What goes up.....must come down

Now as we descend a couple of floors from the roof of Casa Mila, is the part of the visit I was most looking forward to. I loved the crazy imaginative roof, out there in the fresh air on a quiet warm October Sunday but the interior promised a look back to life in the early years of the 20 th Century around the time that my Grandparents were born.

But first we would see some of the models and watch some videos of Barcelona way back then in an exhibit space under the roof.

Floor plan showing the atrium/sunlight areas. No two apartments were the same layout....

Models

Some Gaudi furniture is on display as we walk towards the apartments

Poster art from the time of Gaudi

First stop and the most important room in most homes-the kitchen

We are at the head of the line of tourists making their way from room to room. Got to stay ahead!

Spacious bathroom

The toilet flushing tank had gravity working on its side. Nice to see that bidets were already in luxury homes back then.

The maid's bedroom

and the Master bedroom

A view to the balcony with it's fancy wrought ironwork

The Study with writing desk

Must have music!

A coffee and tea service in pewter designed by Gaudi, like everything else you see here

The others have caught up with us in the dining room

We keep moving...to another apartment

Butterfly headboard and child's crib

 La salle de bain

Reception area for waiting guests

Rather than take the elevator I took the stairs to exit the building now that our apartment tour was over.

The view from a landing window

The stairs brought me down into the gift shop, just as the elevator would have done

Carol had stayed behind to absorb more detail but I was looking forward to a double espresso and a cigarette and some people watching on the sidewalk cafe outside the gift shop...

I saw some of those African sidewalk salesmen unfold their sheets containing an instant boutique on the sidewalk trying to interest people in buying leather bags and CDs for example. If a Police car came by they would quickly pull the corners of the sheet to form a large bag and prepare to walk away. I wasn't buying of course. A strolling busker got a tip from me....

Soon Carol appeared after her visit to Casa Mila. She had loved every minute of it as she is very interested in architecture and particularly that of an innovative genius such as Antoni Gaudi.

She sat on a bench and checked Rick Steves Barcelona guide for a lunch recommendation.

We said goodbye to Casa Mila and walked towards La Rambla, thinking about tapas all the way..