Buenos Dias Sweet Friends!

I’m still reliving my almost perfect trip to sunny and warm Barcelona with all its beauty! In my last post, I described the Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece. Seeing it was definitely the highlight of the trip for me, but there were other highlights as well!

After touring the Sagrada Familia, my friend and I went to Hospital Sau Pau, the Hospital of St. Paul, a UNESCO site. This was a working hospital until 2009, but it is now used as a “knowledge campus” and houses several intehospital sant paurnational organizations including the European Forest Institute and UN University Institute on Globalization, Culture and Mobility.

It was designed by Lluis Domenech I Montaner one of Barcelona’s renowned modernista architects who also designed the Palau de la Musica.  It was here that Antoni Gaudi in 1926. The entire complex is connected by underground passages that were used to transport patients from one building to another. The underground is now used for HVAC and storage but you can walk through there and see the history of the hospital.

Barcelona - Hospital de Sant Pau. Sostre del vestíbulThe project was commissioned by Gil i Serra who wanted the patients to feel comfortable in their surroundings so he had several pavilions built each one serving as a section of the hospital. 48 pavilions were planned but when funding ran out only 8 had been built. Each pavilion is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is brightly colored, has beautiful mosaics, stained glass and colored tiles. Unfortunately, visitors are allowed in only a few buildings,  but guided tours are given of the grounds where you can see the pavilion exteriors which are beautiful. You can see the Moorish influence in the decoration, arched windows and turrets as well as the Byzantine inspired elements and hints of Gothic gargoyles, angels and animals figures. The finest exterior is of the Administrative Pavilion which has mosaics that tell the story of the hospital history.

That night, Casa Gracia offered a Paella dinner and a small, intimate Flamenco IMG_6138show! I purchased a ticket and was not disappointed. While the paella was mediocre at best, the show was totally worth it. There were only four people, one male singer, one male guitar player, one male percussionist, and one female dancer; but their performance was intense and intimate. There were no lavish costumes or lights, just their raw passion for the music and dance. It was amazing and I didn’t want it to end. Watching her dance was like watching a passionate love affair with all the fights and love making. I mean it was seriously intense. I kinda felt like a voyeur!

Entrance to Parc Guell

Entrance to Parc Guell

On my last day in Barcelona, I visited Parc Guell in the morning and spent the afternoon at the beach. Parc Guell was the brain child of Eusebi Guell, the richest man in the city and Gaudi’s friend and patron, who envisioned it to be a gated community of houses for the aristocracy, gardens, markets and a huge community square that would host events and parties. It was a huge failure and the only house ever built, the model home, was occupied by Gaudi during construction. It is now a unique park and visitor attraction for tourists and locals alike. The main features of the park are the ceramic -tiled fantasy structures and mosaics by Gaudi located in the Monumental Precinct of the park. At the entrance to the park is Gaudi’s dragon fountain covered in bright ceramic mosaics. At another poinIMG_4877t in the park there is a walkway supported by what appears to be organically formed piles of rocks growing like tree trunks. Gaudi tried to use organic shapes in the park structures. Visitors can get a good overview of the whole park from Gaudi’s large terraced area. The terrace is also covered in tiled mosaics and has undulating balustrades and curvIMG_4878ed benches which follow the natural twists and bends in the walls.

It was a beautiful day, and I so enjoyed being outside in the sun and walking along the paths listening to street musicians. I spent a few hours there and then hoped on a tram towards the ocean. I walked along the boardwalk of the beach, bought some street food, found a concrete lounge chair and kicked back. I wasn’t exactly prepared for the beach, so I stripped down to my camisole and shorts and watched the people go by. The beach was packed and many vendors walked by selling everything from cold mojitos and beer to t-shirts and foot massagIMG_4887es! I enjoyed a 15 minute foot massage offered by a very nice lady while watching the body builders work out at the outdoor beach “gym” just in front of me. Ah, yessssss, my happy place indeed! I dozed off and on enjoying my music, the sun and life in general. After a few hours, I sadly made my way back to Casa Gracia where I met Deb and we grabbed our luggage heading to the airport.

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I sadly bid adios to Barcelona knowing that I would return soon. Barcelona has to be one of my favorite cities, along with Vienna, Rome and London. These cities are magical and offer many things to see and do, but they do not hold the people I love. Only two places hold my loved people – Memphis and Honolulu. These are the places I hold in my heart, and I take them with me to magical cities, but always return to them in due time.  Memphis and Honolulu are family to me and that is where my heart remains. They are my center of balance.

Always know where to find your balance and cherish it and those who fill your life with love. Take care sweet friends and enjoy your journey!

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2 thoughts on “Barcelona Part 3

  1. You are loved in Hawaii and Memphis. I miss you buddy. Barssssssilona sounds fab.

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