Sunday, April 11, 2004
Spain Trip - Day 8
The next stop on the Gaudi tour was Parc Guell. This is a large park on the side of a hill commissioned by the namesake for the well to do people to relax in. However the project ran out of money before it was completed and the park was handed over to the Council and opened to the public. A great win against capitalism! The park´s bridges look like natural rock, two houses that look like the ginger bread house in Hansel and Gretel and chameleon fountain. And its all free!
The Olympic village is by the beach and reminiscent of the Viaduct basin in Auckland, over priced restaurants, bars and little character. Unfortunately it was too cold for a swim.
On our way back to town we stopped at the Parc de la Cuitadella. A large open park with lots of grass areas which were fenced off but no one seemed to care. We sat in the sun, read our books and listened to the african drummers nearby. It reminded me of a summers day in Wellington at the Botanical gardens.
Spain Trip - Day 9
Speaking of Botanical gardens the one here is rather disappointing. It is very new so all the trees are tiny and the area covered is quite small. The gardens are on Montjuic a hill which has Castell de Montjuic on top.
Castell de Montjuic is a fortress which affords a view across the entire Barcelona waterfront although I enjoyed the view Lou was suffering in the cold wind and was not interested in the Military Museum in the fort (which is nothing on Waiouru). We took the gondola down to a park for some more rest and reading.
Spain Trip - Day 10
Being our last full day in Spain it was time to see the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi´s masterpiece. After seeing so many Cathedrals already on our trips it was interesting and refreshing to see a modern interpretation in construction. Even though it is not finished I must say it is the my favourite Church. The enormous spires reaching into the sky, the angular, modern sculptures of the Passion facade, the use of natural inspiration for the architecture makes it feel more alive and relevant than other churches certainly a highlight of the trip. Lous kicking herself for forgetting her camera.
The web site for the temple is actually quite good.
The next stop on the Gaudi tour was Parc Guell. This is a large park on the side of a hill commissioned by the namesake for the well to do people to relax in. However the project ran out of money before it was completed and the park was handed over to the Council and opened to the public. A great win against capitalism! The park´s bridges look like natural rock, two houses that look like the ginger bread house in Hansel and Gretel and chameleon fountain. And its all free!
The Olympic village is by the beach and reminiscent of the Viaduct basin in Auckland, over priced restaurants, bars and little character. Unfortunately it was too cold for a swim.
On our way back to town we stopped at the Parc de la Cuitadella. A large open park with lots of grass areas which were fenced off but no one seemed to care. We sat in the sun, read our books and listened to the african drummers nearby. It reminded me of a summers day in Wellington at the Botanical gardens.
Spain Trip - Day 9
Speaking of Botanical gardens the one here is rather disappointing. It is very new so all the trees are tiny and the area covered is quite small. The gardens are on Montjuic a hill which has Castell de Montjuic on top.
Castell de Montjuic is a fortress which affords a view across the entire Barcelona waterfront although I enjoyed the view Lou was suffering in the cold wind and was not interested in the Military Museum in the fort (which is nothing on Waiouru). We took the gondola down to a park for some more rest and reading.
Spain Trip - Day 10
Being our last full day in Spain it was time to see the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi´s masterpiece. After seeing so many Cathedrals already on our trips it was interesting and refreshing to see a modern interpretation in construction. Even though it is not finished I must say it is the my favourite Church. The enormous spires reaching into the sky, the angular, modern sculptures of the Passion facade, the use of natural inspiration for the architecture makes it feel more alive and relevant than other churches certainly a highlight of the trip. Lous kicking herself for forgetting her camera.
The web site for the temple is actually quite good.
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