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Stan
May-01-2007, 03:35 PM
We took a few days off last week and went to Barcelona. We walked miles, sampling the tapas along the way.

To keep it simple I am posting some of Antoni Gaudi's work. There is too much to see for one post.

Gaudi is NUTS. I got this impression every time I saw some of his work. The obvious example is the Casa Batllo with its famous frontage. Most of the building is open to the public. You take MP3 player and listen to the commentary as you walk round. This goes some way to explain his thought process.

Casa Batllo
http://www.stan.smugmug.com/photos/148167091-L.jpg


The centre of the building has a stair well with a skylight on either side to allow light and ventilation to the lower rooms. the blue tiles become darker as you go up to decrease the lights intensity.

http://www.stan.smugmug.com/photos/147897683-L.jpg

On the roof are Chimneys, covered with mosiac tiling
http://www.stan.smugmug.com/photos/148218345-L.jpg

The Sagrada Familia is the temple he began building, which is still being built today After the first stone was laid in 1882

The Passion Facade
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148201576-L.jpg

http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148202205-L.jpg

The Nativity Facade
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148201644-L.jpg

The Nativity Facade
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148201948-L.jpg

Park Guell is on a hill, overlooking Barcelona.
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148357004-L.jpg

There are 3 kilometres of paths on the hill, with paths supported by pillars with more strange detailing
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148327589-L-1.jpg

http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148320940-L.jpg

The site was originally designed as a housing estate but only 2 houses were built

http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148329165-L.jpg

I hope you enjoyed my brief tour

Stan
wxwax
May-01-2007, 03:44 PM
Yes, I did. Thanks!

First time I saw Gaudi's work, I felt like I was on another planet. Bizarre and captivating. I fully intend to see it in person someday.
Tee Why
May-02-2007, 03:17 PM
muy interesante.
ChrisJ
May-02-2007, 03:36 PM
Was there an event going on at the catedral? It doesn't look like you were allowed in... I may have to pull up my pictures from 1996 to see how it's progressed!

Very cool. We didn't get to many of the other Gaudi sites. Thanks for the tour!
ShepsMom
May-02-2007, 03:59 PM
I love the very first shot! Excellent :clap
Stan
May-02-2007, 04:26 PM
Yes, I did. Thanks!

First time I saw Gaudi's work, I felt like I was on another planet. Bizarre and captivating. I fully intend to see it in person someday.

Thanks Sid, I hope you make it. I have always enjoyed his work and it was great to be able to run away for a while to see some of his work for real.

muy interesante.

Thanks Tee

Was there an event going on at the catedral? It doesn't look like you were allowed in... I may have to pull up my pictures from 1996 to see how it's progressed!

Very cool. We didn't get to many of the other Gaudi sites. Thanks for the tour!

No, sorry, me and sleep don't go well, so I get up early, leave the wife asleep, ask at reception to wake the wife at a sensible hour and come back full of coffee when she is ready for breakfast. The Sagrada Familia doesn't open until 9 o'clock, I wasn't going to wait that long :D Crowds were a real problem, especially on Saturday. But we were done by then and spent most of the time eating tapas and waiting to fly home...

This was taken in the catedral at 08.07 am
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148367465-L.jpg
The cleaners are cleaning the altar

This one was taken at 10.41 am
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/149015842-L.jpg
After 1 o'clock you have to join the queue and pay to go in.


Cheers
Stan
wxwax
May-02-2007, 04:47 PM
Holy cow, quite a difference. The early bird gets the cathedral, eh? :lol3
Stan
May-02-2007, 04:51 PM
Holy cow, quite a difference. The early bird gets the cathedral, eh? :lol3

And the bat gets to play with Dgrin it's 00.50 here :rolleyes
wxwax
May-02-2007, 05:13 PM
And the bat gets to play with Dgrin it's 00.50 here :rolleyes
:lol3 Just take a jaunt over to Biggleswade for a drink with Algy. :evil
Stan
May-02-2007, 05:29 PM
That's about 15 minutes away, my sister in law lives there. Who is Algy?

Stan
wxwax
May-02-2007, 08:47 PM
That's about 15 minutes away, my sister in law lives there. Who is Algy?

Stan
You don't know Biggles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggles)?:huh :huh :huh :huh

:lol3
Stan
May-03-2007, 12:06 AM
You don't know Biggles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggles)?:huh :huh :huh :huh

:lol3

That's the Shuttleworth collection (http://http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/shut/shutlwth.htm). I haven't been there since I was my sons age (8)

That would be great. My son loves planes. I'll see what I can do.

Great Idea

Stan
Richard
May-03-2007, 12:50 AM
Nice stuff, Stan. Gaudi was one tripped out dude. You can tell he spent many hours just staring at burning candle wicks. I don't know if they'll ever finish the Sagrada Familia. The Vatican has never been too happy about it, partly because it will be bigger than St. Peter's in Rome but mostly because much of the ornamentation is distinctly pagan. Even if they do complete it, it will not measure up to his vision. You can see the difference between the facade that he completed (astounding) and the more recent one (ho hum). That's because he worked with a known group of craftsmen and improvised much of the decoration ("I think we need a gigantic turtle right there...").

Post some more.

Cheers,
Stan
May-03-2007, 09:21 AM
Thanks Richard.
Like a lizard climbing down the wall...
http://www.stan.smugmug.com/photos/148202064-L.jpg

The difference between the two facads is huge, the Nativity Facade is so finely detailed compared to the "blockishness" (word?) of the Passion facade
http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/148202117-L.jpg

The rest of Barcelona can be found here. (http://stan.smugmug.com/Holidays/314918)

Cheers
Stan
DucCat
May-04-2007, 09:27 AM
Stan,

the images are lovely,I was in spain in 2004 for a few weeks when I was on a trip and I am wondering when the Sagrada is destined to be finished? Did you you by chance go to the sunflower house? It is my favorite:D
jthomas
May-06-2007, 05:46 PM
My only visit to Barcelona was in 1963. I have a picture of the Sagrada Familia from that trip. I'm disappointed to hear that it's still not finished!

Nice series; thanks for posting.
HarlanBear
May-07-2007, 01:02 PM
Stan,

the images are lovely,I was in spain in 2004 for a few weeks when I was on a trip and I am wondering when the Sagrada is destined to be finished? Did you you by chance go to the sunflower house? It is my favorite:D

Scheduled to be completed around 2026, but .... not sure what time.:lol3