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Published: February 20th 2009
When asked about the long construction time of his masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia church, Antoni Gaudi is said to have stated that his "client was in no hurry." Yet, Keith and I were. We were in Barcelona only a couple of days, so we enlisted the help of Jose, and concentrated on the area of the city nearest our hotel. This included the Barri Gotic, whose Roman ruins are tucked round corners and up in the narrow alleys of the medieval streets.
Gaudi's nature inspired designs are fanstastic.
The park that he planned, as a gated community, was worth a day on it's own. As usual we are trying to see all that we can, so a taxi ride up to Park Guell, and a quick walk through was all we had time for. It didn't catch on as an exclusive neighborhood 100 years ago, at the time it was located too far away from the city centre. But as many have already described it, it really is a Dr. Seuss landscape come to life! There were bright green parrots making their nest in a palm tree, and Jose said they were escaped pets that took up residence in this
fantasy land. At least some one is calling this place home.
Antoni Gaudi was an obsessed architect and designer/engineer, with a never say no attidude. He took inspiration from nature, in the infastructure and in the aesthetic value of his buildings. We toured the apartment and roof of the Casa Mila. Needless to say it was very unique. No straight lines, all curves.
And we were awed by the church that is still being constructed, possibly for another 30 years, since it's funding is solely private. Our entry fee goes toward building costs, which must be unimaginable, since it looks like a drip resembles a sand castle, like you would make out of drizzling sand. Sagrada Falilia, Holy Family was the project he devoted the last 15 years of his life to.
Picasso lived in Barcelona for several years, and there is a museum of his paintings and a few ceramics. It is in the old Gothic neighborhood and very well done. He was a very young man, only 21 when he left. So these works aren't the abstact ones you may think of. They are realistic and very inspiring. I would go back to this collection if given
look close to see the pigeon.
This poor rooster was imprisoned in the little cage, and the pigeon was free, but waiting with him at the cagethe chance.
We are headed to Antibes before this trip is done, and will be seeing his museum there, also!
The harbor was a bigger attraction to us, than we thought it would be, but I think we were beginning to feel a bit land locked in Krakow. We needed that Catalonian sunshine! This area was revitalized prior to the 1992 Olympics, and is full of shops and sailboats. A nice lunch by the water was a bit chilly, but like I said that sunshine...The Ramblas is the pedestrian area that runs from the Placa de Catalunya down to the habrbor. At it's end is the Monument to Christoper Columbus. There he stood a the top of the 197ft/60m tall column, pointing toward the sea. It was here that he returned to, after his first voyage. Spain's Queen Isabella had funded that venture.
A swing dance was happening by the harbor, looked like a change partner sort of thing, people were dancing and even more watching. We expected dancing in Spain, but not this "american" style.
Along the Ramblas that heads straight to the harbor are these little markets of flowers and birds. Even little kiosks with hamsters
and little critters. City living doesn't accomodate big pets, we saw many kids with their parents chosing their little pet.
We have been loving the markets in these European cities, and the market of Barcelona was exceptional, the seafood was the freshest I have seen. I could hear the little shrimps and crabs and lobsters calling out for help!! "take us back to the sea"
The food was great, although we couldn't quite understand the waiter, and neither could he understand us very well. So our tapas turned out to be a different assortment from what we thought we had ordered. This didn't come as a surprise, we seldom know what we have ordered in restaurants and cafes. It's all good!
We went to a Spanish guitar concert. It was in the cellar chapel of an old church in the Gothic Quarter. Not the flaminco, but soft soothing music. The tastes and the sounds are the joys of travel.
This is our first stop on a little tour that Keith has planned for us. Our last fling before heading home. Next will be the town of Arles, France. We took the train into France, and connected through Montpellier.
Barcelona buoy
soaking up the sunshine On board we met an Aussie mother and daughter who were very concerned about the bush fires in their home country. As we got further into France, the low lying areas of marsh reminded us of home.
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liliram
liliram
You have to go back!
Don't you just love Gaudi, the jamon jabugo, manchego and Barcelona? Like you, we just "drove through" Barcelona - just 2 nights - and from there, drove up to Arles, Nimes, Avignon area. We were taken away by Gaudi's works --- truly one of a kind. I will go back, for sure. Despite an unfortunate incident (my friend lost bag with passport, cash, cards, plane tickets), we still want to go back.......esp after seeing your great photos! You say Hola.......we say Ole! Good blog.