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Barcelona - The Beginning of a Love Affair!
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Barcelona was my first real experience of mainland Spain and it was a place I thoroughly enjoyed, but not somewhere I have returned to as yet. Darrell and I used to travel frequently, all over the World, and would often jet off spontaneously at the drop of a hat. Barcelona was one of those unprompted trips that was truly magical in every sense of the word; having never been to there before, I really didn't know what to expect. I had seen photographs of this great city, and knew how characterful and beautiful it was, but experiencing it first hand, was beyond compare.
The first thing that struck me about this city was the architecture. I will never forget walking around the wide open boulevards, admiring the ornate buildings and rhetorical Catalonian construction throughout this great city. One of the most famous buildings is of course the Segrada Famillia, a structure all of us are aware of, no matter where we come from. The unfinished cathedral in the district of Barcelona itself, was born in 1882. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the site is still under development today, but it remains a magnificent epitaph to gothic architecture; a living piece of art, constantly changing and evolving; workmanship unsurpassed.
Gaudi design can be seen throughout the city, from the Casa Batlló and Casa Milà to the Park Güell and El Capricho. Each building is unique and truly galvanising. I was amazed by the richly decorated facades, colourful expression and organic modernist style. My passion for building design and construction was really born in Barcelona. Observing what can be achieved with an open mind and visionary outlook, was really a game changer for me. I have always been unconventional in many aspects of life, which is probably why Gaudi appealed to my sense of imagination and I have tried to apply his principles of individuality and social excellence to my own life. I am a champion of brutalist architecture, but also an admirer of art deco and neoclassical building techniques, however Antoni Gaudi remains my aspirational architect of choice and a reason to return to Barcelona in the future.
Walking along La Rambla, not far from our hotel, was unforgettable. This tree lined pedestrian thoroughfare is Barcelona's meandering jewel, filled with café's, small shops selling local handicrafts, souvenirs and a miscellany of oddities and paraphernalia, as well as individual boutiques, restaurants and of course musicians and street artists serenading your walk along this well trodden bulevar. I felt relaxed and at home, taking my time, slowly strolling along, appreciating my surroundings, absorbing the atmosphere and relishing the European lifestyle, I so admire, in stark contrast to the cold, rainy British way of life I had left behind. The sites, sounds, smell of flowers and traditional Spanish food, courting couples arm in arm and 'beautiful people' taking coffee or glass of Rioja on one of the terraces was a lifestyle I was immediately drawn to. My trip to Barcelona was turning into a life-changing experience and was the beginning of a love affair that eventually led to our new life in Spain, ten years later.
Walking along the Rambla del Mar at Port Vell, gazing across icy blue water, we sat for a glass or two of wine. The sun was dancing off the side of pristine, glistening yachts, gently rocking in the harbour, children were playing along the pier and tourists were happily betokening points of interest. I was happy to sit and watch the World pass by, chatting with Darrell, dreaming of a new life on the continent. My short holiday in Barcelona opened doors to a future untried and untested, this was the start of a love affair that remains as strong today as it ever was, drawing me ever southwards, as I once again look to a new life in the sun!
The first thing that struck me about this city was the architecture. I will never forget walking around the wide open boulevards, admiring the ornate buildings and rhetorical Catalonian construction throughout this great city. One of the most famous buildings is of course the Segrada Famillia, a structure all of us are aware of, no matter where we come from. The unfinished cathedral in the district of Barcelona itself, was born in 1882. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the site is still under development today, but it remains a magnificent epitaph to gothic architecture; a living piece of art, constantly changing and evolving; workmanship unsurpassed.
Gaudi design can be seen throughout the city, from the Casa Batlló and Casa Milà to the Park Güell and El Capricho. Each building is unique and truly galvanising. I was amazed by the richly decorated facades, colourful expression and organic modernist style. My passion for building design and construction was really born in Barcelona. Observing what can be achieved with an open mind and visionary outlook, was really a game changer for me. I have always been unconventional in many aspects of life, which is probably why Gaudi appealed to my sense of imagination and I have tried to apply his principles of individuality and social excellence to my own life. I am a champion of brutalist architecture, but also an admirer of art deco and neoclassical building techniques, however Antoni Gaudi remains my aspirational architect of choice and a reason to return to Barcelona in the future.
Walking along La Rambla, not far from our hotel, was unforgettable. This tree lined pedestrian thoroughfare is Barcelona's meandering jewel, filled with café's, small shops selling local handicrafts, souvenirs and a miscellany of oddities and paraphernalia, as well as individual boutiques, restaurants and of course musicians and street artists serenading your walk along this well trodden bulevar. I felt relaxed and at home, taking my time, slowly strolling along, appreciating my surroundings, absorbing the atmosphere and relishing the European lifestyle, I so admire, in stark contrast to the cold, rainy British way of life I had left behind. The sites, sounds, smell of flowers and traditional Spanish food, courting couples arm in arm and 'beautiful people' taking coffee or glass of Rioja on one of the terraces was a lifestyle I was immediately drawn to. My trip to Barcelona was turning into a life-changing experience and was the beginning of a love affair that eventually led to our new life in Spain, ten years later.
Walking along the Rambla del Mar at Port Vell, gazing across icy blue water, we sat for a glass or two of wine. The sun was dancing off the side of pristine, glistening yachts, gently rocking in the harbour, children were playing along the pier and tourists were happily betokening points of interest. I was happy to sit and watch the World pass by, chatting with Darrell, dreaming of a new life on the continent. My short holiday in Barcelona opened doors to a future untried and untested, this was the start of a love affair that remains as strong today as it ever was, drawing me ever southwards, as I once again look to a new life in the sun!
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