Entrada principal al Park Güell, en Barcelona

A finales del siglo XIX, el mundo se vio invadido por un cándido sentimiento de modernidad, respaldado por el avance tecnológico que traía la Segunda Revolución Industrial. Ello permitió el desarrollo de muchas sociedades, entre ellas Catalunya, cuya fructífera economía dio paso a una burguesía progresista, muy atenta a los cambios artísticos que se producían en la Europa decimonónica: el modernismo.

De gran impacto visual y basado en la naturaleza, este movimiento privilegió las formas fantasiosas y preciosistas, creando una sensación de movilidad y vitalidad mediante el uso de colores y estructuras onduladas. Si bien se propagó por casi todo el Viejo Continente, fue en Barcelona donde alcanzó sus más altos logros, ya que el modernismo no solo fue una corriente artística, sino que tuvo un peculiar cariz político y social. Decidida a marcar una clara diferencia frente a España, Catalunya vio en esta estética el estandarte del cambio y la distinción, dando inicio a una efervescencia arquitectónica, subvencionada por su burguesía.

Preciosismo catalán

Entre los más insignes artífices del modernismo catalán se encuentra el arquitecto Antoni Gaudí, cuyas construcciones hicieron de Barcelona una de las ciudades más cosmopolitas de Occidente. Sus edificaciones rompieron con la utilitaria arquitectura industrial de la época, renovando por completo la fisonomía de la capital.

Además de la Sagrada Família, otro de los edificios atractivos de Gaudí es la Casa Batlló, construida entre 1904-1906 a pedido de Josep Batlló i Casanovas. Su impresionante fachada fue concebida como reflejo de las formas que produciría una piedra lanzada en un estanque de nenúfares en flor. Por ello, el frontis expone motivos óseos y detalles vegetales, así como enormes y coloridos ventanales que reptan hasta las helicoidales chimeneas de la azotea.

Asimismo, la Casa Milá, conocida también como La Pedrera, fue erigida entre 1906-1910 por encargo de Pere Milá i Camps. Esta edificación presenta en su fachada bellos balcones decorados con hierro forjado a manera de plantas trepadoras, mientras que su ondeada cornisa superior muestra capullos de rosa con inscripciones en latín del Ave María.

Paraíso Güell

Uno de los personajes más decisivos para Gaudí fue su mecenas: el político e industrial Eusebi Güell. Gracias a su apoyo y amistad, Gaudí levantó varios edificios en su honor, entre ellos los Pavellons Güell, la Colònia Güell o el Palau Güell. Empero, su obra más conocida es un ambicioso complejo urbanístico de más de 17 hectáreas: el paradisíaco Park Güell. Su entrada principal es una alegoría de lo más elevado del mundo terrenal y espiritual. Destacan, además, la Sala Hipóstila, los bancos ondulantes y sus mosaicos, el viaducto, la Casa-Museo Gaudí o el Turó de les Tres Creus, desde donde se obtiene una increíble vista de la ciudad.

Sin lugar a dudas, el actual esplendor y fausto que particulariza Barcelona provienen del genio de uno de sus hijos predilectos: Antoni Gaudí i Cornet.

Texto y fotografía: Reinhard Huamán Mori

Publicado en el diario peruano Expreso, Lima, 21.XI.2008

For all the radical, almost space-agey, architecture that’s going on nowadays, you can’t tell me we have as much fun with the design of our constructions as we used to. Sure, the new, sleek materials and designs are chic and sophisticated, but they’re a little lacking in spontaneity and COLOR, for goodness’ sake! The buildings I’ll give tours of today aren’t as “hip” (built anywhere from the 1500s to the early 1900s), but their children’s book-appearances are sure to appeal to anyone’s imagination.

I mentioned in one of the earliest Daily Doses (Stilettos and Skyscrapers) that I’d not be opposed to wearing shoes designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, and now I think it’s time to give him some credit for his fantastical art nouveau architecture.

Roof of Casa Battló by Antoni Gaudí

The radiant image above is the mosaic roof of the Casa Battló in Barcelona, Spain. It leads me to think of the scaly spine of a dinosaur or a dragon. Others get a similar impression – the visceral appearance of the 1877 residence has earned it the local nickname of the “house of bones.”

Casa Batlló balconies and interior staircase

Cooperative Bank Building in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Now, you may have been taken aback by my initial suggestion that we just don’t enjoy ourselves as we used to when it comes to building design. And it’d be easy to look at Gaudí’s Batlló home, credit it to the (presumably) very cool people who lived there and leave it at that. But there’s really no excuse for the blasé when you see a bank like the one on the right. I’d be finding reasons to make transactions at least once a day!

I’ve been saving the best for last. Russia, if I may say so myself, really knows how to do it up right. Well, at least they did in 1555! That’s when the famed St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow underwent construction. The designers of the spiraling turrets and whimsically-patterned towers had no qualms about combining red, green, gold and blue in such a way that you may start to feel like it’s you, not the design, that’s spinning…

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia; Candy-Land cover

…that, and it looks like it’s been built strictly according to the prototype on the Candy-Land board game box. (Although, considering the respective dates of creation, it’s probably the other way around). Architects, if you’re listening, it’s time for color to make its comeback!

