Barcelona - Potentially A Very Bad Travel Post
(Not my Image)A few days ago in a Comment, someone talked a bit about Barcelona and its Antoni Gaudi architecture. And, because I'd had such a great time there a few years back, I threw something (rather over-enthusiastically) into 'conversation' about doing a post on this French-looking city near the eastern border of Spain.
But when I looked over the pictures I'd taken, the joy at the prospect slowly seeped away - not good photography, at all at all!
But undeterred, I'm going to use whatever creative skills I possess to try to make this post as good as the experience in fact was. Aided and abetted by a couple of images from the net.
We were staying with an ex of mine in a very rundown apartment in the trampy part of town - where the hookers live and work ...
... which is exactly where I usually like to stay.
The area's the old part of the city and endlessly draws you out into the streets, just to walk about ...
... and, being serious foodies, there're always stops along the way ...
The main action, particularly at night, is Las Ramblas, a broad avenue down the center of town to the sea ...
(Not my Image)... unto which the famous Gran Teatre del Liceu fronts ...
The seriously big deal in Barcelona is of course Gaudi's quirky twist on Art Nouveau architecture, in particular his La Segrada Familia ...
... which, begun in 1882, is still under construction ...
There is in fact a second seriously big deal in Barcelona - Mies van der Rohe's German Pavilion for the International Exposition of 1929.
(Not my Image)In stone glass and steel, it's prototypical of the 1920s International Style in architecture, where the traditional separateness of rooms is dissolved and screen walls guide space to flow through the building....
... and I'm betting - with 100% certainty - you've seen a repro (or a zillion) of the chairs designed for the building ...
(Not my Image)Now, for a quirky finish in tribute to Gaudi, how bout some matadors practising at dawn in the park ...
... and a welcoming mantilla-ed signorita ...
Actually, looking back over this post, it ain't half bad!
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI confess that the outside of the Gaudi buildings actually made me itch--like something out of a horror movie. BUT inside the apt. building that one can tour, was a completely different experience. The oddly shaped rooms came a feeling of tremendous peace, yet vitality. So wonderfully liveable. It was a quite marvelous feeling. The guy was onto something.
The opera house is gorgeous inside.
hey paul
ReplyDeleteyes i know what you mean about the exterior - a bit like encountering spiky and aggressive crustaceans for me
i saw the outside of gaudi's apt block but didn't know you could tour it - bad guide book work on my part!
almost posted something on the inside from the net - have you heard anything at the theatre?
best
nick
hey paul
ReplyDeleteyes i know what you mean about the exterior - a bit like encountering spiky and aggressive crustaceans for me
i saw the outside of gaudi's apt block but didn't know you could tour it - bad guide book work on my part!
almost posted something on the inside from the net - have you heard anything at the theatre?
best
nick
Nick,
ReplyDeleteAlso meant to say that photos 4 and 10 are PARTICULARLY fetching! Thank you for them.
I actually flew over when a friend won an important singing competition and was featured in a concert at the opera (and did brilliantly, actually. Though the Liceu's orchestra was shockingly appalling.) Acoustics were great, ushers were very helpful and the auditorium is a little jewel box. Worth checking out next time you're there...as is the Gaudi apt. building. I wish other architects would pick up on his flowing interiors.
hey paul
ReplyDeletethat is very sweet of you, very, about the fetching thing - they say birds of a feather ... and the rest - so maybe we should start up a small group?
there was a house designed and built here in sydney in 1949 according to international style principles - the rose seidler house:
http://www.hht.net.au/museums/rose_seidler_house
http://www.seidler.net.au/projects/001.html
i'll send some photos i've gathered up recently cos i'm planning a visit probably next week
best
nick
Of course!!!!! it ain't half bad, I live in barcelona, and not Barcelona is only the "old ville", Mountain Montjuic, the new zone 22@ with companys, facultys, Passeig de Gracia, beach, much museum, live in the street in the night, and zone gay jejejeje
ReplyDeletegaybarcelonaporn3.blogspot.com
One kissss
Two extremes. One, cold as a refrigerator, like existing in solitary confinement, antiseptic, strikingly beautiful in it's hideous simplicity. Only possible in Teutonic reasoning. The other, overly emotional,
ReplyDeleteno thought of straight lines, warm and overflowing with emotion, strikingly beautiful in it's hideous complexity, not a square centimetre left unembellished, only possible in the mish-mash of an over passionate culture.
two extremes
This is hardly the place for this comment,but, has anybody noticed the extraordinary boo-huity mof Nicolas Sarcozy's son. Y'know, France's president's son. Va-va-va-voom!!!!! !!
ReplyDeleteJean Sarcozy is gorgeous - for me it's partly the long blond hair!
ReplyDeletehey anon
ReplyDeleteyep, it provokes at least the two reactions you mention and others beside.
for me i waver - depends on my mood, aesthetically
CYA, nick
hey kepler
ReplyDeletegood to hear from someone in barcelona - we saw more than the old city - including Mountain Montjuic and a lot of the olympic stuff
and went to stiges for swimming
and museums ... there's so much to see there!
would love to go back - will do some day
BTW, great blog! will be a regular visitor
cya
nick
Thanks!!! jejeje only go to Sitges for a swimming? jejeje
ReplyDeleteIf you turn Barcelona I can be your guide jejeje
one kissss
hey KEPLER23BCN
ReplyDeletedidn't know there was more than swimming at stiges!
what else happens?
kisses back and yeak we'd love a guide next time we're in barcelona!
nick
jejejeje Sitges is the capital of paradise gay in south of europe.
ReplyDeleteOne kissss
hey kepler
ReplyDeleteand i never even noticed - how dumb is that of me!
hahaha
next time i'll know!
kisses
love the marble pavilion!!!...but I used to own a Barcelona chair....absolutely beautiful to look at but horribly uncomfortable to sit on for more than five minutes.
ReplyDeleteDoug.........los angeles
hey doug
ReplyDeletei have a verner panton cone chair - http://hivemodern.com/pages/products.php?view=sub_product&sid=229&cid=
same deal - exactly!
nick