Barcelona in Black and White

A few unpublished pics from our time in Barcelona that lend themselves to black and white.

A Sweet Surprise on La Rambla

Peter inside Gaudi's Casa Batilo

Me, pausing to navigate the narrow streets of Barcelona

Me, Happy to be Surrounded by Picasso at the Picasso Museum

Taking it Easy in Barcelona

Me Again, at Placa Del Rei

Peter in the tower at Sagrada Familia--Overlooking Barcelona.

Flamenco Opera

Palau de la Musica Catalana Flamenco Opera is an entertaining mix of dance and Spanish Opera. Love Flamenco dance--fast and passionate. The Opera was beautiful too. 

Some things I have noted about Barceona:

- Because Barcelona is full of tourists (6 million a year) the crowds  tend to be everyone for him/herself.

- Spain has outlawed smoking inside of restaurants but one can smoke on the patio.

- A lot of pet dogs--French Bull dogs seem to be the most popular breed. 

-Spain is a little short on street signs and signs in general.  It is so easy to walk right by the place you're looking for as there are never any signs when you could really use one! 

-The food tends to be a little too rich for me. A lot more fat than I am used to.

- The Spanish have a sweet tooth. There are plenty of bakeries and candy shops.

Close up of exterior of Opera House

Inside the Palau de la Musica Catalan (pic is from iphone)

Museu Picasso

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Viewing a retrospective of Picasso's work was very satisfying. He was such a lucky boy! He studied art seriously at art academies since he was a young child. Part of his training was at an academy here in Barcelona, near the water front. I learned so much more viewing the progression of his work. I have opinions about Picasso's work--as a fellow painter. I believe his strength was in his drawing rather than his painting. Hence his later work was more drawing than painting.  His Blue period was the most passion filled. I also think he delved into ceramics in his later life purely for fun but that pottery was not his forte. And I have to say, his chauvinistic ways are evident in his work. 

The court yard of the Picasso Museum and former ancient Barcelona mansion. Sunscreen makes my face shiny :P

Momentarily feeling the Barcelona humid heat.

Peter at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium.

Joining in with the traditional Catalan dance. I am on the top of Montjuic in this pic. They speak Catalan in Catalonia. Peter and I are hooped as we don't speak Spanish or Catalan!

The edge of Old Barcelona--a small city centre which was once completely inside Roman walls. Dates from about 2nd C.

Beautiful Barcelona.

Getting lost in Barcelona (trying to find the Picasso Museum).

Me entering the Picasso museum which is housed in a very old Barcelona mansion 14th C--built over Roman ruins.

Peter waiting in the Picasso Museum lineup.

Gaudi Gumdrops!

***Note: I have changed the title of my blog from Buddha Mama to Modernista Mama. It better reflects the content of my blog as my blog includes all that is me (which includes following Buddhist philosophy)   

-Much happiness :)

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Gaudi

Gaudi who?

Gaudi gumdrops, there's more Gaudi!

PARC GUELL (1900)  Barcelona, Spain

Entrance to Parc Guell--commissioned by Count Guell. 3 km of paths and roads created by Gaudi, including two gatehouses and numerous sculptures.

I am finding being a SSL (Spanish as a second language learner) to be challenging. I find myself saying "Si" to everything when I don't quite understand. In a department store recently, the sales woman rambled on and on and I nodded and said "Si" thinking she was going to find me a fitting room. She then snatched all my items and began to ring them up. I have to reign in my "Si, Si's!"

Two of the Gaudi gate houses behind me. It was a very HOT day to attempt Parc Guell. This parc is featured in Woody Allen's film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Interestingly, our hotel is situated at the metro stop named Maria Cristina. It is always pleasant to come home each evening and disembark at Maria Cristina.

Me at Parc Guell.

Peter

View of Barcelona from hill at Parc Guell.

Behind Peter, high on a separate hill over Barcelona is the Les Tres Creus (three crosses). We climb to the top of this hill later in the blog...

That's me climbing to the top of Les Tres Creus.

At the tippy-top of Les Tes Creus, overlooking Barceona.

Les Tres Creus.

Peter at Parc Guell with a castle like church in the background on Tibidabo Mountain.

A home within Parc Guell.

Serpent like walkway by Gaudi.

Serpent walkway.

Sala Hipostial: a 88 pillar "forest" designed to be used as a market place.

A gatekeeper home at the parc.

Barri Gotic and El Born areas of old Barcelona

I am sitting outside the Hotel Princesca Sofia at the moment, soaking in some Barcelona sunshine and blogging while Peter finishes at the conference. We will get going this afternoon which, is perfect as we spend all afternoon and evening out exploring and eating supper and return late to the hotel. We are already living the Spanish lifestyle of eating our supper at 9:30 p.m. I am quite enjoying all of the Spanish ways. Their red wine is so inexpensive and so good: dry yet smooth, with red current undertones (wish I could remember the name of last night's tasting). We spent yesterday exploring old Barcelona. We twisted and turned down medieval narrow streets, touring ancient cathedrals and viewing Roman walls from the 3rd C. We also toured the old "Jewish Quarter" (was the Jewish area of Barcelona before local anti-Semitism outlawed Judaism in the 14th C-- I assume it is no longer illegal!).

Peter during quiet siesta time in Barcelona. 

Barri Gotic area of Barcelona.

Peter

Palau de la Musica Catalana: we will be attending a Flamenco Opera here on Wednesday night.

View of Catedral (1298-1460)

Catedral 

Roman Wall (3rd C) built to protect Romans from Germanic tribes from North.

Peter

Me in front of ancient doors.

Entrance to catedral courtyard.

Catedral courtyard surrounded by shrines to various saints. Catedral still an active church.

Peter in Catedral courtyard.

Interior of Caterdral. Even though I no longer consider myself to be a Catholic, I must confess, if I lived in Barcelona, I would attend mass at this Catedral because of its beauty and ambience and to listen to the priests speak Spanish. 

Peter in Catedral.

A gilded shrine. Some shrines contain crypts.

Geese in Catedral courtyard.

Sant (saint) Teresa's shrine (for Theresa).

Me enjoying the Barri Gotic streets.

In the Placa de Sant Jaume.

Exploring the Jewish Quarter. Purchased Pip an adorable pair of red Flamenco shoes!

Casa Miranda (for Miranda). It seems 2 of my sisters have Spanish names.

Me enjoying gelato. I chose Crema Catalonia. Very sweet and it made my tongue go numb (?)

A beautifully coloured apartment block.

A super narrow street with peter in it ( he hated the super narrow streets as they often have a urine odor).

Another living statue on La Rambla. Note the fire burning in the apartment behind.

Tippy-top detail from the Placa Reial.

Line up to eat at Les Quinze Nits in the Placa Reial. Can you spot Peter?

Two Spanish men sitting in Placa Reial, drinking beer and people watching.

The street dancers/performers were back!

Juggler at Placa Reial.

Supper at Les Quinze Nits.

View of Placa Reilal from our table.

Peter and his steak.

Peter took this pic of me on the Metro after I said no more pics please! This is me, trying to snatch the camera.