Barcelona

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May 23rd 2008

Published: June 29th 2008

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Hilda

Casa Lleo Morera

The Catalan architect, historian & politician, Lluis Domenech i Montaner designed this building, he was the favourite architect of the upper classes of Barcelona.

Ola Bo & Dud,
Just to let you know that we’re well restored and recovered from our misfortune in Barcelona. Howard now has a soft material wallet on a long cord which can be hung and tucked into the most interesting places - beware all pick-pockets you could get more than you bargained for!! So trussed and tucked we made our way back to Barcelona.

Over this year of travel we have become connoisseurs of the Red Bus Tour - in Barcelona you get 3 red, blue and green. The red route tours the north of the city, taking in Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and the breathtakingly wonderful Sagrada Familia - we could have stayed here all day, and probably for most of the week. The ongoing development, the cranes, portacabins and labourers just add to the overall interest of this amazing building; we intend to visit again when the work is finished (I wish!). Our other Gaudi favourite of the day was the Guell Park - the Hall of the Hundred Columns, the Portico gallery, the curving bench in the Gran Placa and the Dragon. Gaudi lived in this park - did you know that he was 74 years

Casa Bassegoda

Appartment block in the heart of the city

of age when he died after being run over by a tram. What a tragic end to a creative, inspirational and unique talent.

The blue route which takes in the south of the City continues with the Gaudi theme but also takes in the more modern side of Barcelona - here comes another did you know .... did you know that Barcelona was originally 36 villages which came together to form the city? and, right in the middle of this metropolis amongst the hotels and office blocks is a Victorian prison which is still in use. The Olympic Stadium was built on Montjuic Mountain in 1929 when Spain hoped to host the 1936 games; the front of the building is the only feature which remained during the development for the 1992 games. The views over the city are spectacular from this high point and using the Funicular railway and the cable cars you can almost reach the roof of Spain.

Finally the green route gave us a look into the way Barcelona is moving forward, the redevelopment of the industrial area. The 1992 Olympics had a huge influence on how the area has been developed. The sweat shops

Sagrada Familia

Nacimiento (Birth) Wall

and factories have been demolished to make way for high rise living, a modern shopping mall, coffee shops, bars and restaurants - Port Olympic - you can almost smell the money!

Impressive as it is to go by bus, our favourite areas of the City are the ones where you can walk and become immersed in the wow factor of history and antiquity. Las Ramblas with its stalls of livestock, chickens, ducklings, pigeons, and soft fluffy rabbits - street artists and human sculptures; and the Gothic, built up from around the original Roman city. Oh how I red heart Barcelona - this is now my favourite city (apart from Sydney) and I would like to live here for a couple of years to absorb the whole experience.

I do hope that we get the opportunity to have another outing to Barcelona while you are visiting - pack a mac, umbrella and some good walking shoes, suntan lotion, shorts and a hat; the weather is becoming a pain.

Love & Hugs & Kisses,
H & H x

P.S. Because there are so many photo's when you get to the bottom of them on the first page click