September 15-20-Barcelona and more

Sept 16-19 Barcelona and nearby

After our days along the Costa Brava and Figueres, we went to Jordi and Teresa's place in Barcelona. We met Jordi for lunch in the newly renovated market near the hospital where he works, and then
 spent some time perusing the stalls to admire the beautiful displays of food and to choose food for dinner that night.

Beautiful looking appetizers

Morris, Jordi and Teresa choosing seafood for dinner

We visited the Gothic quarter with Teresa where we went on a tour of the Palau de la Musica, already mentioned in the last post. I just wanted to add a few pictures to show more of the detail. Then we walked around the area and ended at the Mercato Santa Caterina where we ate a wonderful lunch and then shopped for dinner ingredients- everything so fresh and beautifully displayed!

Inside the Palau de la Musica

Inside the Palau de la Musica- what attention to detail!

 Morris and I had a nice day together revisiting Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, two places we had visited years ago, but were happy to revisit. Both of these apartments were designed by Gaudi in the early 1900's and are examples of modernist design. Casa Batllo is quite whimsical in that there are curved windows including the frames, undulating walls and ceilings. These apartments have to be seen to be believed! Even the rooftops are a surprise.

Casa Batllo- beautiful doorway with stained glass

Curved ceiling and light

Casa Batllo- outside view

Here are some shots of La Pedrera, which was commissioned in 1906 by a wealthy family to be used as a family home as well as apartments for rent. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1984. There is natural light maximized by the addition of a huge central skylight in the middle of the apartment roof and going all the way down the six stories so that each level is bright.

Incredible skylight bringing light into the centre of each apartment

La Pedrera a small section of the rooftop

A model of La Pedrera

Gaudi was involved at every level of design including the furniture- not sure if it was his deign or was chosen by him.

The astonishing fact about both Antonio Gaudi and Lluis Montaner, the architect of the Palau de la Misica, is that neither one of them created a blueprint of their buildings. They had sketches of all the columns, windows, statues, decorative bits etc. but not the location of these objects within the buildings. They had all the plans in their heads. This meant that they had to micromanage every little thing.
Lluis Montaner lived to see his beautiful palau completed and was able to enjoy concerts which took place there although he did not live long after the palau was finished. Gaudi, on the other hand, had designed a good number of buildings which can be seen in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia, the cathedral he had been working on, was not completed during his lifetime as he was run over by a streetcar and killed. As no one had the blueprint or the money to continue the work it was left unfinished for many decades. Finally, in the 90s, the work was continued and most of the inside is now finished but the exterior is still a work in progress. Morris and I did not visit the Sagrada Familia this trip as we had been there a few years prior on our previous trip. It is an incredibly beautiful building, filled with stained glass, lots of light coming through big windows and modern looking statuary. What a work of art. A must see!


On our final day in Barcelona, Jordi planned a visit to the Royal Monastery of Santa Creus. Work on this monastery began in 1313 and continued until the 19th century. There are lots of carvings- on top of columns- mythical animals, monkeys, lions... and a large star of David carved into one of the walls in full view! Jordi said that no doubt one of the artisans was Jewish and left his mark! I'm not sure how he got away with it. Maybe no one knew what it was.

Jordi walking down a corridor of the Royal Monastery of Santa Creus

See the star of David underneath the cross

We then went to see another church built at the top of a hill, and designed by a student of Gaudi. Upon closer inspection it was clear that the student had not outdone the master, hadn't even come close. Nevertheless it was still interesting to look at.

Morris here now.  We had a wonderful trip.  As you may have gathered from the blog we ate our way through France and Catalunya.  The surprising thing is that both of us only increased out weight by 1 pound.  This speaks to the European way of eating, rather than how we eat here in North America.  You may also have gathered that we sampled a good many wines.  Perhaps sampled is not quite the right word.  All right - we drank a lot.  But it was sooo good!

Now we are home.  Not sure where or when the next trip is to be, but that's when the next instalment will be.