows boggles the senses with its natural exuberance. Don’t miss it if you travel to Barcelona! And make sure you go to the Passion Tower. (Stay through the video to the end and you'll enjoy a concert in the bell tower.)

We also discovered a couple of hidden museums in the bowels of the basilica, and even a bust of the architect, Gaudi.

The guided tour with the tower included cost about 40 euros each, which included an English-language audio tour and a trip up one of the towers. There are cheaper options available, and we did leave the tour and just use the audio guide, which was more our style. We spent at least three hours there.

TIP: Reserve your tickets well in advance of your trip, because the Basilica is very popular and sells out. And buy them directly from the cathedral’s website, because other distributors jack up the prices.

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Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
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Madrid’s Astounding Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to the Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, a stunning structure that has more than 3,000 rooms, most of them embellished with gold. Bob’s camera is unusually tilted during this video, so try not to get dizzy!

Entrance tickets cost 12 euros for Lisa, half price for Bob as a senior. (There are some advantages!)

It’s hard to describe the beauty. You’ll have to watch to see!

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Madrid Tourism
Palacio Real
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Flamenco is Weird. And a must-do in Madrid.

Everywhere you go in Madrid, you are inundated with opportunities to see a flamenco show. Various fliers, posters, and websites describe it as “a world-famous Spanish tradition,” “upbeat,” and “iconic.”

Bob would describe flamenco as “scary as f**king sh*t.”

Maybe it’s because we saw it in a cave. Come watch the show with us and tell us what you think of flamenco!

An Introduction to Flamenco
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Touring Madrid from the Top of a HOHO

We toured Madrid from the open top of a Hop On Hop Off bus, our favorite way to get an overview of a new city. Tickets start at $27.50.

Bus Info
Madrid Tourism
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Riding Lisbon’s Famous Tram 28

No trip to Lisbon is complete without a ride on iconic Tram 28, an old-fashioned tram that takes you through the city’s most famous neighborhoods in a vehicle so narrow it almost brushes the historic buildings.

The classic yellow trams retain original 1930s features like brass dials and polished wood interiors. It squeezes in and out of unimaginably narrow alleys.

It’s a great introduction to the city, and a unique experience no one should miss!

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The Rain Stopped. Time to Explore Lisbon!

Bob bops around Lisbon, noticing lots of tiled architecture, inviting plazas, historic statues, interesting shops (including sardines, an apparent Lisbon delicacy!), colorful pottery, the obligatory cathedral or two, hilltop vistas with strolling musicians, an art museum, and more.

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Lisbon Tourism

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Taking a Tour to Sintra, Portugal

Bob took a bus tour to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site north of Lisbon, Portugal, that hosts the National Palace and many other magnificent 19th and 20th century royal residences in the Romantic style. Come along and find out what is special about this charming coastal town.

Sintra is a pioneer work of European romanticism, bringing together incredible botanical richness and a diversity of monuments and buildings from a long period of history. Bob’s favorite was a deep, winding stone well called the Quinta de Regaleira.

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An Independent Guide to Sintra
Sites and Attractions in Sintra
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra
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