Hola from Barcelona!
February 10th 2008 19:14
I began my day sometime before 4am, reflecting on the things about Italia I had liked as we drove towards the airport... I´ve probably gained a few kilos, but I would do the same thing all over again if I went back... Aha, there´s now an apostrophe where I´m used to pressing to receive one, but it´s one of those special apostrophes that take up the space of an entire letter and hence look a bit awkward.
Anyway, We flew to Barcelona via Switzerland, and I found the Zurich airport quite a rewarding site - for one, they had a smoking lounge, a postmodern space which both encouraged people to come in with its state of the art decor and wall of glass, and discouraged them with the tag ´smoking seriously damages your health´ under the name of the lounge.
I also noticed that they had invested in seven thin vertical screens which were placed at a small distance from each other and turned to face the spectator in a diagonal fashion, designed to capture the attention as the passenger floated by on one of those long strps of moving metal. Images of watches and women floated from one screen onto another, creating an expansive vertical image. I think it was called ´WalkSeven´. Very pomo.
I enjoyed one of the watches featured in the ads too - it had diamonds instead of numerals, and streaks of gold moving towards the centre, so they looked like pips of shooting stars. The four numerals were in curvy writing, accentuating the smooth flowy lines of the watch. I do but forget the name of the brand...
Another hour´s flight later, meditating on how attractive Europeans can be, I found myself at the Barcelona Airport, incredibly tired but excited about being in not just a new city but a new country altogether.
And how postmodern it is! Building after building rolled by as we caught the bus to one of the central areas that could be classified as such. My favourite was the one that began with a small rectangular block at the bottom then expanded its size in all directions as it went upwards.
Aside: I just realised that CNN´s Richard Quest is making up my ambient noise, here in the recreational area of the Hostal Opera. (Does anyone know who I´m talking about? He´s a quirky one, but not (for me) in a good way... Very distinctive voice!)
The adventures were far from over when I got off the bus and ventured into the metro. Have you ever seen a vending machine for books before? I believe I have seen my first... These A5-sized volumes were sealed in plastic, in a bright red machine. Half of the ones shocased here were by someone called Patricia Holt. I didn´t check to see which language they were in (for here they have two main languages, Spanish and Catalonian... and then there´s English and whatever other European languages whichever organisation happens to recognise for their purposes), but I assumed they were in English.
Anyway, our first stop was the Sagrada Familia, a modernista church which is a work in progress and has been being built on the instructions Antonio Gaudi left behind for over 100 years. It is only about 50% finito. I found it interesting, but mostly unappealing. I´m not fond of Gaudi´s penchant for creating forms which are meant to represent the natural and organic without diversity of colour- the entire church is sable-ish. Though I do respect him for being original and swimming against the tide in creating a church which is iconoclaustic and quirky. My favourite parts of the SF were the windows, which reminded me of rainbow spectrums. The only colour that´s missing is purple... some more green would have been lovely too.
I wasn´t keen on seeing this site from the start but everyone who had already been to Barcelona identifide it as a definite must-see, so I put it down on my list. Well, it´s over with now, and I´m not too sad that I was a bit tired to fully appreciate it. I saved my energies for the next sight on my list, which was...
The Museu Picasso was really worthwhile, and by some lucky denouement we got in for free! Well, I did... my dad was so tired that he decided to wait in the grounds´ cafe. (He´d seen it before anyway.) The museum focuses on Pablo´s early work, and almost every piece is worth close inspection. Unfortunately I was sharing the space with many other spectators, and a veritable flock of Japanese tourists, who are turning out to be ubiquitious in Europe! Too bad I don´t understand enough Jap to listen in on their guided tours...
My favourite works of art were his early portraits, and a portrait of a woman in his Rose Period. No photos were allowed, but I sneaked one of her anyway.
We were within walking distance of our hotel so off we went, and we came across a festival which celebrated specific communities in the Barcelona area. There were large-scale sparklers being paraded high in the air, enthusiastic drumming, and the use of black, yellow and red costumes. I wish I could tell you more, but the few people we asked didn´t know much more than us.
I walked into some wonderful shops, including a shop called La Boheme which sold arty tops, and a souvenir shop which featured novelty cups of a type I hadn´t seen before: one had landmarks of Barcelona on it and had a diagonally shaped hole-less holder, and another looked like a rectangular strip of porcelain had been folded into itself with a bit sticking out for the handle. That one had a tribute to Gaudi on it, and I´m seriously thinking about going back to that place and buying both cups. I haven´t purchased much on this trip anyway. *wink*
My last discovery of the day is that Schweppes has a different range here, including a soft drink called ´Limon´which is divine. It tastes a bit like Lift, so if I ever move here I won´t miss my favourite soft drink.
