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?

She sounds so ignorant and badly educated. Why are you even friends with her? A building site indeed! How rude!

Better mark Paris off your list too because Notre Dame is a HUGE building site in comparison to La Sagrada Familia!

Show her some pictures of the cathedral and then decide.

What a strange reaction, suggests she really can't comprehend the concept and the complexity of creating a ornate piece of art. This is on a huge scale, it's not a case of throwing up a concrete and steel structure. I've been only on the outside and it's incredible to see the differences between the original building and the modern part, the intricate detail is other worldly. The Gaudi houses and park guell are complete structures and again are incredible!

I think the whole building site excuse is an excuse. It has to be! Because it's a really misguided view of an incredible structure!

Would she refuse to go to Naples because Pompeii is derelict?

Your friend is a f-wit! Its astonishing. Book yourself a ticket, and if she’s waiting until it’s ‘finished’ she’ll be waiting a while.
IS there a cathedral in the world that isn’t haven’t work done to it??? It’s constant job to restore and protect these buildings.

Best avoid Rome too, it’s full of crumbling structures, that Colosseum is a right disgrace…

I went in 2010. It was very much like a building site and very noisy. Hopefully it has got better.

Her own attitude - her own choice. She's not an idiot, as pp said. She's free to feel the way she does. Full stop.

OP I think I know your friend, or her type anyway. Picture the scene, she goes into a place and sees it in its full completed glory, a wail escapes her and before you know it she's overcome with wailing emotion about how beautiful it is?? Think I saw her once at the Sistine chapel. She's a keeper

No need to go so far to avoid derelict structures, Fountains Abbey and the other abbeys in North Yorkshire are well worth not seeing if one's so sensitive!

😂

@ChedderGorgeous - Are you aware that there are currently drought conditions in Catalonia including Barcelona and it is expected to get worse? Although I think your friend is being ridiculous about the cathedral, it might be better to go somewhere else on this occasion?

I don't think you should cancel altogether though. If you still intend on going to Barcelona just leave her on the day of the cathedral visit and meet up with her later?

I agree the interior, which is not a building site, is breathtaking. The outside is not diminished by the works.

Your friend will miss a a truly unique landmark and as you say there is so much more in Barcelona.

I hope you can persuade her.

This!

The majority of the scaffolding etc has been removed 4 of the towers are complete, most of the work is to the rear of the building, its is far from a building site.

There is a group on Facebook called Barcelona Travel and it has up to date pictures, most recent I can find is from yesterday.

Barcelona is a wonderful place.

Has she seen a photo of it? Maybe just didn’t realise that it’s built.

I cannot comprehend why the tourists ‘ focus on Sagrada Familia when you have a wonderful gothic cathedral in Barcelona and also the breathtaking Santa Maria del Mar basilica. Just send links to these two places to your friend.

You're not joined at the hip. You can do your own thing for one afternoon of the trip and then meet up for dinner.

She is seriously denying herself the sight of what I would call one of the wonders of the modern world.

I visited La Sagrada Familia in 2004, as an avowed atheist. This is what I said to my partner during our visit: "If ever there was a monument to the glory of God, this is it."

Please go - and if you cannot persuade her to go to see it with you, split up for a few hours and you do it.

Except the friend doesn't want to go to Barcelona at all and has asked to move the holiday to a different destination.

Exactly this.

i understand that Westminster cathedral is classed as unfinishe, as there are plans to add further mosaics , to be honest she does sound more than someone whos sheltered i'd be oh i read online somewhere it's now finished - whew.

Yes, but making their own plans for one afternoon is quite a good reason to stick with plan A.

We went to Barcelona in October half term. Booked last minute. Couldn't get tickets to go in to La Sagrada for over 2 weeks. Went to look at the outside and that was pretty impressive. If you do want to go book well in advance..
And we loved Barcelona generally, will definitely go back!

I guess you'd better book yourselves a weekend in Dubai!