Sources:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=873866
http://mjmbooks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Candy-Land.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Batllo

La de ayer fue una noche interesante músico-marquetinianamente hablando. Sin saber muy bien cómo me encontré en medio de la fiesta que la marca de relojes G-Shock daba en la casa Batlló de Barcelona. Todo un acontecimiento al que valía la pena asistir aunque solo fuese para hacer un poco de vida social dentro de uno de los edificios más emblemáticos de Gaudí. Si al interés arquitectónico le sumamos que organizaba el evento la gente de Vice, con lo que ese hecho supone a nivel de gratuidad etílica y bellezas nórdicas, la fiesta tenía muchos vises de convertirse en un fiestón.

Interactué un buen rato con amigos conocidos y saludados, hice un poco de catering hunting usando el viejo truco de descubrir por donde salen los camareros con las bandejas de comida, y después de los mini brownies y las mini tartaletas de queso y frutas del bosque empezó el show.

Pig Noise se plantaron en el improvisado escenario dispuestos a ofrecer un concierto relámpago. Para quien no tenga el gusto de conocer a la banda decir que su sonido vendría a ser como un pop-core de segunda regional. En el mercado español juegan en la misma liga de la que El Canto del Loco es líder, pero Pig Noise no aspiran a Champions, y tendrían muy cruda la lucha por la permanencia si no fuese porque su cantante y guitarrista fue canterano del Real Madrid, y es novio de Amaia Salamanca, más conocido como la protagonista de la serie de Telecinco Sin tetas no hay Paraiso.

Estaba dispuesto a tragarme mis más hondos prejuicios tal y como minutos antes engullí la repostería en miniatura, así que busqué entre la multitud un buen sitio para ver el concierto. Lamentablemente mi buena voluntad se quebró como se quiebra una copa de champagne tras el do de pecho de la soprano. Sonaron los primeros compases de Te Entiendo y tuve que agarrarme fuerte a una columna modernista para no caer de culo. ¡Estaban haciendo playback!

Una vez descrito el contexto entremos en materia. G-Shock es una submarca de Casio que hacen unos relojes más grandes y coloridos de a lo que nos tiene acostumbrados la firma japonesa. En su dia deciden contratar a Pig Noise para darle un rostro a la marca y reforzar su posicionamiento. Independientemente de la calidad musical del grupo, es cierto que Pig Noise pueden transmitir unos valores  de rebeldía, transgresión, vanguardia a un importante sector de la juventud mainstream española. Hasta aquí todo correcto. La cosa empieza a torcerse cuando G-Shock se deja un pastón en una fiesta en la casa Batlló, y contrata a Vice para que organicen el evento y utilice su extensa agenda de contactos cool para llenar el sarao de todos los subgéneros de hipsters y modernillos de Barcelona. Una vez allí se les da de comer y de beber, y se les agasaja con estatuas de hielo, dj de reputación local, y un grafitero haciendo un inmenso dibujo corporativo mientras todo lo demás acontece.

Y entonces, cuando ya casi se habían ganado la afinidad de los asistentes, va y hacen tocar a Pig Noise, y en playback, y con solo tres canciones toda su estrategia de comunicación se va por el agujero del concurrido retrete del evento. Puede que Pig Noise sean relevantes para el público masivo, pero nunca para el público nicho que Vice va a traer a la fiesta, quienes consideran que la banda no es más que una versión fake y descafeinada de ellos mismos…

Señores de marketing de G-Shock, dese el cariño se lo digo, saben muchísimo mejor que yo que la coherencia es la base de toda estrategia de comunicación. Seguramente con el evento del jueves consiguieron algo de notoriedad, pero atropellaron la relevancia con un tranvía.

Back online after many days!!  Yes, you had to wait for this post, but you’ll deal with it – all like two of you who read this (thank you!).  A lot has happened since my last post.  Seriously.  For me it’s been all kinds of ferocious lows mixed with some of the most beautiful places in the world, which creates it’s own strange energy.  The predominant feeling was that of anger towards what is beautiful, magnificent and splendorous.  But, I love it just the same.  Those photos will come in the next post, since I still need to upload and edit the photographs from yesterday.

So, what I wish right now is that I had my skateboard with me.  I haven’t been on it in years, but Barcelona SCREAMS skateboard.  Really, I can’t imagine a better city for just general skating around, and I mean everywhere.  It’s perfect.  Also, I ran across a nice little street-skate park with a bunch of very friendly skater types.  Skaters are one of the few groups I can think of that just don’t mind you shooting them, and don’t change how they are or their expression just because they have a camera pointed at them.  Awesome.  I didn’t shoot too many photos at the park the other day but I’ll probably go back and shoot some more.  It was the end of a long day of walking on and around Montjuic, which is a mountainside with parks and such where you can overlook the city and the ocean and port.  The weather was iffy, but what can you do?  We’ll get to that… right now!