Did I mention that I *really* like Barcelona? Many people on the streets shos signs of quirkiness, whether it´s retro headphones, streaked hair, piercings or, as I found today at Sagrada Familia, men with thin, arched eyebrows... I hadn´t even seen that in Syd!
There´s something in the air here... people seem so passionate and full of life that I´d like to stay longer than we have and possibly even live in the area for a while. I´d love to live in a place that allows gay marriage, both in theory, and, now, in practice.
Since the Spanish are known for rejoicing long into the night, we might get out on La Rambla again later on tonight, to see what people are up to. (We live on one of the streets off it for the next four days!)
Anyway, We flew to Barcelona via Switzerland, and I found the Zurich airport quite a rewarding site - for one, they had a smoking lounge, a postmodern space which both encouraged people to come in with its state of the art decor and wall of glass, and discouraged them with the tag ´smoking seriously damages your health´ under the name of the lounge.
I enjoyed one of the watches featured in the ads too - it had diamonds instead of numerals, and streaks of gold moving towards the centre, so they looked like pips of shooting stars. The four numerals were in curvy writing, accentuating the smooth flowy lines of the watch. I do but forget the name of the brand...
Another hour´s flight later, meditating on how attractive Europeans can be, I found myself at the Barcelona Airport, incredibly tired but excited about being in not just a new city but a new country altogether.
And how postmodern it is! Building after building rolled by as we caught the bus to one of the central areas that could be classified as such. My favourite was the one that began with a small rectangular block at the bottom then expanded its size in all directions as it went upwards.
The adventures were far from over when I got off the bus and ventured into the metro. Have you ever seen a vending machine for books before? I believe I have seen my first... These A5-sized volumes were sealed in plastic, in a bright red machine. Half of the ones shocased here were by someone called Patricia Holt. I didn´t check to see which language they were in (for here they have two main languages, Spanish and Catalonian... and then there´s English and whatever other European languages whichever organisation happens to recognise for their purposes), but I assumed they were in English.
Anyway, our first stop was the Sagrada Familia, a modernista church which is a work in progress and has been being built on the instructions Antonio Gaudi left behind for over 100 years. It is only about 50% finito. I found it interesting, but mostly unappealing. I´m not fond of Gaudi´s penchant for creating forms which are meant to represent the natural and organic without diversity of colour- the entire church is sable-ish. Though I do respect him for being original and swimming against the tide in creating a church which is iconoclaustic and quirky. My favourite parts of the SF were the windows, which reminded me of rainbow spectrums. The only colour that´s missing is purple... some more green would have been lovely too.
I wasn´t keen on seeing this site from the start but everyone who had already been to Barcelona identifide it as a definite must-see, so I put it down on my list. Well, it´s over with now, and I´m not too sad that I was a bit tired to fully appreciate it. I saved my energies for the next sight on my list, which was...
The Museu Picasso was really worthwhile, and by some lucky denouement we got in for free! Well, I did... my dad was so tired that he decided to wait in the grounds´ cafe. (He´d seen it before anyway.) The museum focuses on Pablo´s early work, and almost every piece is worth close inspection. Unfortunately I was sharing the space with many other spectators, and a veritable flock of Japanese tourists, who are turning out to be ubiquitious in Europe! Too bad I don´t understand enough Jap to listen in on their guided tours...
My favourite works of art were his early portraits, and a portrait of a woman in his Rose Period. No photos were allowed, but I sneaked one of her anyway.
We were within walking distance of our hotel so off we went, and we came across a festival which celebrated specific communities in the Barcelona area. There were large-scale sparklers being paraded high in the air, enthusiastic drumming, and the use of black, yellow and red costumes. I wish I could tell you more, but the few people we asked didn´t know much more than us.
I walked into some wonderful shops, including a shop called La Boheme which sold arty tops, and a souvenir shop which featured novelty cups of a type I hadn´t seen before: one had landmarks of Barcelona on it and had a diagonally shaped hole-less holder, and another looked like a rectangular strip of porcelain had been folded into itself with a bit sticking out for the handle. That one had a tribute to Gaudi on it, and I´m seriously thinking about going back to that place and buying both cups. I haven´t purchased much on this trip anyway. *wink*
My last discovery of the day is that Schweppes has a different range here, including a soft drink called ´Limon´which is divine. It tastes a bit like Lift, so if I ever move here I won´t miss my favourite soft drink.
Did I mention that I *really* like Barcelona? Many people on the streets shos signs of quirkiness, whether it´s retro headphones, streaked hair, piercings or, as I found today at Sagrada Familia, men with thin, arched eyebrows... I hadn´t even seen that in Syd!
There´s something in the air here... people seem so passionate and full of life that I´d like to stay longer than we have and possibly even live in the area for a while. I´d love to live in a place that allows gay marriage, both in theory, and, now, in practice.
Since the Spanish are known for rejoicing long into the night, we might get out on La Rambla again later on tonight, to see what people are up to. (We live on one of the streets off it for the next four days!)
