Hola desde Barcelona! ~ Hello from Barcelona!

The next lot of our adventures has started!

When you get two active tourists together and they want to maximise their time at any location you get a combo of planning in advance, deciding on the spot and walking on average +20km a day! Your feet burn and your head is about to explode 🤯 but you feel amazing, fulfilled and exhausted, all at once!

Barcelona in two days!

I would say it feels as it is overcrowded by tourists, you can see many graffiti “f..c of tourists”! To be honest, I don’t blame them!

At times, it reminded us of Rio De Janeiro during the carnival weeks full of tourists, hot weather and urine smell. An interesting combination!

Metro amazed us, with a two days pass we could see so much with ease.

We have learnt the city is particularly renowned for the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We planned our stay around history, culture and fun!

A bit of history and culture:

The capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain.

Barcelona has a rich history and cultural heritage. Founded by Romans, today it consists of 10 districts with 1.6m people.

The city developed around three neighbourhoods:

El Raval - created in Roman times where criminals and prostitutes lived, today the most vibrant area

Barri Gothic - where nobles lived built in Medieval times, today the historical old town area

El Born - craftsman district, still the same today, my favourite!

Fun fact:

Municipal buildings were built in the Barri Gothic square that allowed nobles to be separated but very close to El Raval, an easy access to crime, drugs and prostitution. You do the maths!

Who was Antoni Gaudi?

Another Mr “G” was a Catalan architect and designer known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism.

Gaudí's work was influenced by his passions in life: architecture, nature, and religion.

Gaudí had a deep appreciation for his native land and a great pride in his Mediterranean heritage for his art. He believed Mediterranean people to be endowed with creativity, originality and an innate sense for art and design.

When handing him his degree, the director of Barcelona Architecture School, said: "We have given this academic title either to a fool or a genius. Time will show."

Well, the time has shown he was a true genius!

We have chosen to see a number of his masterpieces. I’d say he was very quirky, in love with nature and religion.

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família

It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.

Designed by architect Antoni Gaudi (1852–1926), his work on Sagrada Família is part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The construction started in 1882, and Gaudi took over as chief architect in 1883. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the church's crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Relying solely on private donations, the Sagrada Família's construction continued, got interrupted twice - during the Spanish Civil War and Covid.

It is estimated that the construction will be completed by 2032, although locals say it should never get finished as that will be the end of the world!

It is the only church in the world that has three facades (birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus) , it is devoted to the life of Jesus Christ. The exterior narrates the story of his life and interior celebrates the space and is an ode to light.

This masterpiece was Gaudi’s last work. He was hit by a local tram at Passeig de Gracia and subsequently died in the hospital being confused to be a homeless person due to his attire.

My initial impressions were mixed. From the outside it looks huge, unfinished and a combination of so many different styles, like kitsch. It’s only when you get to learn the story behind it and you go in on a guided tour that you get to understand and appreciate it.

Definitely worth a visit and with an audio tour guide to learn about the years of work by different architects who built upon the Gaudi’s visions and continue to do so.

Park Guell

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antoni Gaudi.

While the Sagrada Familia church embodied Gaudi’s passion for religion, Park Guell reflects his passion for nature.

Built in the actual native park it bursts with mosaics expressing Gaudi’s love for nature and is designed to bring the peace and calm that one would expect from a park, if it wasn’t for hundreds of tourists!

Really nice and I am glad we managed to squeeze it in!

Gaudi’s Modernism masterpieces:

A number of buildings designed by Gaudi at request of different wealthy families who used his talents to show off their luxuries!

Casa Mila built in 1912 and designed by Gaudí who was inspired by the sea ( check out balcony waves). It took six years to built it and he never finished it, carved directly from the ground. It is his last private works.

Renting an apartment of 205m2 in this building costs only 400€ a month. A fixed rent on a life time contract that passes from generation to generations, cheap today but not back then!

Casa Batllo, a textile industrialist, built in 1906 and designed by Gaudi, who was inspired by the guardian of Barcelona, Sant Jordi (St George). The legend says he drove his lance into the dragon and a bush of red roses sprang out of the blood that spilled. His bold and selfless gesture changed the course of the town's history and gave birth to this legend. Ever since it has been the custom in Catalonia to give your loved one a rose.

Check the balcony design and you’ll see the bones of the dragons victims.

The building was sold three times, today it’s owned by the Chupa Chops Coy.

Casa Amattler, a chocolate industrialist with links to Argentina. The combination of colours and materials makes this building stand out even today.

That ends our explication of Mr “G” masterpieces, simply amazing!

A trip to Monserrat = Serrated Mountain

We took a half day bus tour to this sacred place and the National Park.

It is a multi peak mountain range near Barcelona, 1236m above sea level, the highest point is St Jeroni.

It appeared 25m years ago due to tectonic movements raising up from the depths of the sea.

The mountain is composed of pink conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock, with lots of rare bird life enjoying the clean and green areas. It’s wonderful for hiking and peak mountain climbing due to its unique curves and smooth surfaces.

The Monastery of Montserrat at the footsteps of the mountain peaks and it houses the virgin that gives its name to the monastery and is on the mountain, although it is also known as La Moreneta ("the little tan/dark one" in Catalan.

The story says back in 880 Black Madonna was found in a cave by a shepherd who heard angelic sound noises. Bishop ordered to take her down to the sea level but with every step forward it became heavier and heavier. Shepherds convinced the Bishop it was the God’s message the Black Madonna wanted to stay in the mountains!

It is the only black Madonna in the world.

Why black?

Two theories:

It changed its colour due to the candles smoke or they simply coloured her black! You decide 💨😉

There are between 70-80 monks living in the Monastery at any one time, all incredibly musically talented, with the largest collection of music going back to 1400.

We enjoyed the trip and a half day was good amount of time to explore on your own.

Warning - thieves are present at the most sacred places! Nebojsa left his drinking bottle in the basilica for a couple of minutes, by the time he went back it was gone! And security is everywhere, but no lost property section. 😕

If you have ever visited Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro, then Monserrat might look familiar. Definitely gets a tick from us!

Jews quarter

As expected, the Jews quarter existed in Barcelona.

During the black plague terrible times it became obvious Jews had a much higher survival rate. Catholics became intrigued why that was and the history narratives point to two facts:

They lived in a ghetto therefore were simply more protected
They had better hygiene habits

Unfortunately, Jews were used as ones to blame for black plaque death tolls, became a blame victim which resulted in terrible destinies for hundreds of Jews families who got killed unless they couldn’t escape. There is a massive Jews cemetery in the outskirts of Barcelona, we saw it on our way to Monserrat. This is noted as terribly sad times of the Spanish history.

WARNING: Fun part - R 18+!!!

I have left this one for last to make you learn something first🤗

We visited the Erotica Museum, one of its kind in the world!

So much fun, and even though you may think at our age we should know it all, let me tell you we learnt a lot!

It offers an extensive historical and cultural record of the influence of eroticism in mankind from the beginning of time.

14 rooms of explicit paintings, photos, inventions and sculptures that illustrate how sexuality has been a source of inspiration throughout history.

My take on it - they had way more fun than modern humankind obsessed with the look and on line presence. I’d swap today for Greek era any day!

It now comes down to practising the new learnings, flexibility aside! 😉

After the museum we felt very hungry (weird?) and found the restaurant of our choice - Madre Taverna Moderna. We started our dinner with cocktails. Try to guess which one Neb ordered.