The Journey begins . . . . .

My daughter traveled with me this summer to Barcelona and Morocco.  Here are a few highlights from our visit to Barcelona.

Picasso Museum 

My daughter, Sarah going up the steps to enter the museum.

This museum provided an interesting view into Picasso’s life.  The tour started with early paintings from Picasso when he was studying art at age 14 and ended with some of the final paintings of his life. It was fascinating to watch him grow from a more technical art student to a master of modernism.  

The Piano

One of our favorites was his study of the Velasquez painting, Las Meninans.  Near the end of his life he painted his interpretation on Las Medians and a series of paintings of some of the subjects in the original.  "The Piano" was one of my favorites.  

Here is a link if you're interested in learning more about the Velasquez painting, Las Meninans . . . .

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/spain/v/vel-zquez-las-meninas-c-1656

Outside of the the museum

Narrow Streets

Our second stop of the day was Park Güell. Gaudi designed the park as a planned/gated community in the early 1900s. The benefactor decided the original idea wouldn’t work and the land was eventually given to the City of Barcelona.  How wonderful that it is now a space to be enjoyed by all.  The park is just magical and a UNESCO (United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organization) world heritage site.

Park Entrance

Guard Station

View from one of the garden walks

The park sits up on a hill near the edge of the city and when you get to the top of the park there are beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the city itself.

We were excited to see the Sagrada Familia (our next stop)

Sagrada Familia is another Gaudi designed building, seen by many as his ultimate masterpiece.  The city began construction of this church more than 100 years ago and are still working to complete it because of Gaudi’s complicated designs.  The building is absolutely stunning.  

The sun shining through the stained glass windows is breathtaking. 

Note the detail, bugs and all.

The front of the building shows the celebration of the Nativity and the back focuses on the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Inside the building you feel as though you are standing under a massive tree canopy as the church was designed to intertwine with spirituality and nature.  You are surrounded by huge stained glass windows that reflect bright colors around the church.  This space is hard to describe in words and photos.  

The organ pipes, one of the first things I look for in a cathedral. 

Next stop, Morocco!