Tag Archives: Barcelona

Last Day in Barcelona, Spain

May 7, 2015 jd

Stables

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Stables

By Judy J. Pinegar Pictures by John J. O’Dell

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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Travel

Two Wonderful Days in Barcelona

May 5, 2015 jd

By Judy J. Pinegar – Pictures by John J. O’Dell

And by that I mean “full of wonder.” First was the Museo d’ Historia de Barcelona. In over three hours we walked from the 1st century BC to the13th century and back to the 21st century, and it was all in the same place. Let me explain… apparently the people used to build on top of other peoples buildings, using the stones, then sometimes reusing them to make the place their own as the land filled in.

Over view of underground

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So taking an elevator down, down down..we come to the 1st century an archaeological dig within the bowels of three buildings and under an adjourning plaza (Plaza del Rey). First stop was a fullonica workshop (clothes washing) and tinctoria workshop (dying of clothes) from the 2nd century. You could see the basins, and drains, and even the color “Egyptian blue” on the stone tubs!

A little higher was a 3rd century fish salting and factory for making fish sauce called “garum,” then to my delight was a whole winemaking facility, built in the late 3rd century. You could see where they stomped the grapes, fermented and then pressed, and stored the wine, with the help of elevation changes as there were no pumps back then! See John’s pictures.

Then the Episcopal religious complex of a baptistery, bishops home, and church evolved on higher level in the 4th to the 8th century, that then became with some new additions, the house of a count/ and then royal palace, the very one (according to our guide) where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella gave Christopher Columbus the contract to explore the “new world” for 1/10th of what he could find there. (Apparently they later reneged on the contract and poor Christopher died a pauper.) Then we were back on the street in 2015 Barcelona with great street musicians.

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A day later we saw the most iconic church in Barcelona, La Sagrata Familia Church. Antonio Gaudi began as chief architect in 1883 at the age of 33. He died in 1926 with only the nativity facade (one of three planned) completed. But work has continued, now through donations and the entrance fees. When I was here with my daughter 15 years ago, the interior was not completed, and even now I would say it is about 7/8ths finished inside, but it became a church when Pope Benedict XVI consecrated it in 2010. There are now two facades mostly finished, the final one, meant to be the churches main entrance is scheduled for completion in 2026 …or later! I could say more but you sort to have to see it to believe it so I leave you to John’s pictures.

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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Travel

Barcelona, Spain Days One to Four

May 2, 2015 jd

By Judy Pinegar

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 food of 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.

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.

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 — 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.

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 — 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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Call or write today for all your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
BRE#00669941

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