Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia

"If you only see one thing in Barcelona, this should be it."

So said our guide book, so we dutifully set off. We took the lazy option - a ride on one of those open-topped tourist buses - which took us past some very interesting and impressive buildings, but also several rather less inspiring commercial centres. Still, it was hot, we had got up at 3am so were rather tired, so we sat tight and watched the city go past.

The Sagrada Familia really has to be seen to be believed. The overall effect of the exterior was a bit overwhelming for me, if I'm honest - fruit and figures and patterns of all descriptions tumble down the sides in such profusion that it's rather difficult to make sense of it all. In close up, though, I can be impressed by the craftsmanship.

The queues were ridiculously long - it would have taken well over half an hour in the afternoon heat to get a ticket to go inside, which we decided was a bit much in our weary state. Maybe I'll go back one day when it's finished (estimates vary from 2020 to 2040; they've been working on it since the 1880s...) and see it in all its glory.