Barcelona

Found a pension, which you will find out more about later, and headed straight for Barcelona's most famous landmark, the Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi.  Massive religious buildings are othing new or unusual - the Haggia Sophia and Blue Mosque of Istanbul are both very old and immense, the romanesque and gothic cathedrals of medieval Europe stand as a tribute to religious fervor and skilled construction techniques, the ornate baroque churches and cathedrals evoque yet another architectural style and time of religious zeal.   Fast forward to Barcelona where I gaze at unusual modern spires surrounded by six towering cranes, walk through an interior construction site resembling an ancient forest and climb narrow spiral stairways leading to the bell towers topped by colorful ceramic and glass sculptures, all of the time, sharing the space with some 300 workers attempting to complete this project in another 20 years.  I am actually witnessing the construction of a cathedral size church!  In the past, there must have been religous pilgrims, foreign travelers and curious local citizens who walked through gothic construction sites or watched stone masons and sculptors accomplish their work.  It is one thing to peer through an opening in the temporary barrier around the construction site of a skyscraper, but quite another to stroll through a vast project begun over 100 years ago.  Amazing, impressive and moving!  Only photos and some knowledge of Gaudi's style can adequately convey the captivating beauty of the Sagrada Familia.  Sorry, but the photos will have to come later.

As I write this entry sitting in a cafe facing the Casa Batllo, I am looking at the facade of this elaborate house designed by Gaudi.  Straight lines have been replaced with gentle curves, flowing walls, wavy rooflines and stairways that seem to melt as they connect the levels of the house.  Ceramic tiles and colored glass add visual interest and beauty to the style. 

There is a great Picasso museum in Barcelona that houses much of his early work.   It is especially interesting because it pre-dates the abstract style that we most often associate with him. 

Last night I attended a concert by Manuel Ferandez, a well-known and very talented guitarist, held in the Palau de la Music- concert hall.  The building is as amazing as the musician- grand staircases, Tiffany style glass panels in the ceiling, sculptures of animals, people and trees surrounding the stage, huge ceramic roses lining the support beams- all very beautiful.

Returned to my pension and discovered a new "solution" to the game of Clue.   The plumber did it with a screwdriver in the bedroom!   The sink in my room was plugged so one of the employees attempted unsuccessfully to clean the trap and drain.    When I got back to my room following the concert, the door to the neighboring room was open, light on, a screwdriver laying on the floor in a pool of blood that was leaking into the hall.  A crime scene? No one in sight!   When I went to the front desk, the employee appeared with a large bandage around his thumb!  He had cut his thumb on a broken ceramic tile while attempting to fix the problem.   Still not able to use the sink!