And so it seems that I am one of the few people in the world who didn't know the genius of Antoni Gaudi, his ideas about Nature and how he incorporated them in the famous Temple Expiatori Sagrada Familia.
I wandered there this morning and stayed the entire morning, watching the light change ... watching it stream through the stain-glass windows by Joan Vila-Grau and play on Gaudi's tree-like pillars.
It was truly stunning but knowing I had to locate a supermarket - shampoo, conditioner and deoderant were left out of my hand luggage - I finally found the strength to walk away from the surreal and stunning landscape of Gaudi and re-entered the world.
A small taste for you ...
I left New Zealand mid-2003, bound for Istanbul and a new lif. After two years, a Belgian guy lured me into his world, deep in the heart of Europe. For a long time I was an in-process immigrant. One day we married. These days it's about photography, a little red wine and wandering ... and so the journey goes.
It must be an amazing experience wandering the Sagrada Familia at a leisurely pace Di.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was last there (on a "see Barcelona in 4h" tour from nearby coastal Sitges) the place was crowded,
our guide running around like we had to catch a bus (actually, we did have to), making me feel like a Japanese tourist on speed.
It must truly feel great having the chance to wander through Barcelona at your own pace.
It is nice to wander where I please, taking as long as I like but there's the lost thing however I think I'm okay now. I tailed some older women with a shopping trolley and found the much needed bathroom accessories. I located a money machine and did it by veering off the main road.
ReplyDeleteThe city layout here is rather delicious and might just work for me, although it's early days yet :)
Aha! Didn't I say you'd love it??!! But that particular area is the WORST for pickpockets - every Barcelona local I met said the same thing - so be careful. The Cathedral area is more open and lots of photos to be taken there too! Enjoy. xo
ReplyDeleteWow, this might my favorite picture of yours incorporating this many colors. I look forward to seeing more Barcelona shots
ReplyDeleteOh Tara, I'm adoring it! As for the pickpockets, I'm just doing what I did when I lived in Istanbul and traveled in Rome. I'm still working on orientation and tomorrow I'm meeting Mary Lou, so I think I'll have to come back to this magical city and be more in depth one day soon. xo
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I have a whole series of these Van. I was fascinated by the reflected light on the pillars and etc ...
I swear that your trip there is adding to my already-intense desire to see Barcelona! This shot is so gorgeous and the writing is great too.
ReplyDeleteLydia, thank you for commenting. You made me smile as I sit here reading my mail on my bed here at the guesthouse at the end of a long day. xo
ReplyDeleteIf you do go, I'll pass on what everyone told me to see and do and any other information that might help.