Friend won't go to "building site"

[ChedderGorgeous]

My friend and I are due to go away "somewhere in europe" at Easter. We had agreed on a city break. Lots of options were discussed and we settled on Barcelona where neither of us have been. Flights booked but no accommodation yet. One of the sites we discussed being excited to see is la sagrada familia.

In conversation, I mentioned that it seemed crazy to us, living in 2024 that it had taken 140 yrs to complete and still wasn't quite built, but in the past this was the norm for cathedrals. My friend was more silent for the rest of the convo and today she asked if we could actually rebook for someone else as she didn't fancy going to a "building site" on her holiday (she particularly likes to visit cathedrals wherever she goes). Wtf? I've tried explain to her that it won't be like the quarry of the HS2 extension there, but she is insistent that she only sees a cathedral in "all its glory".

I'm so frustrated with her (given flights are already booked) that quite frankly I'm going to cancel. AIBU?

I do t think the Sagrada Familia is anywhere near one of the most amazing things to see in Barcelona. I don’t think it’s even the best example of Gaudi’s architecture in the city, which is stuffed full of great things!

She’s nuts. Many mediaeval cathedrals have ongoing restoration work because of their age. Does she check they haven’t before going?

You’re both being weird her for not wanting to go and you for wanting to cancel the whole trip because of it. Just meet up later that day after you’ve been.

Definitely go alone.
I'd not want to go away with someone like this.

Travelling alone can be a little lonely in the evenings, but by day, you can do what you want, see what you want and go where you want.

Just go and see it by yourself, she can do her thing whilst you see it. I've been to Barcelona a few times and it can be frustrating if they are doing repairs because they tend to cover the building with a screen so you don't see it in all it's glory and the queue is long, so to some extent I can understand her point. Shouldn't impact your trip though if you want to see different things, just split up one morning and regroup for lunch

What a bizarre comment.

Surely you can still go on the holiday and she can do something else whilst you go to visit there?

Does she also scream at michelangelo

"Sheltered life" is an inapt expression here, she's not sheltered, she's just ignorant. Wrong phrase.

The Sagrada Familia isn´t Barcelona´s cathedral. The Cathedral is a gothic building in the old quarter.

Tell her o good news they finally finished it last Tuesday!,

Lol she sounds odd!

That’s ridiculous! I’ve visited in 2000, 2007 ish and 2017 and each time it was incredible to see - and see the different steps along the way!

Also Barcelona is an incredible city, so it’s not as though it’s the only thing you’d see.

I must admit I was there in November and it was covered in a lot of exterior scaffolding. I didn’t go inside but I’m sure it would have been fine in there.
That didn’t impact our trip to Barcelona at all though, we walked around it briefly, but there’s so so so much more to see and do there!

Ha ha ha. She doesn’t deserve to see the Basilica.

She sounds like a bore. How could you reach adulthood and be so ignorant?

But Barcelona is full of great places. Go to the Sagrada, she can find something else to do.

The Sagrada Familia is by far the most beautiful cathedral I've ever seen. Your friend is crackers.

Think there is a severe drought there at the moment, if that makes a difference?

@ChedderGorgeous

Blimey, she's a bit daft isn't she?
I'm not the slightest bit religious or interested in cathedrals, but La Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful and spectacular sights I've ever seen!

Parc Guell is also absolutely stunning. Honestly, Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities!

I’d move the focus away from La Sagrada Familia, there’s so much else to see in Barcelona. And she may have a slight point. The last time I was there for business, it was almost completely covered in scaffolding and you couldn’t go inside for some reason.

Barcelona has another cathedral in the city centre which is smaller and very charming. The area around it is beautiful. She can see that one?

This has to be a wind up surely

I'd go ahead alone, so much to see and do in Barcelona. Given it's already booked.

If she likes going to cathedrals, then it must have been very sheltered, and she obviously wasn't looking or listening either. Cathedrals are never "finished".

This could be a teachable moment for her.
Stand firm. Show her Google / Tripadvisor.
Barcelona is an amazing city to visit - even without the Sagrada Familia