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I loved Barcelona as well. Like you said, it's a quirky colourful place with lots happening.
Have fun,
Trace
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Ah, ít´s wonderful to have had enough sleep! I just had a tasty canya (a cream-filled pastry) for breakfast and tried the hot chocolate, though I must report that I didn´t like it so much.
Sounds like you´ve been to a lot of places!
Hey Michaelie,
Yeah, the eyebrows didn´t appeal to me much either... interestingly enough, they were on a dark dude! It seems black people tend to be less metrosexual than their white or hispanic (or Asian!) counterparts (yes, I know there are a lot more races but I don´t have the time to list them all now) counterparts, so it was refreshing to see it.
I forgot to say that I saw an ample-bosomed woman in a pink top without a bra! She must have been a D or E cup...
And the Schweppes drink is actually called Spirit, with ´limon´ as the descriptor- oops! I must have been quite tired yesterday, as my various typos also suggest.
Thanks for your comments, gals!
Comment by AmyHuang
Sydney Table
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Gaudi....to me he is a God of art in sculptural architecture!
Picasso, the other God!
What a trip!!
Oh, and if you happen to see the tennis player Raphael Nadal...swoon...tell him he has a secret admirer...yeah I know...he has ten million secret admirers!
Oh, would you do me a favour, if you are able, please say hello to one of Gaudi's works for me...and give it a friendly pat...maybe that amazing apartment block with the curvy balconies, the Casa Mila? Anyone of his great works will do!!
cheers
fog
P.S. I didn't know they allowed legal gay marriage there......being so Catholic...maybe my instincts about Raphael are right??!!
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I tried to repeat the Hola someone was giving me today and came up with something like haelluh... The instinct to say hello instead was quite strong!
I am now enjoying Barcelona more than any place I have been to in Italy, and I would say it´s up there with Paris in my top two of European destinations (I´m yet to go to London, or Amsterdam, which you wrote so well about!)
Hi Mountain Fog (lovely name btw),
I think the phrase ´congealed with jealousy´is highly creative - well done!
I wasn´t that impressed with the Sagrada Familia, but after seeing Casa Battlo, Casa Mila and Park Guell today I can see where you´re coming from... I could spend my entire trip seeing Gaudi attractions and not be too disappointed... alas, I´ve already done it... but I´ll linger lovingly at a representation of one of those structures for you when I step inside a souvenir shop... how´s that?
I´m afraid I wouldn´t know Raphael if he gave me directions to my next sight... this is the first I´ve heard of him! You´re curious about his sexuality?
It´s incongruous that homosexual marriage is legal in Spain even though Catholicism is so popular, isnt it? But Barcelona is very liberal... I saw a guy with dreads pass by another guy with dreads on the train today... I thought it was funny. It´s also being marketed as a destination for gay couples. It´s very close to a town called Sitges which hosts the Carnavale in late Feb each year, and has a large and visible gay population, so it´s influenced by that also. Other parts of Spain are sure to be more conservative.
Thanks for dropping by, I´ll be sure to check out your blogs...
Adios for now ppl,
Epiphanie
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
thanks for the detailed response, that was lovely of you!
Pity that, once again, I missed out on having one of my favourite things greeted on my behalf, however, it is much appreciated that you will take the trouble to send my greetings via a lovely plastic representation in a tourist shop...I am touched! tee hee!
Oh, and I CANNOT believe you don't know who Raphael Nadal is!!! A Spanish GOD of tennis and physique...sigh...admittedly he is far too young for me, too tall, too strong and too many big muscles, but, I can dream...or try to remember my now spent youth!
Anyhoo, hope you are having a ball...of course you are!...and look forward to reading more installments.
Where are you going next by the way? Maybe I can get an order in early for you to say hello to some famous monument or other!!??!!
cheers and my friends call me fog...so now you can tooooo!!!!
fog
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
The next museum I´ll be hitting will be full of Dali sculptures... any requests?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Have fun,
Tracy
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Umm[/COLOR[COLOR=Fuchsia]]...DALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is another of my Gods, as are; Magritte, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Toulose Letrec, Van Gogh and I could go on....ad nauseum...
Anyhoo...yes PLEASE whisper "Fog says hello!!" to Dali and Van Gogh especially, I am sure they have him there, the Prada museum has everyone so I am told.
Cheers
fog
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I thought that Dali may have been someone you fancied so I took the liberty of saying ¨Hi¨ for you... it was in a room with lots of paintings and a few big sculptures, so I´m sure they all heard it.
You have a good selection of ´gods´ there... I´ve already mentioned my favourite (Miró), and now Chiho Aoshima is becoming someone I fancy quite a lot... especially when she doesn´t focus on morbid stuff. Also, some stuff by a close friend, Debra Xu. But I am biased there.
Make merry like I´m sure you will,
Epiphanie