Barcelona Tales

I like places with stories to tell. And Barcelona is filled with so many stories that it’s difficult to choose which ones to listen to:

There’s the story of the city of arts and history where the city proudly shows its glories in its many museums and palaces.

There’s the modern and hip city full of expensive boutiques and chic residences, answering every possible whim of its citizens. Here the life has a different rhythm, there’s always time to stroll the beautiful boulevards, visit the art galleries to check on the new ‘it’ artist and stop for a glass of Rioja with friends.

Park Guell

There’s the one about the ex-Olympic City, where the facilities built for the games are now a part of the daily life, especially around the Port Olympic.

While walking one afternoon we decided to check some of the restaurants around Port Olympic and liked the look of one in particular for dinner. The bar-resto-nightclub, a hybrid between Buddha Bar and Al-Jamaal, turned out to be one of the hottest spots in the city. We later found out that Paris Hilton who was visiting Barcelona at the same time, was supposed to make an appearance there -Carpe Diem, in case you’re wondering- for late night clubbing. Thanks to that rumour, we spent a very enjoyable evening people-gazing on the Barcelona’s young & beautiful in their best party attire waiting for Paris. When we left after midnight, she was still nowhere to be seen.

There’s the very tasty and equally dangerous story of the wonderful Catalan cuisine with its numerous tapas and famous paellas.

City from Fundacion Miro

There’s the story of the free Catalan spirit, where Barcelona was the stronghold of Catalan separatism first, and then fighting against Franco’s dictatorial regime during the Spanish Civil War afterwards.  The effects of these wars are evident in the works of 20^th cc Spanish artists including Dali, Picasso and most of all, Miro.

The tree-like columns of La Sagrada

And there’s the story of Gaudi whose dreams have spread through the city in the form of parks, palaces, apartments and most importantly, the La Sagrada Familia.

Because I like both history and architecture, it became almost a reflex to visit every major mosque or cathedral that comes my way. I always see them as hands opened up to the skies, sometimes to pray but mostly to overwhelm the people.  But whatever my beliefs are, there’s no denying that some of these structures are beautiful and impressive, some are even peaceful.

The Passion facade

For me, La Sagrada Familia is all of these and more. Being an expiatory cathedral (i.e. funded only by donations), the building work has started some 130 years ago and it’s planned to be finished around 2030. Even in its half finished state, it’s one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever seen. Gaudi planned the whole building in incredible detail and the architects who took over after his death, although following his plans, are reflecting the spirit of our times. The result is a unique building, wonderfully gothic and incredibly rich. It’s rich in colour, space, sculptors and symbols, and one day soon it will be very rich on music with its chorus of 1000 people. But it’s also a happy building. It doesn’t try to overwhelm or scare as most cathedrals do but aims to celebrate life and all of natures’ creations. I can’t wait to see it when it’s completed, but I’m not holding my breath.

It’s rumoured that Gaudi once said ‘my client is not in a hurry’.  Indeed they still aren’t.

La Sagrada Famillia