Hola Gaudi! The Temple Sagrada Familia

Barcelona has treated us to 4 days of perfect weather: cloudless, windless days at 15 degrees. What a relief after the 6 degrees and cold grey of you-know-where!

To say that we were overwhelmed with Barcelona would be an understatement. The Gaudi buildings we visited, all built or renovated in the early 2oth Century are simply sensational combinations of faith, artistry, skill and function.

For me Barcelona was, on this visit, simply Gaudi. So I am not going to say too much but just share the pictures with you in the hope that you may come and visit for yourself. Suffice to say that on first glance some of the buildings appear rather "way out" in their form. For example straight lines do not appear where they may be expected. But on even short acquaintance they show themselves as superbly practical and beautiful.

Gaudi was extremely religious and his churches are truly organic as he uses the forms of nature to shout his beliefs. Initially over-elaborate to my taste they quickly enveloped me with their subtlety and Grace. To this agnostic, visiting his buildings was a moving experience.

I remember the surprise and delight I experienced when, years ago, I discovered fossilised sharks' teeth in the foothills of the Southern Alps in NZ. The impossibility of this absolute truth and the dawning of the reason for it was reminiscent of my experience in this church as I realised that Gaudi has used the natural forms of trees and branches to build his Temple.

The Temple Sagrada Familia
Still under construction and planned to be finished,
through public donations, by 2025

Barcelona and the Park Guell

Another large scale Gaudi design, this garden sits on a large area of land which is on the edge of the city and which was planned to be a new housing development for the well off. However the plan failed and Gaudi was called in by the owner to create a garden. Thanks to Ken for recommending this wonderful site. With much of his work Gaudi drew on the natural world for inspiration. The garden is on a number of levels and features a huge flat area supported by columns which provide opportunities for his design as well as a venue for concerts etc. The space under the main flat area forms a labyrinth for exploration.

Barcelona and the Casa Batlio

This building was redesigned by Gaudi for the Batlio family and is still used today. The family's residential quarters on the lower floors have been left as they were and other floors are tenanted by "neighbours" . The top floor was used as utility and each neighbour had their own area, including a laundry. It is up here that Gaudi really let loose and the result is that one feels as if one may be inside a large whale. Again it works beautifully both in design and in function. The quality of the workmanship and materials is exceptional.The roof is something else! Anyhow see what you think:

Some more pix of Barcelona

Casa Mila, La Pedrera - Gaudi

Our visit here has been dominated by Gaudi but we also did other things. We met Jarek, the son of friends from NZ. Jarek is Sam's closest friend and they have known each other since each was around 8 or 9.

Jarek is a charming young man whom we really enjoyed catching up with. He is doing post-grad study in Barcelona and is working and, I hope, playing hard! We shared a couple of meals and put the world to rights.

Barcelona at night at this time of the year is spectacular with elaborate street lights illuminating the old buildings in the centre. Crowds were out in the evening strolling with children. It seemed safe and convivial.

After one or two bad experiences in restaurants we discovered two good ones and stuck to them. After trying Paella in a supposedly excellent restaurant we came to the conclusion that it is much better to make it at home. However some of the tapas bars were very good.