Guadi, Güell, Gold, Gòtic

This blog posting covers from Friday August 24 through Tuesday August 28

FRIDAY AUGUST 24, 2012

The flight  

  With traveling great distances by train both expensive and time consuming, I booked a cheap fair from Prague to Barcelona. Though financially and timewise, this was a great decision, there are definitely some improvements to the Czech plan that needs to happen.

1) they book travel on the tram, not by trip but by time.  You can buy 30 min, 90 min, day pass, etc...  That said, a

trip to the airport takes about 35 minutes, so you need to buy 90 minutes.  And let's just say you bought 30 minutes and the train ride only took 31 minutes.  Well there is a guy called ticket control that randomly spot checks people.  If you're the one he checks and your ticket is no longer valid, it's 800ck on the spot (about $40). Prewarned, I bought my 90 minutes, got checked and all was good.  Remember to buy 90 minutes!!!

2) When you get to the airport, they start saying which terminal you're at, but not what's at the terminal.  I had to ask a couple from Spain which terminal they were going to and simply followed their lead.  Oh and there are no signs at the terminal either.  Really, seriously??  

3) Flight check-in -  the people that work for the airline, only check in one flight at a time. Yup.  Thats right.  If you're not on the trip to Madrid for one line, or the trip to Stockholm for the other line, they will not talk to you, not even to tell you when you can check in, or where that will be.  And at the same time, the screen to provide  this info was brokenn(without warning), so a crowd of us headed to Barcelona, were all confused, waiting to be shown where to check-in.  

4) They weigh your carry-on luggage -  apparently your carry-on luggage is only allowed to weigh 10kg.  They were a bit annoyed that mine weighed 15kg.  What's a guy to do? I'm traveling for 6 weeks.  I figured I packed pretty light.  Fortunately the flint was full, and they checked my luggage for free :)  Note someone from the hostel last night (monday) told me she packed for a 2.5 month trip to south American, with only 8kg of stuff, including her camera.  Impressive.  My main camera weighs about 1.5 kg (Nikon dslr d80), so that would suck.

Of course, during all of this they do have some artwork thrown around the airport

Grocery shopping

Ok, I realize that grocery shopping isn't very exciting but when you haven't gone shopping in 5 weeks, it's good to feel normal.  And when on the oher side of that gratify trip is a nice apple ravioli dinner, even better. Of course, having shampoo and soap again doesn't hurt all.

SATURDAY AUGUST 25, 2012

The run

I have to admit, I thought it would be a bit easier to get some of these runs in.  I've been traveling in some pretty cool places with cool things to see. However, the logistics of running 19 miles is not so much fun.  Buy a couple bottles of Gatorade the night before, carry bottle of water in addition to Gatorade on the run, make way back to hostel, refill, go after it again, hope I dont get lost along the way and that I don't get hit by a car.  I miss MIT!!!!!!!  That all said, it's pretty cool to run along the Mediterranean sea for a bit.

La Sagrada Familia

After a pretty healthy nap from my hot and muggy long run, I went to go see the talk of Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia. I decided to walk there as it was only about 2k or so away, and I have to admit I'm glad I did.  After walking through the town, and coming around the corner, I have to say that my jaw dropped at the scale of this church (just under 170 meters tall) and the elobarate work that went into the creating the facades.  Oh and did I mention that it has been under construction for about 100 years and isn't expected to be completed until 2026 at the earliest.  This is one of four works by Gaudi that I saw on my stay in Barcelona. 

West facade

East facade

north facade 

And as impressive as the outside is, the inside is just as cool ith columns that are built like trees.  In fact, the lesson of la Sagrada familia is just how much the ideas of nature can be incorporated in everything we do.

 Back of church

front of church

 

Balconies for choir - expected to be able to seat 1000 singers across the two sides of these elevated seats

Stairs to who knows where

What will be at the main entrance, if you look closely, the main portion is in Catalan (language of Barcelona and the rest of the Cataluña region), and that is surrounded by various other languages

Even though there were stairs to who knows where above, they did allow you to go up one of the towers via elevator.  Though it only took you up 65 meters.  Then you had to go up by stairs another 10 meters and squeeze through tight spaces with your fellow tourists to take a look around.

