Spain
Hostafrancs

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    • Day 5

      Las Arenas, einkaufen in der Stierkampfa

      March 22, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

      In Barcelona ( Katalonien?) sind Stierkämpfe seit ....... verboten. Also stehen die alten Stierkampfarenen leer. Hier nicht, diese ist aufwändig zu einem Einkaufszentrum umgebaut worden.
      Jens ist heute Mittag von hier in die Kälte zurück nach Leipzig abgeflogen. ( Probleme bei der Abnahme/ Baumängel des neuen Lagers in Halle, zur Unterstützung von Georg, der sich dort gerade richtig in das Projekt reinkniet ) Barcelona 14 Grad, Leipzig -2; dachten wir zunächst. Das Flugzeug hatte wegen eines Streiks in Frankreich extreme Verspätung. Jens ist mit 1,5 Std. Verspätung gestartet und hat dadurch den Anschlussflug nach Leipzig verpasst. Er musste dann nach Hannover umbuchen und fährt morgen früh ganz früh mit dem Auto nach Halle. Na toll!
      Helena und ich sind nach dem Shoppingcenter in den benachbarten "Juan Miro Park" zum Kartenschreiben in der Sonne gegangen. Dieser Park hat wenig mit unserem Verständnis von Park zu tun. Er besteht aus eingezäunten Hundekackzonen, kargen Kinderspielplätzen und Bänken unter Bäumen, die allesamt nur erst ihren Stamm als Schatten spenden, weil die Äste noch komplett unbelaubt sind. Allerdings ist das für uns der Vorteil. Die letzten Tage waren so kalt und windig, dass wir genau eine Bank in der Sonne suchen.
      Einzelne Bäume werden von laut krakehlenden quietschgrünen Papageien bevölkert, die wir vorsichtshalber meiden. Da kann ja mal etwas von oben kommen. Rasen und Blumen sind eher Mangelware. Alles Sand.
      Von hier aus starten wir zu einem interessant klingenden Spaziergang, der uns laut Reiseführer zu einer Einkaufsstraße mit 500 Läden lockt. Genau das richtige für die kulturmüde Helena. Es sind wirklich jede Menge Läden da, aber meistens mit dem falschen Angebot. Nichts für uns. Die beschriebene Markthalle hat dann zu ( Mittagspause), in dem Park am Bahnhof - in Summe ein ungewöhnlicher Ort - fehlt die riesige Drachenrutsche, die hängenden Gärten bestehen aus überdachten Gleisanlagen. Insgesamt eher ernüchternd. Das Mittagessen auf dem Platz .........reißt es dann raus! Leckere Tapas in der warmen Sonne unter Einheimischen. Sehr fein! Nicht fein wie fein sondern fein wie super lecker!
      Zurück zu Fuß zur placa espanya durch Wohngebiete mit vielen Mamis und Papis, die am Nachmittag ihre Kinder von der Ganztagsschule oder dem Kindergarten einsammeln. Von dort mit der Bahn ins Hotel. Leider haben wir uns an der Haltestelle für die falsche Richtung an's Tageslicht entschieden. So sind wir unterirdisch 2 Häuserblöcke in Richtung placa catalunya gelaufen, die wir überirdisch wieder zurücklaufen mussten. Blöd! Der andere Ausgang " carrer d'Aragona" war ziemlich genau vor unserem Hotel. Wer sich nicht die Adresse vom Hotel merkt muß leider das fehlende Wissen durch längeres Laufen ausgleichen.
      Im Hotel wollten wir eigentlich nur die Sachen abstellen und direkt wieder zum Shoppen/Essen starten. Daraus wurde nichts. Helena ist eingeschlafen und ich habe eifrig mit Jens wegen der Flugkonfusion und dem unauffindbaren Georg geschrieben. Wir haben es uns dann frisch geduscht bei Schinken, Baguette und Fertigsuppe vor dem Fernseher gemütlich gemacht. Geht auch und war sogar ganz lustig. Georg ist dann wieder aufgetaucht und Jens erst nach 22 Uhr endlich in Hannover gelandet.
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    • Day 36

      Day 5 - Sagrada Familia (the Light)

      November 2, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      The stained glass windows are amazing. The East side of the nave has cooler hues where the sun rises. Warm colors are reserved for the West where the sun sets. Gaudi said the sun is the finest painter.

