Jayne as usual found a great apartment that looked up at Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's basilica) This building was never finished when he died, and is still being built, l noted that no date was given for completion. This is partly the reason l feel Spain is where it is, they do have a lovely as it comes attitude, sometimes making the Italians look like Americans. This building is so remarkable, a wonder of the world, even unfinished. There is nothing like it in the world, and Gaudi is so different and inspiring. He was not the only one doing that sort of work, but he was a leader and had some wonderful supporters and clients. His work is based strongly on nature and he makes things look alive in this way, this building along with all the houses he did, or the Parc Guell are must sees in the world. If you have to see one or two houses, l would suggest the Casa Batllo, Palau Guell, the attention to detail, the no concern on cost or materials is exceptional.
Barcelona is bloody big compared to Bologna, but a easy city to get around, taxis are cheap, and the subway works well. The food is generally average, their bars are mainly frozen food heated with those plastic photos on the outside, which to me is a sure sign of a bloody large freezer out the back. But if you get to a good Tapas bar then the quality jumps up, and the service is generally friendly. But like most tourist cities, l think they get tired of tourist, and can be short or uninterested sometimes.
Most women in Barcelona reminded me of Picasso faces, so he got that right, but they don't seem as beautiful as l remember, or as tall, or as well dressed, but then again l have spent two years in Italy and thats hard to beat.
Hunter was a nightmare generally, and is becoming an expert in annoying me and then being soft and kind, he plays me like violin. Ewan on the other hand has been pretty good, and puts up with Hunter annoying him constantly. Hunter one day found a bug, which he kept and let crawl all over him, saying he was training it for the circus, he kept this bug all the way home on the subway, unfortunately dropping it on the escalator out of the subway. The look on peoples faces as we madly try to save it was it was stuck in the end (were fingers are not to go), they stared at us, as we appeared to get nothing, as it was a very small bug. thankfully with the aid of a brochure from a Gaudi house we scooped it out , it only lost one leg Hunty told us. As we came out of the subway we managed to get Hunty to place it in a bush in a near by park, rather traumatized l imagine.
Ewan was eager to use the 10 euros l gave them each on rubbers from his favorite place "the gift shop". Where ever we go he makes sure there is a gift shop, often inquiring will it be any good. I looked but there is no guide to the 10 best gift shops in Barcelona, something for someone to think about! Ewan was a bit disappointed to find we were staying in a serviced apartment, that meant no hotel soaps or shampoos for him to collect.
The only problem with our apartment (Sensation Apartments, del Rosello, 380) was the first two mornings as l went out on the balcony to look at Sagrada Familia l saw firstly pop corn and cigarette butts, l told this too the staff, and they said they think they know who above us is responsible. The next day it was red wine splattered over everything with more cigarette butts. When l told the staff again, they showed me a photo of the kitchen of the suspected culprits, in it was a dozen eggs thrown around the kitchen, all l'll say was Americans. Its a good lesson when traveling we Australians should be on our best behavior, unlike what l hate seeing at Gallipoli. ( drunk australians wrapped in aussi flags)
We caught up with Peter Churcher the artist from Australia who has been living in Barcelona for six years. We spoke to Peter before coming to Italy, and he was rather helpful and insightful re the emotions and attributes to living abroad. Peter cooked a lovely meal, and we saw his recent works from Laos. The next day Peter took us on a tour of his area near the water and the main basilica, a wonderful old area, with tight small streets, lots of feeling, and not as many tourists.
Now for some most valuable information, flying with Ryan Air. Jayne made the , and l thought foolish decision to get on the plane last, as there are no allocated seats on Ryan Air. I said we will be sitting all over the place, so as we entered the aircraft, last! the hostess when Jayne explained we were a family put us in row 2, l had the extended leg room, we had both sides to ourselves, and l cant help say it but felt rather important. The return flight, she said lets do it again, again l felt lets not push our luck, and again we got row 2 all to ourselves. Now an italian women who may have been a man, tried the same thing, now either because she was not a family, or the hostess did not like female impersonators l am not sure, but she was told to move on down.
On the last day we went to the town of Figueres, about 2 hours north of Barcelona, the airport we flew from in Girona is also north about 1 hour, so it worked out well. This town is very lovely, full of tourists, as the Dali museum is there. This museum is one of the most popular in Spain, l don't think its much, the work is early and mostly crap, but one saving grace is the remarkable jewel collection that Dali designed. This work is well worth the hour wait in line, and the crowd of morons who flock to see Dali because his Dali ( the comments l heard made me cringe, basically most of the people where ones who go to monster car events, and think McDonalds is fine dining) Anyway, it is well worth seeing these jewels they are just too incredible.
Other galleries to see in Barcelona are the Miro, which sadly did not have the video of Alexander Calder playing with his puppet circus, but still worth going to, great gift shop!!!!, and the Picasso museum, again generally early works. The Antoni Tapies museum is brilliant, mainly because l like his work, it also does not have a line to get in, Tapies is a major influence it appears in modern Spanish art, and the world, but l cant think he may have been influenced by the work of Alberto Burri.
Barcelona also has a great bike hire service with racks of bikes all over town, much like in Melbourne, but like Italy you do not have to wear a helmet.
Needless to say it was lovely to come back to Bologna, and have some pasta, but we will return to Spain, but next time its Madrid to see some more incredible art of Goya, Vazquez , ElGreco
Hunty the artist, architect, Parc Quell
Hailing a cab, late after Peter Churcher's
Parc Guell
Outside of Sagrada Familia, Nativity scene
Ewans photo, check the light effect
Sagrada Familia, still building
Inside Sagrada Familia