Closer look at how nature was added into the facades

Cramped quarters getting a view

the winding stairs we were allowed to take down (just not up)

And for those folks that like a little bit of math, there is this little puzzle.  If you add up any four connecting squares you always get 33, the age that Jesus died. There's a couple hundred different ways to do the math and it works everytime.  Who has the energy for this sort of stuff.

Once you exit the full cathedral, you can actually enter what's called the crypt, which is where masses have been performed since it was completed in the early days of construction.  In fact, while I was there, a Catalan mass was being performed

You can also find the burial place of Gaudi himself.  

SUNDAY AUGUST 26, 2012

Casa Botlla

Another work by Gaudi, that leaves you wondering how could a house without straight lines and an eerie facade be so friggin cool!!! 

Front facade 


Main room, notice everything is curved, walls, ceilings, windows....

Back facade

Roof top, the chimneys were actually all aligned to create some cool features

and because Gaudi was working on this property at the same time as La Sagrada Familia, there's an arch specifically created to look in that direction on the roof.

and one of the other cool features is the use of light wells, and even cooler is how he lightens the tile work on the way down to compensate for the less light making it that far.  

And you'll notice that even the door avoid straight lines and being flat.  

La pedrera

Ok, after, La Sagrada Familia and Casa Botlla, I was due for a Gaudi letdown, but even the letdown, had a great facade, cool roof and an interesting attic space.  the rest was, eh..

Front facade



Scale mock up.  What's so cool is how much Gaudi would use scale models to build nearly everything before someone would come through and build the full item.  This was as true for building facades as it was for statues, 

The rolling roof top

The attic with more models

The "courtyard"/ lightwell

Güell park

If it weren't for the sun, this place would have been a super paradise!  Winding, hilly trails, cool things to see along the way, and just removed enough from the city to give good views.  And just to think, all of this because Gaudi and Güell "failed" at their attemot to build a housing community.  

Crappy park map

Aquaducts created for the property

One of the few houses built on the property

Gaudi's house for 20 years during the time he was building la Sagrada familia 

guards house at entrance

Cool promenade 

Close up of the lizard fountain. Big attraction for people to get their photo taken with their hand in the water.  

Bird precariously balancing under the promenade 

cool feature to climb (3 crosses)

Shot from above of the park

MONDAY AUGUST 27, 2012

Buying a train ticket

Again, I had the worst time in the world trying to use my american credit card to buy train tickets online Sunday night, so off to the train station to see what can happen.   The first thing you realize is that there isn't a line for tickets, there are multiple lines.  Larga distancia, was the line I needed, but it wasn't so much a line as it was, take a number and wait over there (I'd find the same sort of system at the post office later that day).  Ultimately, I was able to buy more expensive ticket at the train station than I would have had to online, can't get web rates at the train station, even if it is their system that is screwed up.    In parting, the guy said to me that since I had now bought with that train company, in the future, my credit card would work online.  Awesome, no more train rides with this train company.

former bull ring

As I walked from the train station to my next mini destination, something cool caught my eye. It looked like a bullfighting ring, but something wasn't quite right out it.  As I got closer, there was an outside elevator to the top, offering a 360 degree view of the city, so why not go up.  At the top were so cool views and a few restaurants and some doors to go inside.  Finally, it all made sense.  There was a small exhibit inside.  This building used to be a bull ring and was eventually abandoned and nature took over.  You could see pictures of trees growing in the stands, etc...  now the fully renovated building had become a pretty cool shopping mall and very minor tourist attraction.  

Bill ring (left side is the lift up)

Palacio national

Monday = closed in Barcelona.  It was still a pretty cool building.

Building in the background of this photo is the palacio nacional.  

92 Olympic park

When I was in London a few weeks back, trying to get tickets into Olympic park was an impossibility.  However, I find that if you wait 20 years, you can pretty much just walk straight in. No lines, no fees, no worries.  :) 

Map of the park


The outside of the stadium 

View of the stadium from the far side of the park

Inside the stadium

Really big antenna :) 

Olympic museum

Did I mention that things are closed in Barcelona on Monday? 