The day before yesterday we experienced a Barcelona flood.  It was raining like crazy when me and a couple friends went to a nearby cafe to get a cup of joe, or cafe con leche, which is what we Americans call a latte.  Basically it’s espresso and milk.  Good stuff.  1 Euro!  Can’t beat that.  When was the last time you could get a fresh latte for $1.50?  Didn’t think so.  If you can pay $1.50 for a fresh latte and feed 2 people a nutritious meal for about $3.00  (doing the euro conversion for you) how exactly is that system so inferior to the American one?   Just asking.  The food is CHEAP  and from the farm fresh, if you want that.  And, of course I do.  Eating out can be a little expensive, but if you go to the right places, not prohibitively so.    In Barcelona there are no Wal-Marts, necessitating extra chemical preservation techniques that are poisoning our food.  There are of course, places to get that food, but there are way more fresh markets than anything else.  There are mom and pop shops everywhere, that you can walk around the corner and get that loaf of bread for a dollar that was fresh baked this morning.  There are no breads like in Brookshire’s, where when you get home you find the entire bottom is moldy. 

Oh yes, the flood.  So, a couple friends and I are at a cafe around the corner.  The rain started coming down like you just rarely, rarely see.  Just pouring and pouring and pouring and not stopping, which is the reason we were chillin’ inside.  And then, all at once, the sewers reached full and the street was all at once turned into a raging river just outside the door.  It got deeper and deeper and deeper and then not only filled the street but then rose above door level and began to inundate the cafe.  Of course we are yelling “it’s Katrina! Run for your lives!  The angry one is back!!”  We had a great laugh about it with the shopkeeper / owner.  He is all trying to block the water from coming in the door and throws his hands up and turns to us and exclaims sarcastically “Viva la Espana!!”    Good stuff.  Now, every time we go back, they get a big smile and ask about the photography.

Later that night, a friend and I went to get the night view of Casa Batllo, one of Gaudi’s apartment buildings.  The place is otherworldly, as you can see!  This one is well lit at night, and that might be the best time to see it.  It sits along what I would call the Park Avenue of Barcelona.  It’s all very ritzy.  The street is lined with Armani shops and other extravagant stores of high fashion.  The window shopping, or in this case, window photos were awesome.  While there, we ran into “VICKY!!!” as she exclaimed throwing her arms wide.  Three times!  She spoke about as much English as I speak Spanish.   So that was amusing as she followed us around until I had to look her off as she grew increasingly creepy.  But, what am I thinking?  She’s “VICKY!!!” (arms spread wide).

Maybe you can find your own Vicky.   Good times!

So, we are back and ready to deal with life. The trip was perfect. Here are a few photos. I will be posting a link to a Flickr album which will have many more. Thank you to everyone who wrote, whether about the wedding or getting tattoo’d. It’s good to be back.

Two shots from the wedding. The first is from the photographers and the second was taken by my sister Devon. We are still waiting for the rest  so I will put more up as we get them.

In front of Gaudi’s Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia. Seeking his other buildings became a theme for our stay in Barcelona. A major highlight for me. Thank you to my friend Jondix for the help!

Casa Batllo.

Interior details of Gaudi’s Casa Batllo.

Dali’s tomb in his museum in Figuerres.

Dr.Lakra, Colby, Myself, and Jondix.

Naples, Italy.

For some reason we befriended alot of Italian cats.  Near  Mount Vesuvius.

Naples at night.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Dante Aleghieri. Florence, Italy.

Unexpectedly climbing a mountain Eze, France.

From the top. I am a huge fan of Count of Monte Christo. I imagine this land looks the same as when the book was written.

Look like you like me. Spanning time before dinner one night.

My only regret is not buying this gum.

Thank yous to: Everyone at LTW and Aloha Tattoo for the hospitality and goodtimes.

No dejo de admirarme de la grandeza e imaginación que el arquitecto Antonio Gaudí poseía tan sólo a principios del siglo XX. Es, sin lugar a dudas, uno de los visionarios y pioneros del modernismo actual y lo seguirá siendo por muchos años. Ahora toca el turno para hablarles de la Casa Batlló, ubicada en el Paseo de Gracias, a tan sólo unas cuadras de la Plaza Cataluña. Su fachada única parece reflejar el agua y sus balcones simulan cráneos y huesos. Esto no es nada raro en Gaudí, ya que tomaba a la naturaleza como su principal fuente de inspiración: hojas, huesos, animales, ramas… todo era arte para este gran maestro. Esta casa fue inspirada en la vida marina, de ahí su color predominantemente azul agua y se construyó para un aristócrata de la época. Al interior los detalles resaltan a la vista de todos, pero de las cosas que más llamaron mi atención es el tamaño de las ventanas, las cuales se van haciendo más pequeñas conforme suben de nivel, ya que así se podía controlar un poco la cantidad de luz que entraba a la casa… entre má alto se estaba más luz podría entrar y es por eso que la ventanas son más pequeñas. Interesante, no?   http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/casa-batllo.html

Já posso dizer que conheço muita coisa pelo velho mundo. Ainda me falta muito, mas acho que já tenho uma boa bagagem. Adoro viajar e conhecer coisas novas, sou uma turista viajante inveterada. Às vezes alguma cidade me impressiona um pouco, às vezes muito, e poucas vezes sinto algo parecido com a indiferença, só que para melhor (se é que isso existe). Mas posso afirmar que pouquíssimas coisas me arrepiaram: o pôr do sol nos jardins do Palácio de Versailles, a história e as obras de Camille Claudel no museu de Rodin, a A Noite Estrelada de Van Gogh, a casa da Anne Frank… Mas lembro perfeitamente da última vez que algo me tocou de verdade, nada mais colocar os pés na Casa Batlló de Gaudí, em Barcelona.

