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?

Is she ok? A huge part of its story is that it’s been a work in progress for so long.

I think she would have seen it in the 2000s for example but since completion is "so close" she wants to hold off. A bit like Kevin Mccloud not re-visiting the converted eco-stables until the wildflower meadow outside has been planted, or something.

I mean if she is never likely to go back to Barcelona and is some sort of cathedral collector then I guess I can kind of understand wanting to wait till it’s finished.

But what I definitely don’t understand is why you seeing it now, with her in the same city but not seeing it, will spoil it for her. Why does it make a difference to her whether she is in the same city while you’re visiting it, vs still at home ? That is proper insane thinking.

I'm now picturing her spending the remaining days in Barcelona desperately trying to avoid seeing it accidentally out of the corner of her eye.

Can you imagine the drama if she does?

😂 saraclara so true

went there in 1995 with my parents. My mum was moaning at my dad “why are we standing looking at a half built church?”

I assume you're in the UK - why don't you ask her to her own trip and visit the many completed amazing cathedrals on doorstep!

She sounds bloody hard work

I hope she has a very long list of redeeming qualities OP because based on this thread she sounds bloody awful.

What an absolute drainer.

So you are basically now holidaying on your own because of her very particular cathedral visiting stipulations?

Sagrada Familia is stunning and by no means building site. Beware though as pickpockets are everywhere and I mean everywhere. Take only what cards/ cash etc that is needed for the day out. My sister had her purse taken and had her hand over the top of her handbag. Watch out for scams eg offering postcards etc and throwing them over the table you are at. Scammers scoop them up with your phone/camera/bag - whatever is within reach.

If you end up going and like seafood, make sure you dine here! https://www.laparadeta.com/en/seafood-restaurants/
Basic restaurant with fresh seafood that you select from a counter and they cook to order for you, so nice !

Your wires are crossed somewhere. Maybe she worked out she can't afford the holiday. Or didn't actually expect you to go ahead and start booking the holiday!!! It's one thing chatting about how exciting it would be to go somewhere .... it's quite something else when you find out the person you've been chatting to about a "potential" exciting time together has rushed out and actually started booking it! How many times did you discuss the plans and research you both had done into the trip? Flight times, types of accommodation, excursions, sharing a room or not, AND budgets most importantly. So before you started booking the flights .... did you actually have a detailed plan and budget agreement? Or were you just being irresponsibly young, excited and stupid.

It’s not a bloody building site!! I went there a few years ago, to me it seemed pretty finicky!

*finished!

I despair that people as stupid as her are allowed to vote.

"Young " 😂
Don't worry it was all fully discussed as explained. Actually she booked the flights after we both agreed on trip. Did you make up a scenario in your head ? Bless.

OP, inside La Sagrada Familia is spectacular. One of the most amazing buildings I’ve seen. Do book a timed ticket online which saves you a lot of queueing. But don’t just look at the outside, it’s such a beautiful, original building and the colours of the stained glass inside are wonderful. Enjoy your trip, your friend is really missing out on a lovely visit.

Barcelona is a fabulous city. There are loads of beautiful places to visit apart from the cathedral (which is stunning btw). It has a beach, boat trips, a selection of really good bus tours that you can hop on & off to visit the Gaudi gardens amongst other attractions. It has las ramblas (sorry if spelling wrong) with stalls & lovely places to eat, markets & museums- I could go on & on. Go & enjoy yourself & your friend can find something else to do while you visit the cathedral.

We went to Barcelona last year and saw Sagrada Familia. WOW!

if she has dug in her heels and won’t compromise at all, the monastery in Montserrat northwest of Barcelona was fantastic. Not under construction at the time we were there. Found an excursion on TripAdvisor -
castlexperience.com. Also, included a stop at a vineyard.

Maybe if she has enough wine, she won’t notice the scaffolding if you happen to inadvertently drive by Sagrada.

Hope you have a good time.

Visited again last summer and it was very much obscured with scaffolding surrounding much of the basilica. It looks like a significant amount of this was removed a couple of months ago though so worth having a look. As with many iconic landmarks around the world, and she would know this if she has travelled at all, all of these old building need essential maintenance at some stage or another so it's not like they can just down tools for tourists.

I think your friend is being slightly silly and the OP is being slightly histrionic about wasting plane tickets to a wonderful city where there is so much to see and do (including the Sagrada Familia!)

But you're not spending your whole trip there. Just tell her you can't move the flights but there's plenty of other things to do in Barcelona but you'll have to spend the morning apart because you do want to see it

Saw La Sagrada Familia a few weeks ago. It is not a building site! There's SO MUCH more to it.

Endure whatever days you have to share and basically, ditch. Someone that stupid isn't worth the effort.
P.s suggest she keeps ID, extra cash, cards in hotel safe because she's bound to be pickpocketed in Ramblas.

Guess who wants to rebook the whole trip suddenly....