a little note on travelling solo

Today has possibly been the most trying day of the trip.  Aside from my computer having MAJOR problemos (I really hope I get it working soon so I can post more photos), I am missing all the people I have spent time with in the last few days.  On a day like today when the lonliness of traveling alone has raised it´s ugly head, I found it necessary to go searching for a little romance with the city. Hot sun on my back, cold water in hand I set out to renew the love and beauty deep in my heart amongst works of Picasso, Dali, Miro, and other heroic Spanish and European artists. My legs and tears led me to the Reina Sophia, passing first by a few enchanting blocks of botanical gardens, where before entering the museum I sat and had a good cry, missing a special someone who came into my life just days ago.  It was bitter-sweet to sit and remember all the beautiful memories of the past few days but I left the bench greatful for receiving such a powerful message from the Universe from a very sweet soul, and with a deep knowing that I need to take the lesson that was given, leave the person in the past, and continue with my journey.  So I continued on from the bench holding my own hand, the very one I arrived here with, and loving my own heart, the one I came here to let grow and flourish in the rich European land.

As I got the audio guide situated and began to explore the magic of history and art I immediately got swept away in the moment, lost in translation, and felt my love and happiness begin to overcome the sadness and longing. After a fabulous exploration of some of the most famous pieces of Spanish art and getting to see some some really moving expositions I sat in a cafe and had the priviledge of enjoying many moments of deep reflection.  I took the opportunity to remind myself why it is that I like to travel alone, why it is that I take chances on romance, and put some conscious faith in the Universe for continuing to guide me along my path.  I felt my soul growing more full of love and my gratitude getting stronger with every second as I went through these past few days and realized why I met the people I met, what they came into my life to teach me, and being proud for being able to let them go, loving the Universe, my new friends, and myself for the connections that were made.  After all, travelling for me is never just about seeing the sites and taking a break from the day-to-day.  My wanderlust is driven by  getting to discover new things about myself, having daily reunions with my soul, it´s about meeting new people and learning from them what they were put into my life to teach me.  It´s about learning to open up to new possibilities, loving, and learning to let go.  It´s about learning to follow my instincts, strengthening my intuition.  It´s about learning to forgive myself when I take the wrong path.  And above all, it´s about growing mentally and spiritually from every experience, good and bad.  It´s a magical experience to consciously feel the growth taking place.  That is where I am today, in this moment.  Feeling grateful, alive, and FULL OF LOVE!!

La Sagrada Familia/Quimet & Quimet

La Sagrada Familia is most definitely Antoni Gaudi's most famous work, and the one he spent the majority of his life working on until his (tragic) death.  Besides the Palau de la Musica Catalana, this is my favorite building in Barcelona.  It has officially won the record for the longest construction.  It has already passed the 100 year mark and is not planned to be finished until 2026.  Gaudi had immaculate plans for this church, and with it's immaculate size and not a centimeter went without being thought of in detail, you can just imagine the true genius it took to plan a work of art so original, phenomenal, and symbolic.

Gaudi officially took over the project in 1883 at the young age of 31!  I could really go into detail here about the history and all of Gaudi's amazing ideas and inspirations, but I will try and keep it short and to the point.  By far my favorite part about Gaudi is that he was sooooooo inspired by nature.  There are HUNDREDS of examples of this in his masterpieces, and especially on the Sagrada Familia.  Not only does he use animals, plants, trees, and such directly as decoration, but he models his structures, windows, shapes of buildings after examples in nature.  The inside of the Sagrada Familia is emant to look like a forest, with the beams as tree trunks, toward the top where they split to make branches.  There are windows in the shapes of honeycombs, animals and plants as symbolic icons in his facades, he used crystal structures to plan al kinds of features in his works.  Along with all the other incredible architectures and artists in Spain, Gaudi was truly original, and an out-of-this-world genius and I am happy to be able to share a few pictures from my visit to his most famous work, The Sagrada Familia.  We did go at high sun so the lighting isn't the best but these give a n idea of the immaculate detail and symbolism that Gaudi put into this church.

El Barrio Gotic

Mom was here in Barcelona for the past ten days and we certainly did our fair share of exploring the city together!  We took a couple days off to relax on the beach and took a couple day trips to explore Montserrat, Girona, and Figueres.  Our favorite part of the city was El Barrio Gotic (Gothic quarters).  There are so many amazing buildings, churches, pathways, little shops, and quaint little restaurants.  We loved getting ourselves lost in the amazing architecture and charming little walkways!  Below are some pictures of El Barrio Gotic, ending with a few from El Plaza Colon, which is the enormous monument dedicated to Christopher colombus and his discovery of the New World.  Just so happens Christopher Colombus is actually pointing the wrong way! Hahaha, but we figured it was constructed the way it was for asthetics and practical purposes. He is pointing out to sea, and if he were to be pointing in the actual direction of the new World he would be pointing toward land, so asthetically it works.  And practically speaking, he is pointing to the only exit from the Port of Barcelona.  Either way, it is a huge monument and one of he most famous in the city.  After all, if it wasn't for him we miight all still think the world is flat ;)

El Correo, (post office)

Love the little balconies, I have a LOT of pictures of balconies!

Santa Maria del Mar ~ this church is GORGEOUS, and just stuck right in the middle of all these buildings tight together.  The style is breathtaking, TALL ceilings with arched roofs, stained glass windows, statues and paintings decorating the walls and Chapels where religious leaders past lay in their tombs.  The detail is incredible.

mmmmmmmm, tapas!

It is virtually impossible to see during the day, but there is a flame burning on top of that red statue.  The Eternal Flame outside of Santa Maria del Mar  church.

Cafe at the Picasso Museum.  The museum is truly exceptional, not only displaying a vast number of Picasso's works, from a young child to his final works, but you get an in depth picture of his life, his influences, how he evolved as an artist, and some personal stories as well... Picasso was quite the ladies man!  What a beautiful mind, he definitely had a talent from the day he was born.

more graffitti!

a little taste of the GREAT ceramics in Spain

peek-a-boo

Funky Gypsy-Jazz trio from Italy. 

Statue in El Parque de la Ciutadella

 

I LOVE my lions <3

finding art in nature

There is art everywhere in this city!

Arc de Triomf

Salud ~ Cheers!

Monumento del Colom ~ Christopher Colombus