O preço salgado da visita (uns 16 euros) “quase” fez que eu desistisse de entrar. Mas algo lá dentro me chamava. O prédio do Paseo de Gracia 43 não tem apenas uma fachada espetacular, o seu interior reserva coisas muito mais impressionantes.

A Casa pertencia a José Batlló Casanova que num primeiro momento contratou Antoni Gaudí para construir um edifício novo, e logo mudou de idéia e optou por uma reforma da fachada. Mas o que era uma simples mudança da fachada, de algumas paredes e a ampliação de um pátio de luzes, acabou dando a oportunidade à Gaudí de executar uma de suas mais impressionantes obras, entre os anos de 1904 e 1906.

Poesia e arte transformadas em arquitetura diante dos meus olhos… Não tenho palavras para explicar o que eu vi aquele dia. Lindo, impressionante, espetacular. Virei fã número 1 do mestre Gaudí.

Uma dica para quem vai à Barcelona: não deixe de visitar nenhuma das obras de Gaudí, pelo menos as mais centrais. A Casa Milà, conhecida como La Pedrera, a Sagrada Família e o Parque Güell são as mais visitadas, mas existem outras tantas. A Batlló foi a minha preferida e vale muito a pena gastar os euros que se cobram pela visita.

Στην περίοδο τον διακοπών πήγα και στην Βαρκελώνη στην Ισπανία. Είναι μια πόλη θα έλεγα μικρή σε σχέση με την Αθήνα και σαφέστατα με μικρότερο πληθυσμό (Περίπου 1,6 εκατομμύρια). Είναι μια πόλη όπου φιλοξένησε ολυμπιακούς αγώνες και έμειναν πολλά πράγματα από τότε.

Πρώτα από όλα το μετρό εκτίνετε σε ένα μεγάλο μέρος της πόλης. Έχει 8 διαφορετικές γραμμές οπού συναντιούνται αρκετές φορές. Με το μετρό μπορεί να πας οπουδήποτε με ευκολία. Το αρνητικό είναι ότι στους σταθμούς δεν έχει καθόλου κλιματισμό και ότι τα ταβάνια είναι χαμηλά και βαμμένα μαύρα. Άλλο ένα περίεργο είναι σε κάποιους σταθμούς για τη μετεπιβίβαση σε άλλη γραμμή θα πρέπει να διασχίσεις μεγάλους διαδρόμους μήκους 800 με 1000 μέτρα.

Η πόλη έχει ποδηλατοδρόμους και σχετικά καθόλου κίνηση. Τα πεζοδρομία δεν έχουν σχεδόν καθόλου εμπόδια και είναι άνετα.

Κάποια από τα μέρη που επισκέφτηκα και είναι τα ακολουθά. Το Aquarium με πολλά ψαριά, καρχαρίες σε ένα εντυπωσιακό ενυδρείο. Ο ζωολογικός κήπος, με παραστάσεις από δελφίνια και πολλά ζώα σε πολύ καλές συνθήκες διαβιώσεις. Το κάστρο montjuic, καλοδιατηρημένο και πραγματικά τουριστικό. Το Ισπανικό χωριό. Η πλατεία της Ισπανίας και το μουσείο τέχνης όπου μπροστά του κάποια βράδια έχει παράσταση με μουσική και σιντριβάνια. Ο καθεδρικός ναός και η γοτθική συνοικία. Ο μεγάλος πεζοδρόμος της La Rambla με τους street performer. Το Tibidabo Luna park και η μεγάλη εκκλησιά στο βουνό. Το λιμάνι με τα εστιατόρια με φρέσκα θαλασσινά.

Εσκεμμένα άφησα για το τέλος της δημιουργίες του Antoni Gaudí, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Guell Park και την τεραστία εκκλησιά που ακόμη δεν την έχουν ολοκληρώσει Sagrada Família. Όλες οι δημιουργίες του είναι προστατευμένες από την UNESCO σαν έργα πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς. Οι εμπνευσθείς του βασιστήκαν στην φύση, την θρησκεία και τον γοτθικό ρυθμό. Ήταν ένας από τους νέο μοντερνιστες. Χρησιμοποιούσε πολύ τα υλικά όπως το μέταλλο, το πλακάκι, την πέτρα και φυσικά εντόνους χρωματισμούς και καμία ευθεία γραμμή. Δεν πρόσεξα καμιά ευθεία κολόνα στα κτήρια του.

Είναι ένας πολύ όμορφος προορισμός για φθινοπωρινούς ή ανοιξιάτικους μήνες. Ο κόσμος είναι πρόθυμος να σε βοηθήσει αν και πολλοί δεν ξερόυν αγγλικά. Υπάρχουν πολλά δρώμενα από πλανοδίους performer και υπάρχουν πολλά μαγαζιά για ψώνια για όλα τα βαλάντια. Το νερό είναι ιδιαιτέρα ακριβό. Γενικά είναι μια πόλη εύκολη με εντυπωσιακά αξιοθέατα.

Επισκεφτείτε την συλλογή φωτογραφιών εδώ.

