In Visual Overdrive on a Gaudi Afternoon

After another attempt at finding something interesting at the conference I resorted to Picasso, Tapas and a beer at the famous El Xampanyet (this tiny tiled bar has been favourite of the Catalans and my good self - I first came here in 1974)

A few anchovies and tomato bread washed down with a cold beer was just the ticket before the assault on Parc Guell in the 32 degree heat.
Some you may be familiar with the Parc, but for those who have not been here - I offer you a small history - and then I must let the sample of photos do the talking -

In 1910 Eusebi Guell commisioned Gaudi to lay out a private housing estate on the hill above Barcelona. After just a couple of houses,the project fell through. However, based loosely on the Apollo project in Delhi Gaudi made ingenious use of curves and contours to create viaducts of natural stone and create this beautiful public space high over the city.


The garden planting gives you thge illusion of waves of silver - olive trees, Cicads, Oleanders, Bouganvilleas tumble caressing the stony edges.

Many of these structures ended up covered by colourful mosaics (trencadis) helped by the architect Josep Jujol. The whole thing is beyond description in a Blog so I won't even try - safe to say the entrance pavillions have to be seen to be believed and the Square with its huge serpentine bench covered in exquistite mosaics which winds itself all around this huge square - great views over Barcelona - and this was apparantly one of the first collages in the world.

The Square is held up by a Hypostyle Hall of 86 columns - a bit too conventional and out of keeping with Gaudi style - but the ceiling which is fluted with waves of white mosaic have four mosaic representations of the sun.

Gaudi lived in one of the houses while he worked on projects for Guell and only keft to stay on site at the Sagrada Familia when he commenced this project.

His house, now the museum is absolutely over the top.

It's a wonder I haven't killed several tourists who have a clever knack to irritate me beyond description - why can't thye just GO AWAY!

Neverthe less, I think I took almost 400 photos - it was a very Gaudi afternoon!

Too tired - must go to bed as the Paper is tomorrow - I'll leave you with a quote from Miguel Cervantes from Don Quixiote de la Mancha - It says more than I could drum up but manages to resonate with my thoughts:

"Barcelona, an archive of courtesy, a house for foreigners, a hospital for the poor, the land of the brave, a revenge for the offended and a fine correspondence for stable friendships, and in place and beauty, unique'

I think you should all try and get here in this lifetime

Lxx