Montjuic  castle

Visiting Montjuic, was not on my game plan for the day, heck it was not even on my little free map (the one I serendipitously picked up on the bus shuttle from the airport to downtown Barcelona on Friday).  That said, it was well worth the adventure to go see.  there were two options to get up to the top.  Take a cable lift, or hike it up.  To continue the adventure, I hiked it up.  I think I may of taken the long way around, but that's ok.  When getting to the top, I was a little underwhelmed, by the size of the front facade, however, my opinion quickly changed as I walked around the perimeter of the fort/castle before entering.  It just kept going and going, it was he energizer bunny of forts.  

Random fountain deal on my way towards Montjuic 


The lift that could take you up, but I chose to walk it up. 

First view of Montjuic, which is a little deceiving as the plas stretches back a ways

Full length of fort/castle

Cataluña flag in the background - it was a pain to get the flag waving!!!!

View from 3rd level of fort down to the second level 

Gotic quarter 

Getting away from Montjuic and back into town became an adventure in its own right.  A turn here, another turn there, what appeared to be a dead end but had stairs down to the port that I'd seen from the castle.  Finally, I made it to colom (Columbus for Americans) square.  Of course, then came more looping and winding and crazy streets before making it to the actual gothic quarter, where I'd find a few cool places like

The stairs from Montjuic to the port

Statue of Cristober Colom (Christopher Columbus)

Better view of the base

Map of gothic quarter

the cathedral in the gothic quarter

quick view of inside


A bit of the outside courtyard

More courtyard

Random street in the area - just cool

doorway to the remains of a roman temple in the 1st century BC (was closed up - perhaps a Monday thing)

"art" out and about 

the picture says It all 

La rambla

Also sometimes referred to as las ramblas, as there are multiple "rambla" streets that create this strip. Typically, I read that there was supposed to be lots going on around this area, like street performers, etc...  However, I think I got an off time as not much was going on.  Perhaps another Monday victim.

Hostel chatter

What was cool about my last night in Barcelona, was that a little group of us sat around and chatted while my laundry was underway.  Or what I should say is that a group of us played charades with a guy from Italy who only spoke minimal English and no Spanish.  It was great because a lady from Poland who lives in London works with a lot of Italians at restaurants and was able to bridge a few gaps in gestures and intents when the rest of us were completely confused.  He taught us a few things: about his longboard-skateboard, his family, work conditions in Italy, bribery in Italy, and how little he earnes.  It was interesting and was definitely one of those you had to be there evenings.  Of course, it was helped along with our buddy from south Korea offered up some beers and a couple ladies from from hong kong joined in the fun.  

TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2012

train to Madrid.  

After this train ride completes, the complete make up of this trip will change.  The first 4.5 weeks have been doing Europe on the cheap, hostels, train rides, food from grocery stores.  On Wednesday, Rob arrives from the states and it will be hotels rather than hostels, restaurants rather than grocery stories and car rides rather than train rides.  It will be nice to get semi-reacclimated to life and better to have someone to pal around Europe with.

  

As for the train ride itself, it was pretty cool.  I got to watch as we rose into the mountains of Spain from the sea view that Barcelona provided.  I was a little jealous of people outside of the train, as there were trails out there, that I could see from the train, and I so very much wanted to go out the and explore.  additionally, in some portions of the trip, there appeared to be some abandoned houses in the middle of nowhere.  For good reason I am sure.  Though there were roads nearby the train tracks, there didn't appear to be much else.  Overall, the train ride went without a hitch and into Madrid, I was, ready to look at a map and figure out how the heck to get to my hotel.  

Run to the park 

After checking into the hotel, grabbing a quick bite to eat (fresh from the grocery store :) ), and a quick nap, I went out for one of the most recharging runs EVER.  It started off on the Gran Via, a popular street in Madrid, however, I quickly was able to make my way to El Parque de Buen Retiro.  It was getting close to dusk at this time, and there were so many people out running around, it was energizing.  The sky was clear, the moon bright, the trails seemed to go on forever, and I felt like I could as well. My planned 8 mile run slowly turned into an 11 mile run and I enjoyed nearly every bit of it (the pieces on Gran Via being the only exception).  Sadly, all good things must come to an end.  I need some rest to begin phase II of the trip which begins Wednesday morn.