De steigers van de verbouwing, die bijna twee jaar duurde, zijn deze week weggehaald. Het Casa Amatller is weer in vol ornaat te bewonderen. Soms staat het een beetje in de schaduw van de beroemde buurman, het Casa Batlló van Gaudí, waarop dagelijks duizenden camera’s van toeristen zich richten, maar dit huis is niet minder de moeite waard, ook al omdat het het werk is van Barcelona’s tweede beroemde architect van het modernisme, Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Amatller, Batlló en de andere buurman, het Casa Lleó, vormen met zijn drieën de manzana de la discordia. Dat behoeft een korte uitleg: letterlijk vertaald is dit de ‘twistappel’ uit de Griekse mythologie, maar manzana (appel) is in het Spaans ook het woord voor een huizenblok. En dit blok was een twistpunt omdat de drie huizen zo enorm van elkaar verschillen en zij samen braken met het uniforme beeld dat stedenbouwkundige Josep Cerdà met de wijk Eixample voor ogen had.

Het Casa Amatller was er als eerste, zoals op deze foto uit 1900 is te zien. Er stonden hier op de majestueuze Passeig de Gràcia al woningen, maar chocoladefabrikant Antoni Amatller wilde in 1898 een huis volledig naar eigen wens gebouwd.

Het meest opvallende, voor Barcelona, is de trapgevel, zo gewoon aan de Amsterdamse grachten. En dáár deed Puig i Cadafalch ook zijn inspiratie op bij de bouw. Amatller wilde per se een mooie fotostudio met schuine daken op de bovenste verdieping, terwijl in Barcelona alle daken plat zijn en er zo een mooi en ruim dakterras ontstaat. Door de wens van de eigenaar moest de architect een andere manier vinden om het regenwater af te voeren én om die schuine daken een mooi frontaal aanzicht te geven en daarvoor hij ging te rade in Noord-Europa. Sindsdien staat er midden op de Passeig de Gràcia een half huis uit de Amsterdamse Gouden Eeuw.

Our main itinerary in Eixample started by chance near FARMÀCIA NORDBECK and Fundació Vila Casas. An enchanted walk brought us to Passeig de Gràcia, where even a CocaCola window and McDonald’s look … different!

Our first destination is La Pedrera.
We’ve already admired it from outside many times these past days, but we forgot about these kid friendly rooms inside! So friendly that our toddler wants to play with the hundred years old toys and sit in the high chair

After a rooftop visit we step down for a colorful sweet brunch at Mauri.

Next destination is Casa Batlló.
No more furnished rooms this time, but the modernista courtyard adds another highlight to our visit, and the audio tour is great for kids too!
GAUDI DESIGNER has beautiful renditions of the interior design elements.

Following Gaudi’s ABCs we are up to the attic, rooftop and chimneys! These were closed in our previous visit a long time ago, so we all enjoy the vistas.

Virtual tours of Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, and our snapshot itinerary:

A wander around Barcelona made me wish I knew more about architecture.

The city was founded in about 230 BC and it’s still possible to see remains of buildings from Roman times on.

Among the relatively recent buildings is this one on La Rambla:

This one is a a block away from the Placa de Catalunya on Passeig de Gracia:

Further up the block is Gaudi’s Casa Batllo:

And then there’s La Pedrera:

Creative Intuition: The Power of Listening and Praying.

“The great book, always open and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature; the other books are taken from it, and in them there are the mistakes and misinterpretations of men.” Antoni Gaudi

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain by Montrealais ~ spectacular and unfinished

Intuition: The ability to acquire direct knowledge/conviction without inference or the use of reason. Origins from the Latin intueri ~ to contemplate
Creative: To display imaginative originality and reject/shirk the conventional
Prayer: Praarthanaa (in Sanskrit) derived from ‘pra’ and ‘artha’ meaning pleading fervently. A reverent, faith based plea for divine intervention; for God’s grace.

Casa Batllo by T. Grasso

I was taking a contemplative walk with a friend this morning at a local park that has a beautiful lake set right in the middle of it. Typically on sunnier days, at a set time, a fountain in the lake spouts water sky high and creates a kaleidoscope of color capturing the gift of a rainbow reflecting off the lake.
Not today. It was a foggy morning with drizzling rain showers that started and stopped as if in response to a distant drum beat.

“Only when we find the quietness in our own minds can we begin to hear our inner teacher, so that we may receive some intuition. Only when we are ready to recognize and value the wisdom that we carry at the core of our being will we turn our attention inwards and ‘listen in’.” Innerspace

Casa Mila in Barcelona by Chongming 76

We were early so there were few people around. A croaking bullfrog and chirping birds sang their morning praises to the creator. We listened, commented on how beautiful our surroundings were; a perfect canvas painted by divine hands.

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way.”
Florence Scovel Shinn

Staircase in Casa Batllo in Barcelona by Chongming 76

We often speak about nature’s beauty but many of us hardly pause to listen to the sounds and songs she shares. We don’t listen for the whispered secrets that feed the creative impulses of those we call extraordinary artists; men and women of creative genius ~ who listen to their intuitive impulses, pray, and create magical works.

“The creative path leads directly to a sacred realm.” K. Bradford Brown

Cripta de la Colonia Guell in Barcelona by Tillf Teenck

As we paced ourselves; one white-sneakered shoe in front of the other, the grotesquely twisted limbs of some nearby trees caught my eye; birds perched digging for worms, richly hued green leaves glistened with rain droplets. The thought, nature is not always beautiful but she is perfect especially when juxtaposed…. crossed my mind. How nature’s beauty shows her face; a two-sided coin with beauty on one side and the beast on the other.