      I was here at noon, when the sun was warm over head. I hope you can see the colors and imagine the full power of the Sun's paint brush
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    • Day 36

      Day 5 - Sagrada Familia (the Forest)

      November 2, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      In the nave there are many pillars which resemble a thick forest of trees and the ceiling is a remarkable vaulted structure where the "branches" meet the ceiling. Gaudi called this the meeting of heaven and earth

      Check it out
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    • Day 36

      Day 5 - Sagrada Familia

      November 2, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      This cathedral is hailed as Antonio Gaudi's best work and finest masterpiece, it is located in the Eixample district. Construction began in 1882 and became Gaudi's life work. Gaudi lived to see only one facade, the Nativity Facade, the aspe, crypt and one tower complete. The church plans call for 8 towers and an area capable of accommodating 13,000

      Following Gaudi's death in 1926, the building process dragged on slowly through the civil war until the 50s when construction began in earnest. At present there are 8 towers complete and two facades. The building process continues and it was only in 2000, that the roof and the main nave were completed.

      The two completed facades are the Nativity Facade and the Passion Facade; they are adorned with motifs taken from nature and Barroque decoration. The Nativity Facade features the life of Jesus and the Passion Facade features Jesus crucifixion. The two other facades remaining are the Glory Facade which is under construction and the South Facade.

      The interior of the church is just as impressive as the exterior, featuring nature and light. We will look at each of these aspects in the next few posts. For now here are a few pics of the Nativiy and the Passion Facades

      It is hoped construction will be complete to in 2026, to commemorate the centennial of Gaudi's death
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    • Day 34

      Day 5 - Happy Halloween

      October 31, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      I did get to the Sangrada Familia today, but there are soo many pictures to post I can't possibly do them all and the cold meds are starting to make me sleepy So, I leave you with these Halloween images

      Tomorrow we visit the Montserrat Monestary and the Oller Winery. Hmmmm maybe I won't need the cold meds to sleep.

      15,786 steps and counting. Up and at it early tomorrow
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    • Day 33

      Day 4 - Gaudi's Architecture

      October 30, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      This is an architectural warm up for tomorrow's visit to Sangrada Familia. Gaudi designed many private residences and buildings in Barcelona before he did mostly commercial work. He was part of the modernists movement which reached it's peak in the late 19th and early 20th century. Gaudi rarely drew detailed plans of his work, instead preferring to create them as 3 dimensional scale models. You'll see this in the photos of what you think is a hanging chandelier. This translates later in the models of Sangrada Familia pictured below

      He also designed the Casa Batllo, which was a apartment building. See the before and after facades
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    • Day 33

      Day 4 - Casa Mila (1906 - 1912)

      October 30, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      A huge wave set in stone. That is how I would describe this building. Casa Mila is the perfect example of how Antoni Gaudi was inspired by nature. The rough outer appearance resembles a stone quary. It has an undulating face with shapes taken from nature.

      This building/ house was commissioned by Pere Mila as a family residence and apartments to let. The building is made up of two blocks of apartments interconnected by a interior courtyard (as you will see).

      The facades of the courtyards, as well as the staircases going up to the main floor, are spectacular in shape, colors and light.

      I hope the pics do it justice
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    • Day 32

      Day 3 - Upcoming Site

      October 29, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

      Long day today, but got oriented to the city and saw lots of interesting things. Dinner was at the top of the old Bull Arena, which has been turned into a shopping center. I'll visit there later. Below are a few picks of the evening sites.

      To the left of the fountain and past the tall pillars lies a castle of some sort. It wasn't on the list of thing to do, but maybe later in the week. The pool is on a hotel rooftop, much nicer than ours.

      Big day tomorrow, bought tickets for Sangrada Familia and Casa Mila. Will also see Casa Batlo and Casa Amatler. Bryan will join me after lunch and we hope to get to the Piccaso Museum, the Chocolate Museum and the Columbus monument. Below are a few picks of tomorrow's attractions.

      It's going on 11:00, here so my turning in. Finished the day with 24,140 steps, that covers the wine and ice cream I think
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    • Day 31

      Day 2 - Roaming Around

      October 28, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      After our relax on the roof we went grocery shopping and hit the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. The food was good and we picked up a few souvenirs. The pics are a Jimmy Hendrix guitar, a Ritchie Sambora guitar and a metal guitar installation on the ceiling. We've settled back in the room and one of us is already asleep, and he napped this afternoon, go figure

      Tomorrow is a up in the air day. Bryan has a meeting at 2:00 and I was hoping to start my tours, but it is Sunday and a lot of the day was centered around the beautiful churches here, so I may have to juggle the schedule. The Hotel is located on a four lane road that is divided by a large pedestrian boulevard, so was thinking of a run and breakfast to start the day. That is if sleeping beauty ever wakes up, lol

      I finished the day with 13,717 steps and 5h 13m of sleep in 36 hrs so I'm calling it a nite. Stay tuned for tomorrow's adventures
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    • Day 33

      Day 4 - Casa Mila Rooftop Terrace

      October 30, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      The rooftop of Casa Mila us a unique piece of architecture/art. It contains different elements: skylights, stair wells, ventilation towers and chimneys. All open to your own interpretation. Some have been finished using broken tiles, stones, marble and glass.

      Check out these strange shapes and you decide what they represent
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