El parque final: The final park

FINALLY, as we passed through Placa Catalunya, Tom and I were able to break away for a few minutes to encounter our Polish friend who is taking refuge for the time-being in an Irish school in Belgium...figure that one out. Then--on to the final park tour of the day in a more recent sector of the city...

...which was deceptively shaped like a rollercoaster...or a GIANT plant-holder

Green and Built space...just awesome

HAHAHA--PRINCIPES! That's the way to get the ladies, Bob!

After the park, Nick, Tom and I hit up the boardwalk near the Olympic Village for some typical Spanish Paella...consisting of Mussels, Shrimp, rice, and veggies...mmmm

Just one of my fav buildings in Barca...

Nick and Tom were too busy touching the Mediterranean...oh boys!

Afterwards, we headed to Aldana then on to our typical night at la Fira for our guest...its only natural--although I'm beginning to wish we did something new each time so that we at least werent so repetitive...

Yay for Miko being here!

Donde se viven los espiritus: Where the spirits live

After another bus ride, we arrived at the opposite side of Montjuic...near the Llobregat River, and walked a few blocks until we reached the cemetary entrance, which is more like entering a city built for lost loved ones. It is beautiful and decorative and not at all our monotonous tombstoned rows of headstones which hardly represent or express the incredible life of a human being.

Professor Vidal led us up the exterior pathway, past multiple of the smaller rooms of graves.

Until we reached what may be one of the most peaceful and serene locations in all of Barcelona. This quarry is not dreadful or sad or enclosed or distracting. Instead it is open and free and green and lively with wildflowers and birds flying, and a party with drums and music somewhere over the top of the cliff that surrounds this open field.

The sun came out for the first time all day...or maybe it was sunny there the whole time, and raining everywhere else...its hard to believe that this space is anything but perfect. It's quiet, calm, harmonious, and jubilant all at once. All there is to do is sit,

stretch

relax.

On the way out everyone was uplifted after such a long, tough morning. Tom lightened any sour moods by playing She Loves me, she loves me not...he figured out the trick since all of the flowers had an odd number of petals...CHEATER!

Even with a little bit of sunshine on our faces and bounce in our step, it was hard to forget that we still had another bus ride, a short walk, and a metro to our final park. Exhaustion had to set in sometime.

Cerca de Renfe: Nearby Renfe

Although this covered walkway doesn't look like much, it was one of the original attempts at making community interior/exterior spaces that link other public spaces. As you can tell, the roof is not meant to protect from the rain but it does provide some shade and seating for anyone in the plaza nearby the train station.

And this is...?

A DRAGON PLAYGROUND! Clearly, we played...you needn't bother to ask anymore! It had stairs and slides and it was ridiculously dirty from rain and muck, but it was a toy...a big toy...so we enjoyed it thoroughly.

Beyond the dragon is the continuation of a renewed industrial site which has become a great park for dog-walking or relaxing by the water...assuming that there aren't mosquitos here on normal days.

It is an interesting contrast...People-watching from multiple viewpoints...those who sit to watch from the bleechers, and those who walk to watch along the park at the water's edge...oh...and those who are, by choice are not, viewed from either side of the pond.

I am really going to miss the brightness and color of the buildings of Spain and the rest of Europe like this one in the park, which is an addition to one of the warehouse buildings previously used by the factory once standing where this green grass reigns...

and the grass IS the most protected aspect of the green spaces...these signs are super-typical throughout the public spaces.

On to the next stop...Bill grabs a cat-nap because we have a 20 minute bus-ride to the next site

Donde se removeron las piedras: Where they removed the rocks

Yeah...the title is a little strange...I was trying to use some reflexive verb and a new vocab word for all of you who want to learn some spanish...for those of you who dont--you probably ignored the title anyways...

If you were confused, I was referring to an old quarry that has since been turned into the 2nd park on our day-long-tour. It started raining again, as you can tell, and to be honest I wasn't all that thrilled with this one. I guess it is more a space to sit, relax, do nothing, or bring your own inspiration instead of being inspired. Maybe its open to interpretation.

