If Gaudí Built It...

...today we visited it!!

It was an action-packed day of Gaudí architecture. We certainly didn't hit everything but we did all we could!

We started at his masterwork, La Sagrada Familia, which he started in 1883 and worked on obsessively until his death in 1926. It was nowhere near completion, but through his detailed drawings and models, others have been able to continue the work. The building is expected to be finished in 2026. As Gaudí himself put it, "my client is in no hurry."*

There are two elaborate facades with a third still to be built. There is the Nativity facade

And the Passion facade.

Stay tuned for Glory.**

Once inside...whoa. The columns are meant to look like trees, natural light from the stained glass fills the giant space, there are no flat surfaces, and there is elaborate detail everywhere. 

After gawking our way around the basilica, we went to Gaudí's penultimate project, Casa Mila, aka La Pedrera. It's an apartment and office building still in use today. It has several Gaudí signatures, his unique rooftop designs to camouflage functional structures, undulating*** surfaces, and parabolic arches to create functional open floor plans. Why do we still not use all of his revolutionary 1920 ideas? No clue.****

Our last Gaudí stop of the day was Park Guell. This is where Gaudí and wealthy friend Guell tried to build a community of 60 houses but ended up selling two houses and the house where Gaudí himself lived. It worked out great for the rest of us because we get a lovely park with a few structures waiting for a much grander use. It also overlooks the entire city. 

Tomorrow we will take a Gaudí break to get a country point. You knew we didn't come all this way for just a repeat!!

-KT

*In this case, as in most cases, "the client" is God. 

**Again, as is often the case. 

***For you, LaQual! Also, it was said at least a dozen times in our various audio guides. 

****Pay close attention to find Dad looking like a spy movie villain. 

So Many Things

A two-part Barcelona blog entry in which there were so many things:

Part I: We Saw So Many Things

Casa Batlló by Antonio Gaudi:

Palau de la Música Catalana:

Picasso Museum:

Street Scenes:

Part II: We Ate So Many Things

Oh my god, this soup:

Clockwise from top left: shrimp rolls, beef with mushrooms, tempura octopus, and patatas bravas

Not pictured: Gelato

Spring Break!!

Though not as long or as "yes, I earned this" as summer, teacher Spring Break is right up there with Christmas and Flag Day as one of my favorite holidays. It reminds you that you can get through the last six weeks of school and, unlike a long weekend, you can travel to somewhere really good! Cue: Barcelona!!

I have been to Barcelona once before so it's not a totally new experience. It was one of many stops in my London student teaching semester when I had two weeks, a Eurail pass, and a desire to go everywhere more than somewhere. I was here for less than 48 hours and have wanted to come back ever since. 

Knowing that there was so much to see and do, I have seriously over-planned the next few days here. The family is graciously playing along but I am expecting them to all need a siesta by mid-day Monday.* This meant that we hit the ground running today when we arrived. 

I got into Barcelona around 12:30, was at the hotel by 1, and we were in a museum by 2:30. As my Dad says often, I love it when a plan comes together!**

AT, Dad, and I left Mom to suffer through jet lag while we headed to Parc de Montjuic. It is the site of the 1992 Olympic Games as well as gardens, walking areas, and a few museums. Specifically, we went for the Joan*** Miró museum. The museum was planned by Miró himself and is the largest collection of his works. 

My favorite:

 Dad contemplating the meaning of Art:

It was Surreal. 

From the museum we walked a bit through a sculpture garden that overlooked the city. 

We also rode the funicular to the top of the mountain where a castle**** overlooked the coast. 

Heading back down the hill we passed a hysterical***** graffiti tribute to one person's eclectic playlist selections. Does this wall need a shoutout in the blog? Maybe not, but how else will we bring Depeche Mode and One Direction fans together?

Tomorrow we are starting our architectural tour of all things Gaudi with some Picasso thrown in for fun! For now- we sleep!

-KT

*There is absolutely no time for one so they will have to fend for themselves on the streets while I cram in more Gaudi. 

**Technically, this catchphrase is stolen from the A-Team but that was never on my Nick-at-Nite lineup so it feels original to me. 

***I can confidently report that it is a hard "J" but it is two syllables and therefore not quite your favorite "Mad Men" character. 

****Castle? Please. It was a fort and we have hit our quota of forts for the foreseeable future. You can't trick us, Spain!!

*****To me, at least. 

Cartagena!

A teacher summer post in December? The people said it couldn't be done!! 

To them, I say, it's summer somewhere. Go ahead and put a tropical umbrella in your hot cider! And, really, shouldn't we keep summer in our hearts all year long? I think we should and I think we can. 

After a semester at home (ugh, day jobs, amirite?), I managed to squeeze in one last international trip. AT, my ever-ready travel companion, and I left unseasonably warm 70-degree weather in Atlanta for seasonally appropriate 90-degree weather in Cartagena, Colombia. 

Cartagena is a bustling port city with several different neighborhoods. We spent our time in the walled old city. It's charming, vibrant, and exactly the party we needed to end 2015. The majority of our days has been spent walking around and admiring. Narrow streets are lined with brightly colored buildings, most with balconies overrun by bougainvillea.

Vendors and shops sell street food, paletas (think popsicles and King of Pops), brightly woven bags and hammocks, and your regular assorted tchotchkes. 

The city is busy during the day but is really hopping at night when everyone is out in the streets. Light installations are everywhere, though possibly only up for Christmas and New Years. (They look great, Cartagena! I recommend bumping them up to year-round!)

Our hotel is next to a plaza that on our first night hosted an open-air Zumba class from about 8-10pm. I've really got to tell the local YMCA to step it up now that I've seen these folks in action! 

We ventured briefly outside the walls to visit the obligatory fort. It was very fort-y and I feel like I've seen my fair share of forts this year, but had great views of the entire city. 

The trip has been super quick but super fun! Gracias por todo, Cartagena!!