“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” Henry David Thoreau

Parc Guell in Barcelona by WikiScript

I needed to contemplate this some more. Ah, sure! Creativity has the same quality and we are sometimes forced to consider these juxtapositions when we are struck by stark examples of beauty and the beast in nature or creative endeavors. All are divinely inspired.

“Men may be divided into two types: men of words and men of action. The first speak; the latter act. I am of the second group. I lack the means to express myself adequately…” Gaudi

Antoni Gaudí’s {Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852–10 June 1926)} original, powerful architectural wonders in Barcelona, Spain came to mind as I kept up a steady pace with my friend.

“I believe creativity is like electricity. We don’t understand how it works… we just use it.” Maya Angelou

Casa Batllo in Barcelona by Vincent Abbey

Recently, at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, I had watched a documentary on Gaudi by Hiroshi Teshigahara … and the haunting images of his immensely imaginative architecture; gothic, surreal, hypnotic and more swirled around my head like a psychedelic dream.

“Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know. ” Anthony D Angelo

Casa Mila in Barcelona by Diliff

Gaudi was a prayerful, intuitive architect who captured nature’s irregular shapes and unusual proportions in his building designs. He was not afraid to explore new ways in construction, design and the use of color and materials.

“I would not be able to explain to anyone my artistic concepts. I have not yet concretized them. I never had time to reflect on them. My hours have been spent in my work.”
Gaudi

He was acutely aware of nature and his surroundings and injected portions of those elements into his work. For the monumental La Sagrada Familia, it is said he fasted and prayed for guidance on this project and though it was never completed (still under construction) in his lifetime, it is this project that led many to call Gaudí “God’s Architect.”

“When your creativity comes to a climax, when your whole life becomes creative, you live in God. So he must be the creator because people who have been creative have been closest to him…” Osho

Finca Guell in Barcelona by 555 Nase

Where does the creative impulse come from? Do you listen to the still, small voice urging you to try painting your life story on an innovative canvas? Do you pray for creative guidance and then think that sudden thought on what to do is stupid? When do we know that what we know is divinely inspired and original? What do we learn about fearlessness from artists of remarkable genius?

Photos from a selection on Wikipedia – credits/attributions below
Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (Catalan for ‘The Quarry’) built 1906-1910 Photo credit Casa Mila by Diliff
Casa Batlló also known as Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), built 1877 remodeled 1905-1097 ; Casa Batllo by ChongMing76, T Grasso and Vincent Abbey
The Church of Colònia Güell built as a place of worship for people in a suburb of Barcelona. Photo credit by Till F. Teenck and Canaan
La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Photo credit by Montrealais and WikiScript
Finca Guell Photo credit by 555 Nase

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

After our excursion to the market, we took a trip out to Casa Batllo, the house of Batllo, a family from Barcelona who just happened to hire a forward thinking architect called Gaudi. This house is anything but ordinary as you will see from the pictures below. We were at first hesitant in going in and touring the house cause the tickets in are pricey at 16.50 Euros a head which comes at to around $24 USD. VERY pricey.

After thinking about it, we fell back onto our mantra of the trip: “When in Rome…” We coughed up the cash and ventured inside. The expensive tickets were totally worth it.

Everything in this house looks like it’s been placed with a purpose. From the stairs to the lighting to the balconies to the floor tiles. It’s brilliant in everyway. The fact that his architecture has withstood a century’s worth of change in architecture and technology to still mystify loads of post modern stiffs like us is a testament to the how genius this guy was. As we were walking around we couldn’t help but notice that some of the space in the house was still being occupied as offices and even by the living family members of the Batllo family which blows my mind. I thought it’d be funny if one of these family members were on a date or something and when they take them back to their place they come to Casa Batllo, a historical landmark in Barcelona. It’s like living in the Guggenheim or something.

Anyway, here are some pictures. Please do look at the details in the architecture and such. It’s amazing.

Another update will be following this one soon to finish up Casa Batllo.

Entrance.

Skull balconies.

Diana covering up from the sun which was pretty hot that day.

Stairway with blue tiles.

Stairway that looks like it’s a bony spine of a fish.

Sky lighting.

A lil enclave for heat.

Lighting fixtures. And the original crack cement pattern.

I forget what this room was, but it was surrounded in windows and was super pleasant.

Chandelier.

Looking out.

Really liked this light fixture.

John hanging around.

The ceiling is suppose to be like water rippling out.

To roof deck 1.

Mosaics and curves.

Supposed to be used for plants and flowers.

Dragon scale columns.

Looking up at the other/restricted parts of the building.

Casa Batlló en Barcelona es el edificio más alucinante que he visto hasta la fecha… y lo tenemos en nuestro país! Sin duda Gaudí fue un visionario. Hasta Lenny Kravitz está en lista de espera para pillar un pisito ahí.