There was, however, a statue representing Narcissus, who was said to have become obsessed with himself. The statue is suspended over the water as if the body was stuck observing its own beauty for eternity. Felipe finally showed up. We were beginning to worry. He brought the little one--so cute! You can tell how great a grandpa Prof. Vidal would be--he seems to get a kick out of Sebastian.

Park Guell: Park Guell

A fantastic welcome to brighten this dreary morning of an all-day park tour...

"If it's called 'tourist season,' why can't we shoot them?"

This is one of many abandoned buildings that has been taken over by young and old who cannot afford houses in the overpopulated and pricey city.

Gingerbread? Mmmm...no. This. Is. Gaudi.



Tile: The beauty is in the detail

Greetings from Gaudi's creature...

at least we know he has SOME concept of the order in life :-)

"Sweet...more columns," you say?

Indeed--but also QUITE large and covering a pretty big area which was originally intended to be a market, if I'm not mistaken. This whole park was originally designed to be an independent town...Autonomous, if you will.

Sean is LOVING the Gaudi bench, the most infamous area of the Park

Yeah...we are architects...and this is AWESOME...no matter WHO you are.

A view from inside

Turo dels tres creus-Hill of 3 Crosses...Billy is the stand-in...I think Rob took the other cross home...? haha

And there she is, Barca herself.

To your left, Torre Agbar.

Slightly left, Sagrada Familia.

At center, the towers at the beach of Villa Olimpic.

In front-the mar Mediterraneo

Behind-las montanas

Here...Turo dels tres creus...CUArch

Mon and the gatito

Sean and el creu

Another incredible colonnade

Did I mention yet how ridiculous this architecture is?!

So...we were impressed...obviously. And it may take us a while to realize it, but 8 am in the rain actually IS the best way to see Guell, according to Professor Vidal: no tourists.

Un poquito de todo: A little of everything

After a morning at the competition exhibit in Placa de la Catedral, we took a walk down to the Market done by the people at our first firm visit...pretty impressive, but we were all pretty hungry, so we hit up a bar nearby to show Spiro what eating in Spain is all about. He has a surprising amount to say about how much he loved the bread...who knew?!

Maybe he was just really hungry... We couldn't dawdle too long before heading to grab our things to get over to a weekend firm visit in Gracia which ended up being delayed and giving us time for a cafe with Prof. Vidal.

La presentacion esta terminada: The presentation is finished

FINALLY we got to present to a member of the council-town. It was really strange to attempt to present projects that we have only had a few months to work on to a man who has, no doubt, been trying to solve the problem of Placa de les Glories for years! When all is said and done, though, we still have a final presentation to prepare for...but tonight deserves some celebrating at Machito's in Gracia.

Dave flew in from Rome for the jury...whose idea was it for these two to sit next to eachother?!

Felipe, Professor Vidal, Mary, and Eugenia

Beer and Margaritas all around...did I mention this is a Mexican restaurant?

We are ALL relieved when the food arrives and we chow down!

Of course, what would a night out in Barca be without flower sellers interrupting all of the fun...poor Prof Vidal! (Hold your tongue, Sean!!)

After dinner, it was still only 1am...plenty of time to head back to Aldana, change into some fresh clothes and head to Sunset.

Of course, this not-so-pequeno-gatito made for a great pic of the guys, and for some fabulous entertainment for the girls and the locals hanging out on Rambla del Raval.

Vic and Spiro at Sunset...chillin...it was a pretty slow night for a Thursday.

But who needs everyone else when we have the three stooges?! :-D

example...Spiro, Billy, and Ben...about 1.5 seconds before the homeless man that Ben is stepping on jumps up and scares them all senseless!

Who doesn't love carousels at 4am?

Even the little kid in Rob comes out...sharing with Monica--precious