Mediterranean Trip
Mediterranean Trip
Barcelona, Spain and the irresistible call of Antoni Gaudi’s life and works. Michael was there in the 1960’s and could not get into his cathedral and was too uninformed to know what other projects he had. To say he is unique in all of architecture is a no-brainer. This time, we saw his works and I have to say I was blown away with his originality and use of color and form. As famous as he was, he lived a very modest life style and came to a truly sad end. At the age of 73 he went to do some work on his cathedral and was struck by a trolley. Since he dressed poorly and looked a little shaby, people walked by and did not give aid even though he was still breathing. It was the next day a lady tried to hail a cab and was rejected and finally ran in front of a police car begging for help. They took him the hospital but he passed away later. Read about his life and works at this really thorough and easy to follow website: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antoni-Gaudi>
First we took a harbor cruise and hop on hop around the core of the city.
4 with sweep oars and cox. The boathouse is under a huge shopping center.
Tour Boat we used.
Gull torturing a sculpture!!
New Zealand already there for the America’s Cup.
Huge cable car ride over the waterfront.
Ship building is very active.
What high gas prices cause.
Busy streets.
Infrastructure repair.
Christmas decoration on a main shopping street.
Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Gate.
City Center Park.
Apartment building built by Antoni Gaudi.
Meat stall in Mercado de La Boqueria
Park Guell
Antoni Gaudi was a student of nature and would spend time in the forests. His architecture reflected the shapes of nature, the textures , and the colors.
Coffee before entering the park.
Street in front of the park.
Park Entrance.
Path into the park.
Like a forest, you walk under the stone trees.
The spreading shapes at the top of the posts are Sycamore tree shape.
Formations like mushrooms with plants sprouting on top.
Nearing the top of the park.
Sculpture of the architect, Antoni Gaudi.
The benefactor who financed Gaudi’s work wanted his home in the park.
A large open area for concerts and stuff with benches all around.
Marilynn on a bench.
Amazing structures underneath the concert area above hold it up. These columns taper as they rise to give the effect of height. The shapes are just so very interesting.
Loud and invasive Monk Parakeets were everywhere.
Building at the exit looks like a gingerbread house with a mushroom at the top.
Gaudi’s masterpiece-La Sagrada Familia
Our guide David was very good and worth every penny. Tours have priority, don’t try to go on your own.
Yes, it’s still under construction due to be finished in 2027.
This church feels the most vertical of any cathedral we have been to.
It is also the most detailed front ever-parts look like they are melting.
Above the front door.
Flowers drawn and painted on the main door.
The vestibule off the main entrance.
Like a walk in nature.
Looking straight up as one enters.
The pillars are representative of Sycamore trees which are straight and branch higher up.
Full view of the central hallway of the church.
Easy to make out the pillars as Sycamore trees in this shot.
Most controversial was the back of the basilica since he did it as Modern Art! Christ’s crucifixion is the pole at the bottom.
The construction was so difficult and time consuming thay had a school built to educate the worker’s children.
Our guide used Marilynn’s iPhone to make a vertical panorama of us in the main hall of La Sagrada Familia.
My absolute favorite photo inside Sagrada Familia. Gaudi did not even consider artificial lighting to create the awe of nature. The colors throughout this amazing building are created by the stained glass windows. The use of light as an expression of faith and nature is simply wonderful. I will never forget my feeling of awe at seeing this.
