Our last day in Barcelona

We have finally come to the end of Gina and Kevins trip to Paris and Barcelona. On our last day in Barcelona we finally made it to La Sagrada Familia.

(Click on the image to enlarge)


When you're a street musician in Barcelona, you have to know what the people want to hear and this guy had his finger on the pulse. After all, when I think hip, accordion is the first thing that comes to mind.


Once we finally made it through the line to get in, I decided to take some shots of the exterior details. The exterior of the cathedral is like a sculpted representation of the bible. On the west facing side of La Sagrada Familia, all of the sculptures represent the end or the death and on the east facing side of the building, all of the sculptures represent the birth of Christ.








This is the crazy west facing door into the cathedral


Detail of another door


Looking up at the west facing exterior


Inside the catheral


This is inside the main hall of the cathedral looking up. The columns design is based on that of a tree and its limbs, spreading out at the top.


This is part of the east facing exterior and represents the birth of christ






After leaving Sagrada Familia we hopped on the metro to Montjuic to enjoy the views of the city and visit the castle on top.


A view of the coastline from Castell de Montjuic




The top of the castle looking across and into the main courtyard






After visiting Montjuic we headed back to the Barri Gotic to see the last standing oldest roman columns in the city.


The last bit of sun on our last day in Barcelona creeping up the bell tower at La Placa del Rei.
Thanks for looking.

P.S. My buddy Trevor told me that I should consider adding print prices to the blog in the case you (the viewer) might want to purchase one. Although I'm not sure I want to have pricing in the actual blog, I would love to sell my work. So, if you see something you'd like to put on your wall, please email (kevin@ksharpphotography.com) so I can give you a price.

Thanks again,
Kevin

Montserrat and Barceloneta

Welcome back, this latest entry covers the last couple of days of our trip to Barcelona and features the Barceloneta neighborhood of Barcelona which is an old fishing village, as well as Montserrat and a really blurry photo of the Black Madonna... you'll see.


This is the monument of Columbus at the south end of La Rambla. The monument was constructed at the spot that he arrived home from the first journey to the new world.


This is Port Vell which was rehabilitated before the 1992 Olympics. The mountain in the background is Park Montjuic and is the site of the Joan Miro museum, an olympic stadium built in the 20's and Castell de Montjuic which is a military fortress first constructed in 1640


Part of the Barceloneta neighborhood that I can't remember the name or significance of but it sure is pretty.


On a jetty looking back towards the coast. The rocks are watching you!




This fountain is called Cascada and is located in a park down close to the Barceloneta. It was constructed by Josep Fontsere and Antoni Gaudi who was Fonsere's student at the time.


This is Barcelonas Arc de Triomf , not quite as grand as the one in Paris. I think Los Angeles needs an Triumphal Arch.


This is Montserrat, a monastery in the mountains north west-ish above Barcelona. Some interesting stuff happened here but I am running short on time so after enjoying my photos, if you want to know more 'bout it, wikipedia.


The monastery is built into the bedrock




This is from the ridge above Montserrat and that is a rainbow.


We rode a funicular to the top of the mountain and then followed a footpath about a mile to this monument dedicated to St. Joan


These are ruins of an hermitage built into the side of the mountain




OK, now I no this picture sucks but I wasn't supposed to be photographing this thing at all. This is the black Madonna which is said to have been carved by St. Luke in 50 AD. She is the reason they built the monastery on Montserrat.


Inside the monastery

Next time I will bring you our last day in Barcelona, until then I bid you Adieu!

More of Barcelona

Gina and I ventured out to see some of the famed architecture of Barcelona.

Don't forget to click on the images to see em full size!

This is Casa Mila (La Pedrera) which Gaudi was commissioned to build as an apartment building for the Mila family. The construction took four years and was completed in 1910. Today it is a museum and houses the main offices for the cultural foundation of Catalunya


Here's Gina on the streets of Barcelona


This is more Gaudi architecture, if you couldn't guess. This is one of the guard towers at the entrance of Parc Guell. Parc Guell was initially supposed to be a fancy gated housing developement but when the economy of Barcelona tanked during the early 1900's the construction halted.


There were musicians spread out all over the park. As we passed, the music would fade behind us only to be replaced by the next musicians song. It was like they knew how far apart to set up so that there wouldn't be any over lap but just a continuous sound track.


Looking out over the city from Parc Guell


Heres Gina relaxing and doing a little people watching.
Gina loves to people watch!... Huh, it doesn't sound creepy until you type it out.


This is from a path on the hillside above the plaza at Parc Guell












On the way out of Parc Guell we came across these guys playing didgeridoos. I don't get the appeal of that instrument.


This is Mercat de la Boqueria, a big farmers market off of La Rambla.


If you're squeamish you may want to end here.

You see, the people of Barcelona REALLY like meat...


well mainly pork...


and not just the normal stuff... all of it! Feet, heads, brain... you name it.

MMM, I feel like barbecuing!

Tune in next time for the conclusion of our trip.

Barcelona... Finally!

Hey folks,
It's been a long time coming but I've finally found the time and motivation to post pics from the second leg of Gina's and my trip to Europe. I present to you BarTHelona!


On our first day we explored the Barri Gotic which translated means the Gothic Quarter. This is the historical center of Barcelona and where the City was founded. The composition of many of the walls here are like a timeline. The stonework at the base of the building is Roman and the Goths and Catalonian governments built right on top of it hence the varied types of masonry.


Upclose detail of the ancient walls


This is Placa de Sant Jaume. On one side of the plaza is the city hall and on the other is the Palace of the Generalitat. This plaza has been the site of government buildings since Roman times.


La Plaça del Rei.


These are the steps where Columbus presented his findings from the new world to Ferdinand and Isabella.


There were musicians everywhere in the Barri Gotic and because of the acoustics of the narrow streets, it was rare to be without music.


This is the backside of La Cathedral. The reason you're not seeing the front is because it was shrouded in restoration tarps.


Heres Gina reading her guidebook again.


She sure loves a guidebook


The way the light fell onto the narrow streets reminded me of a slot canyon in the desert






Street performers in Barcelona are NO JOKE! The folks on the 3rd St. Promenade could learn a thing or two from these people.


This is the view from the balcony of our room in the late afternoon. Thats right, we stayed in the ghetto.


The thing about the Spanish is that they call it like they see it.

Thats all for now, next week I'll post more including our visit to Park Guell which is one of Gaudi's masterpieces.