After being in Madrid for awhile, we decided to take a narrated bus trip to Avila and Segovia, two famous cities to the north of Madrid.
The main monument is the imposing Walls of Ávila (11th-14th centuries), the medieval work was started in 1090. The enclosed area is 77 acres, it has 88 semicircular towers, and walls over 9 ft thick, with an average height of 39 ft, and 9 gates. It is the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is possible to walk upon the walls themselves for roughly half their circumference.
We also visited the Cathedral of Ávila, a Romanesque and Gothic church, a cathedral-fortress, its apse being one of the turrets of the city walls. It is surrounded by a number of houses or palaces. Across town we also visited the church and museum dedicated to Saint Teresa.
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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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We set out for the Maritime Museum, but on the way I noticed a new (since I was here with my daughter) Guell site by Gaudi: Palau Guell which was the first great commission Antonio Gaudi received from Eusebi Guell, and industrialist, politician and patron who became the architect’s greatest client and also his best friend.
The building was built between 1886 and1890, and contains the essence of the type of architecture and helps people understand better his later works… this was his test model.
The place was the Guell home (10 children) until they moved to Parke Guell when that was finished. The youngest daughter of Guell transferred the Palace to Barcelona Provincial Council for cultural use in 1945.
The palace contained a basement stable for horses, as well as storage space for wood and other household items. A fancier stable, all in brick, I have never seen in my life! The entry floor with two huge iron worked gates, the Spanish call the “el piso bajo” floor, and they say what we would call the 2nd floor the 1st, et cetera…sort of hard to get used to!
So starting with the first floor it became fantastically beautiful, here was the great room, with a cabinet to be opened for prayer, or closed for dancing or other activities. an organ, beautiful paintings and furniture. Around this was a visitors hall, Guell’s office and rooms for music study and art study for the children as well as a fantastic dining room.
Higher levels contained bedrooms for all the children and the main bedroom suite for the parents and the “bath.”, above that was the servant’s workrooms, kitchens and sleeping rooms. the final level was the roof, with absolutely fantastic chimney’s… you will see in the slideshow! We were glad to have substituted this for the Museo! And we were off to San Sebastian by plane (cheaper and 8 hours less that the train) to the same place!
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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
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Landing in Barcelona a full 20 hours off of takeoff from Sacramento (6:30 AM) but at 9AM in the morning really messed us up! After stumbling around Barri Gothic, and having lunch, being lost a few times, we finally came to our shared apartment in Barri Gothic, a few minutes walk to the big Cathedral, right in the center of old Barcelona.
Walking along La Ramblam we saw some of the great foods of Barcelona
A long nap and after a great tapas meal, we walked down La Rambla, Spain (and Barcelona’s) most famous Street. It is divided into five areas, one for futbol gatherers, one for ice cream and snacks, one for flowers, one with a huge marketplace on the side, one for a non-existent Monastery, then the Grand Theatre del Licheu, and finally Santa Monica area, before reaching the huge statue of Christopher Columbus, and the wharf area, and a huge shopping center which we also toured briefly, before heading home.
Street people John O’Dell and Judy Pinegar with a street angel
Interestingly I found that compared to 15 years ago when I was here with my daughter the street people moving statues are few and far between on La Rambla now. They are still scattered here, but also in other areas of the city which I find interesting and sort of disappointing.
Statue of Christopher Columbus
Wharf area
We took two days of the on and off bus tours of Barcelona to get the layout of the city, stopping at Museo National ‘d Arte de Catalunya (see fountain with Barcelona views) and large museum of Gothic and Romanesque art, also some Catalan art. For those of you who don’t know, Spanish speakers in Catalan, the area around Barcelona speak Catalan, different form the Castilian Spanish I learned and spoken by the majority of Spaniards. But as there are lots of tourists here in every language, and for all a lot of English is spoken.
Museo National ‘d Arte de Catalunya picture outside – fountain with Barcelona views
We also stopped at Park Guell, created by Antoni Gaudi, one of the most imaginative architects in the time period of 1880 and the 1920’s, called the Modernistas. His main sponsor was Count Estibi Guell, a very rich man who paid for most of Gaudi’s work, mostly bearing the Guell name. This park is three kilometers of roads, walks and steps (as our feet can testify), along with a central plaza with many modernistic touches. We actually didn’t know we need to reserve a space ahead, so walked around, peaking at the main plaza at different times, as the pictures show.
Park Guell, created by Antoni Gaudi
We saw both La Piedra, Casa Batllio and the Sagrada Familia Church, which was started by Gaudi but still being finished today, but again when trying for entrance to the church, discovered it must be reserved ahead…not like when Juli and I were here, and just walked in. Maybe later in the week.
John O’Dell with arm around Antoni Gaudi, picture of Sagrada Familia Church in background
Then there was the museum of Frederic Mares, an obsessive collector (with lots of money) who collected everything from medieval Spanish sculptures mostly with religious origins, knick-knacks, toy soldiers, scissors, eyeglasses, ceramic pottery, medieval weapons and armor, 19th century playing cards, and you name it , it is there!!
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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941