Web Casa Batlló

n e – Digital Incontinence

Who would have thought that San Sebastián would turn out to be such a blast!  When I returned to the hotel (having arranged to meet Lambert later that evening) I was greeted by Mikel who offered his mom’s homemade traditional Basque rabbit stew (which tasted like frogs legs). He had invited his friend Chema (the nickname for those named José Maria), so that night it was me and the boys.  And what a group it was: me speaking Espanglish, Lambert earnestly struggling in Espanglish, Chema practicing German, and Mikel amused by it all. We went to an English/German pub (of course) where I eavesdropped on two Americans deeply engaged in conversation. I think one of the elements contributing to the Stupid American Tourist stereotype is the way Americans frequently sound like infomercials on self improvement. “I was getting drunk all the time and just felt like hell, so I gave up alcohol and relationships, and it was like, man, so much better….” They speak with such authority on the most trivial of subjects.

We found ourselves on a street filled with tons of Australians and Americans (and two Basques, one German and one Canadian).  While we pushed into one bar I met a cute Argentine from Rosario, but upon my return from my “drip dry” bathroom trip he had gone.  We navigated the throngs, popping inside, outside, all the while Lambert and Mikel teasing me about being checked out by guys. By 2:30 am there was a definite Birmingham-like male-to-female ratio in my favour and with much better looking guys.  Yum, I like Basque tapas. We crawled in as dawn was breaking. I completely slept through my alarm and rushed madly to the airport.

I allowed myself the liberty of looking closely again at the ETA fugitives. The one who so fascinates me was born July 27, 1970 and is named Ainhoa.  She actually looks a lot like my cousin Janis.

I sure hope no one has brought a bomb on this flight because passing through security was a complete circus.  The woman right behind me buzzed as she went through and when the guard asked to examine her she just flashed her bracelets and made poo-poo noises in French which he sheepishly accepted. Say what you will about the English, their security is thorough.

* * *

Back in Barcelona, I bypassed the 600 peseta sandwiches on the Ramblas, heading straight for the Mercado, picking up ample provisions for less than a pound. I loved hearing the delicate “click” my cherry pits made as they hit the pavement. Near the Fundació Antoní Tapies I could see part of the back of Casa Batlló, the Gaudí apartment building with balconies shaped as masks.  Even better, I could see that the shopping centre behind it had a great view.  The fourth floor had a back patio to which I would have normally been refused entry, but because there was a guy working outside the salesperson allowed me to go.  This vantage point, rarely seen by tourists, took my breath away with its mosaic roof, wrought ironwork, blue tiled walls and beige tiled floors.

Tried my luck for the second time at Montjuïc where I took in the expansive view of the city; had it been super clear I might have seen Mallorca. This time the Joan Miró Foundation was open and surprisingly difficult to navigate. Without my guidebook I surely would have missed the civil war lithographs and the donations by his wife. A piece he painted just for her he had named “Morning Star.”  Could that be more romantic?  Why are so few men artists?

As dusk approached I surveyed my options for returning to town. Walking was ruled out because the mountain was now almost abandoned and my route would have been through a tunnel of graffiti. An older gentleman with an extravagant vein cascading down his nose recommended the bus, but when he abruptly commenced a passionate and irate tirade about the failure of North American tourists to heed his advice, I rapidly made my way to the simple, quiet funicular.

Back to the hotel I walked through Plaça de Catalunya and joined a large crowd watching an Ecuadorian band perform.  As I stood there, anticipating the next song, I sensed someone looking at me.  I casually glanced behind me to see a very dark-skinned man. I began thinking about how difficult it must be for someone in Spain to be such an obvious outsider, especially in such an historically intolerant culture, when suddenly he was next to me whispering “hello”. My peaceful Andean reverie was shattered as he invaded my personal space.  Notwithstanding my sympathies as one outsider to another, I realized my vulnerability and, unwilling to discover his motivations, got the heck out of there.

Antonio Gaudi

Casa Batllo 1905-07

The son of a coppersmith, Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus, Spain in 1852. He studied at the Escola Superior d’Arquitectura in Barcelona and designed his first major commission for the Casa Vincens in Barcelona using a Gothic Revival style that set a precedent for his future work.

Over the course of his career, Gaudi developed a sensuous, curving, almost surreal design style which established him as the innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. With little regard for formal order, he juxtaposed unrelated systems and altered established visual order. Gaudi’s characteristically warped form of Gothic architecture drew admiration from other avant-garde artists.

Although categorized with the Art Nouveau, Gaudi created an entirely original style. He died in Barcelona in 1926.

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Antonio_Gaudi.html

Siete mai andati a Barcellona?

Se la vostra risposta è no vi darò dei validi motivi per fare in modo che la vostra prossima vacanza abbia come destinazione proprio questa bellissima città della Spagna!

Barcellona si trova sulla costa sud est della Spagna, quasi al confine con la Francia, e la lingua parlata è il catalano. Le sue temperature sono solitamente miti durante tutto l’anno anche se sicuramente troverete il tempo migliore da maggio a fine luglio. Anche agosto è un buon mese per andare in vacanza a Barcellona…proprio come ho fatto io l’anno scorso! Di giorno le temperature superano i 3o gradi ma il clima un pò ventoso, data la sua posizione sul mare, rende l’aria più gradevole.

