Barcelona!

Highlights!

Warm weather: Did I type “warm”? I think I meant to type “HOT”. Whenever we walked outdoors, all I could think about was the next air-conditioned destination.

Gaudí: I actually did not know who Antoni Gaudí was before I went to Barcelona, but I really began to like him when I was in Barcelona. I was not initially attracted to the Modernista style. However, when I read about the subtle, and sometimes hidden, symbolism and significance in the architecture, I began to see the genius behind the work. Now I have a greater appreciation for all things Gaudí.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera): This was an apartment complex designed by Gaudí and opened as a kind of museum. The exhibits have great explanations for Gaudí’s design rationale. The rolling terrace is a fun place to run around in the morning when the weather isn’t scorching hot yet.

Parc Güell: I think I would have enjoyed this park a lot more if it were about 10 °C cooler. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a small picnic in the lower court where we were surrounded by magestic Doric columns and shaded by creative mosaics on the ceiling.

Sagrada Família: This is a huge church that has been under construction since 1882. The expected completion year is 2030. I was very impressed with the enormous scale of the project. I’m a little disappointed that many of Gaudí’s plans were lost over the years, but I think the Sagrada Família is meant to be the product of many great minds, not just one. Surprisingly, my favorite thing in the Sagrada Família was not from Gaudi but the magic square designed by Josep Subirachs. Can you see why it’s so “magical”?

Picasso Museum: When I think Picasso, I think Blue Period and Cubism. I was surprised to see relatively little art of these two periods. Since the museum covers his whole life, I enjoyed seeing the development of his artwork. As a teenager, Picasso used his family members in his work. One of my favorite Picasso paintings was one that actually won honorable mention at an art competition when Picasso was 16. Titled Ciència I caritat (Science and Charity), the painting includes a technique of perspective that makes the bed lengthen and shorten as you move around the painting. The painting reminded me that regardless of first place, honorable mention, or no recognition at all, if you love what you do, that passion will make itself apparent.