Some 12 days ago Captain Macaroni arrived early into Barcelona and we were docked, had a large breakfast, then sadly left the Silver Wind. The Harbour is very large, they say that it has more cruise ships dock here than anywhere else in Europe.
Probably not a bad idea, as we were to find out it is a stunning city.
Pepe - our taxi driver took us to our apartment in La Rambla - chatty guy with piles of information about Barcelona - helped us across La Rambla with our luggage.
Above - the outside of our apartment, and below the view down onto La Rambla and its florists from inside our apartment.
We were directly opposite the most incredible food markets, the best we have ever seen, it was also filled with really active Tapas Bars.
Below a Candy stall
and of course the cured meat offerings
Seafood, vegetables and fruit, and so many many other stalls, and below many buskers along La Rambla.
We found this little lane/street off La Rambla
Finding a wonderful Patisserie for breakfast
they made a great croque monsieur.
And the cafe below - we had three late lunches here (around 3pm) 3 course Catalan menu, for Euros 10.30 each, which included taxes, bread and vino, excellent fare.
The wisteria was still out down some of the lanes
and the grand architecture which lined the Barcelona Boulevards
was never boring
The majority of Barcelona's boulevards were wide and tree lined
Even the traffic system worked - so easy to cross these huge boulevards with their excellent traffic light system
The shops were magnificent, it seemed to be a very proud city, kept very clean
and 4 days was just not long enough.
The 2nd day we were there, the clouds came over, and there was definitely the threat of rain, so we boarded on the Red hop on, hop off bus, and headed for Poble Espanyol - we thought that behind these great walls we may miss some wind and rain.
This village was laid out for the 1929 International Exhibition
Building styles from all over spain are illustrated
arranged in streets
mediating off the main square
Poble Espanyol did have some nice little artisan shops to escape the weather
with little statues on their hand rails
Then the rain really came down - so back on the Red bus.
and back to Santa Anna for our late lunch.
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ANTONI GAUDI (1852 - 1926)
I really felt we should take the opportunity to visit some of Gaudi's architecture while we were in Barcelona, and did get a little resistance from the Brig. The first was Gaudi's most unconventional church, the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia which is crammed with symbolism. Gaudi was commissioned, in 1883, to complete a neo gothic Cathedral. The building still continues today, being paid for by public subscription and tourists like us. There are still cranes everywhere, and architects and artisans continually working to eventually complete Gaudi's Cathedral design. Not sure what I really thought of the outside, but definitely got the gist of Frank's thoughts. Anyway we joined the queues and eventually made it in through the gate.
Below over the front entrance is the Passion Facade
Then you enter - and it is magnificent
so over the top, but absolutely incredible
We both had audio guides
and wandered around so slowly trying to take in all of the beauty surrounding us,
Much of his creativity relates to nature - so much vision
The outstanding stained glass windows
where the light of the day just streamed in
and lit up this most magnificent structure.
"Someone' was extremely happy that he had been hauled into this Cathedral
More carvings/sculptures on the other side of the church - we lost track of exactly what was happening outside, just so much information.
Antoni Gaudi built a 3 room school in the Cathedral's grounds to teach the younger about architecture. Gaudi lived like a recluse at this site, putting all his own money into it from 1914, till he was hit and killed by a tram in 1926 - he is buried in the crypt - but his work continues on every day under a team of experts with the help of we touristers.
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CASA BATLLO
The following morning was sunny, and I had absolutely no problem in getting Frank to accompany me to the next Gaudi building.
So ornate from the outside
and incredible again on the inside -
Sandy, I am not sure if you have been here, but I thought while we were there
how much you would enjoy it, 'specially with Gaudi's vision on light and shapes
This living room is an absolute work of many arts
The patio and rear facade
Above - the tiling inside the light well - windows get smaller as they reach the top, and the tiles are light at the bottom and change to darker blue at the top - so they reflect a different amount of light - more at the bottom than at the top, he also did the same with adjustable vents for air circulation at the bottom of each window - very very clever.
The chimneys are tightly packed and covered in abstract patterns
The ceramic cross has arms aligned with the points of a compass.
The tiled staircase - balconied on each floor
Loved attention to detail, so creative and visionary for an architect in 1906.
******
CASA MILA
Next stop was Gaudi's Casa Mila - he designed this 8 floor apartment block around two circular courtyards in 1906 - if features the city's first underground car park.
On the roof are sculpture ducts and chimneys - they have a threatening appearance, that are known as witch scarers.
Also exhibited were some of Gaudi's designer furniture.
The ironwork balconies (by Josep Maria Jupol) are like seaweed against the wave like walls of white stone.
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