Monday
Today we started the day off with a visit to the Canadian Consulate where we met more people who had been robbed. On our way to the metro stop we saw Casa Batllo, a famous building designed by Gaudi, a world famous architect and Barcelonian superstar.(click on the word "Gaudi" or the word "Casa Batllo" for more info). We took the metro to Gaudi most famous work, "La Sagrada Familia". The architecture is so advanced and so detailed that it has been under construction since 1882 and is only between half and three quarters of the way done. Every inch of the outside is covered in statues; from a distance it looks as if it is melting. The inside is not as detailed but it is vast and innovative in design. Fully worth the small fortune it cost to get in. In continuing with our Gaudi theme we went to Parc Guell. Designed to be a suburb community for the wealthy, the project was scrapped and turned into a public park. Very impressive and a nice place for a stroll.
Tuesday
We woke up to pouring rain and decided to stay indoors and visit some museums. We spent about 30 minutes looking for the Picasso Museum, so much for our staying indoors plan. They had hid it in a small alley. Despite all that it was only 9 euros for the entire family and well worth the money. When you think Picasso you think cubism, it turns out that he was much more than that and Cubism was only one of his phases. One of my favourite parts was a room full of variations of a single painting. For the rest of the day we wandered around, went to two different markets, ate Tapas for lunch and, following their 5-0 win against real Madrid, I bought an FC Barcelona cap.
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Funny... the first time I visited Barcelona I stayed literally around the corner from the Picasso museum and didn't even realise. I could never figure out why it always seemed so crowded with tourists as it should have been a quiet area. The second time I visited, I actually tried to find it and had a similar experience to you. When everything seem sort of familiar on the way out from the museum, I realised why.
ReplyDeleteDid you see any of the Barca highlights on TV? They were pretty devastating. I hope Spurs don't draw them in the next round of the Champions League. Right now, after beating Inter Milan (the reigning champions) 3-1, we might finish top of our group which would mean we avoid them all together next round. Here's hoping. Re: Picasso, I love the way the museum was chronological in layout so you could see his development. If I remember correctly, the room with all the variations were all versions of "Las Meninas" by Diego Velasquez. It's in the Prado in Madrid. Great Wikipaedia article on all the fascinating backstory to the painting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Meninas
That should cover the Grade 8 Art History curriculum for a while :)
Keep blogging, even if you have to write it by hand and publish later. Your eager audience is hanging on your every word!
3-1!
ReplyDeleteWow Ian, the Spurs are on a roll. They are really, really good and will defiantly win their group. In fact they are so good that I will consider cheering for them. Your choice of team was a really good one! By the way, I bought so many pastries in France that I am running low on cash. If you could send some to my grandparents in England I will pick it up on my way back.
GO SPURS!!!!!