La cosa che mi ha affascinato di più visitando Barcellona  sono le famose Ramblas, il famoso viale che si sviluppa tra Plaça Catalunya e il porto, per una percorrenza di circa 2 km. Durante una vacanza a Barcellona una passeggiata lungo questo classico viale è imperdibile, sia per il suo affollamento di gente a passeggio che per la sua fauna esuberante. Questo lungo passeggio nel centro di Barcellona, infatti, è animato da artisti di strada che intrattengono il pubblico con i loro spettacolini con travestimenti esuberanti, venditori di fiori, pittori e ritrattisti e chioschi ambulanti che preparano golosità spagnole.

Un’altro posto che consiglio vivamente di visitare è Casa Batlló, la stravagante e oserei dire spettacolare casa di Gaudì, emblema del modernismo.

Fatevene un’idea guardando queste foto che ho scattato quando sono andata a visitarla!

Altra grande opera di Gaudì è la Sagrada Familia.

Questa opera “onnipotente” è l’emblema della catalogna. Dal 1882 ad oggi la costruzione della Sagrada è proseguita, senza un progetto definitivo lasciato dall’architetto. Purtroppo, infatti, le impalcature e le gru che la circondano rovinano la visuale del visitatore; si dice in giro però che i lavori saranno ultimati nel 2025. Forse allora riusciremo a vederla e fotografarla in tutto il suo splendore!!!

Un’altra opera, molto new age e affascinante a parer mio, è il Dona i ocell di Mirò, una statua dalla forma a birillo che sfoggia le tinte più varie in una composizione quasi geometrica. Questa scultura grandiosa si trova dietro a Plaça de Espanya.

Allora, vi ho invogliato a fare una vacanza a Barcellona?

© 2009 by jeroen peters

(Kristina) Barcelona onsdag 29 april – Vi bestämmer oss för att börja dagen med ett besök på Casa Battló, Antoni Gaudís mästerverk vid Passeig de Gràcia nr 43. Klockan är bara halv elva men kön är redan lång. Vi kommer dock snabbt in och får med oss en liten bandspelare för att kunna lyssna på husets historia. Huset är inspirerat av havet vilket går igen i både färg och form. Allt är snillrikt uttänkt från minsta dörrhandtag till de stora fönstren som kan skjutas åt sidan och släppa in ljuset och ljuden från gatan utanför. Paradvåning, vind och takterass är öppna för allmänheten, i övriga lägenheter bor ett lyckligt antal utvalda.

Det som är så speciellt med Casa Battlò är att det är en ombyggnation av en fastighet från 1877 som först var tänkt att rivas. Gaudí fick i uppdrag av industrimagnaten Josep Battló att renovera det åt hans familj som skulle bo på första plan och så skulle övriga våningar hyras ut. Gaudí gjorde inga ritningar på bygget utan det enda som fanns var en gipsmodell och sedan var han själv på plats för att övervaka allt från den minsta detalj.

Huset är helt fantastiskt och står i diametral motsats till vår svenska avskalade design. Ett besök kostar ca 10 euro och den guidade turen med egen bandspelare tar ca två timmar – väl spenderat sett till både tid och pengar. Missa inte detta om du åker till Barcelona!

(Kristina) Barcelona onsdag 29 april – humöret är på topp, solen skiner och det ser ut att kunna bli ganska varmt idag. Vi har bestämt oss för att besöka ett eller två av Antoni Gaudís mästerverk vid Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló och Casa Milà eller mer känt som La Pedrera. Vi tar tunnelbanan till Placa di Catalunya och inser att dagen till ära är vi för varmt klädda, vilket lyxproblem.

Och så skall vi hinna med lite shopping, lite god mat, ett glas cava eller två. Fullspäckat schema för dagen.

Park Guell Entry

The Spanish have quite a sense of whimsy and humor.  Think Salvador Dali and his melting watches,and the car outside his museum where it rains inside the car.   You have not seen Barcelona unless you have visited Antoni Gaudi’s Guell Park, several of his buildings, and ultimately the fascinating (and still incomplete) La Sagrada Familia, the cathedral he designed.

Briefly, the Guell Park was sponsored by Gaudi’s frequent patron Eusebi Guell.  Imagine Tim Burton meeting Hansel and Gretel and you get a glimmer of what this park is like.  Originally, the design was to be a planned community.  Sitting at the top of a hill overlooking Barcelona and the Mediterranean, the view is spectacular.  Bring a lunch or buy one at the cafe and sit on the curvilinear bench which surrounds the park.  It’s made of Gaudi’s signature tiny, colorful mosaics.  There are sea themes throughout the park; another one of his trademarks.  Still another is his willingness to forgo corners.  He uses no straight lines.

My favorite building to visit is Casa Batllo, although many disagree. His Casa Mila is more well-known and some say a better design. I don’t think so.  The best view of Casa Batllo is from across the street.  The facade is completely made of wrought iron and mosaics that glitter and change throughout the day as the pieces catch the different lights and shadows.  That view is free.  But pay the small fee and take the tour to go inside.  The rooftop alone is worth the price of admission.  Walt Disney must have visited here and been inspired.  There is a dragon’s back made of sparking tile and ceramics.  There is a ceramic cross that shines and glints in the sun.  Chimneys are made of more ceramics and tiny colored pieces form abstracts that seem to dance in the light.

Inside, sea themes predominate, as do archways, parabolas, and curves, curves, curves.  It’s an easy walk from here to Casa Mila.  They are both worth seeing.

Casa Batllo