Thursday produced TWO surprises. Obviously, one can't always predict how one's planned visits will work out when one is actually on the scene. Before meeting up with neighbors and friends, Lynn and Bob Markus, in the late morning, we took the subway to visit an extensive set of hospital buildings designed by Domenech, one of Barcelona's great Moderniste architechs. When we arrived, we found the entire complex had become a GIANT construction site!
New buildings had been erected around the periphery, and now the old ones were being renvated for other purposes. We followed signs to an information center and arrived in time to take a guided tour. However, the tour overlapped with the time we had set to meet up with the Markus's. The helpful staff at the center suggested we wander around on our own and provided the basic outline for a route to follow.
We should have known better -- the assembled tour group ready for their adventure were all attired in bright orange vests and hard hats! Nonetheless, hardy travelers that we are, we set off on our own, and proceeded to run into obstacle after obstacle -- bulldozers and cement trucks and "off limit" areas galore. We tried doors and followed dirt paths, trying to see what we could see. In the end, while Lee did manage to get some decent overview shots, it was a frustrating experience - one of the hazards of travel but a great "travel adventure" story, too.
Our stroll between the hospital and Sagrada Familia (where we were to meet the Markus's) proved an unexpected anecdote, taking us along a very pleasant tree-lined boulevard...
The second surprise came when, after a stop for coffee and crossants at a sidewalk cafe, the four of us (Markus's and Makelas) set off to visit Parc Guell, another Antoni Gaudi project in the hills to the west of the city center. We ended up spending several hours there, wandering garden paths and marveling, not only at the architecture of the "gated community gone bad" but at the wonerful variety of flowers and other plants flourishing everywhere in what has become Barcelona's premire public park.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Readers will have to check back, however, since Lee hasn't compelted editting the one hundred images taken during our visit. Here's the one we sent to our Plymouth Church Discussion Group whose Friday evening meeting we four are missing just to wet your whistle:
New buildings had been erected around the periphery, and now the old ones were being renvated for other purposes. We followed signs to an information center and arrived in time to take a guided tour. However, the tour overlapped with the time we had set to meet up with the Markus's. The helpful staff at the center suggested we wander around on our own and provided the basic outline for a route to follow.
We should have known better -- the assembled tour group ready for their adventure were all attired in bright orange vests and hard hats! Nonetheless, hardy travelers that we are, we set off on our own, and proceeded to run into obstacle after obstacle -- bulldozers and cement trucks and "off limit" areas galore. We tried doors and followed dirt paths, trying to see what we could see. In the end, while Lee did manage to get some decent overview shots, it was a frustrating experience - one of the hazards of travel but a great "travel adventure" story, too.
Our stroll between the hospital and Sagrada Familia (where we were to meet the Markus's) proved an unexpected anecdote, taking us along a very pleasant tree-lined boulevard...
The second surprise came when, after a stop for coffee and crossants at a sidewalk cafe, the four of us (Markus's and Makelas) set off to visit Parc Guell, another Antoni Gaudi project in the hills to the west of the city center. We ended up spending several hours there, wandering garden paths and marveling, not only at the architecture of the "gated community gone bad" but at the wonerful variety of flowers and other plants flourishing everywhere in what has become Barcelona's premire public park.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Readers will have to check back, however, since Lee hasn't compelted editting the one hundred images taken during our visit. Here's the one we sent to our Plymouth Church Discussion Group whose Friday evening meeting we four are missing just to wet your whistle:
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