Masato's Southern Europe/Morocco Africa Adventure

[Masato]

The following day was a holiday of the Catalin State. It was also approaching an election in which there would be a vote to SEPARATE from Spain and the Euro and claim independence.

This was fascinating to me, and there were flags supporting independence EVERYWHERE:





I spoke to a few people about this and got mixed reactions. It seemed a lot like Quebec here in Canada... a dream of idealists, but perhaps not the resources or economy to survive off the Euro. The vote happens sometime this month, will be curious to investigate the results

[Masato]

Wandering around Barcelona. I really wish I had more time here






:D

[Masato]

Statue of Columbus, with some badass Lion staues at the base. The poses of these lions were way more pushed and dramatic than the typical lions, I dug them, even though Columbus was a bastard, lol






This was an old arena for BULLFIGHTING. It is abandoned now, not used. Barcelona voted to ban bullfighting 10 years ago or something. Curious; the building was covered in JEWISH blue and white 6-pointed stars.

Tiles of the star of David were everywhere marking the building. This could be merely a spanish symbol of the same shape, but if it is a Jewish mark, I found it interesting that they would have been running the Bullfights in the city when they were happening






Another famous modern building, of which I thought was the ugliest thing I'd seen the whole trip. What a ridiculous design. Can you be any more obvious? lol

[Masato]

Then we went to see Park Guell, which was the home of the genius architect of Sagrada Familia, Gaudi.

This is another UN-finished project, in which he tried to make some kind of community living commune or something based on the philosophies of his art style and design.

It was amazing.

His style is this:
While most architecture is straight, perfectly curved, or angled (as it is easier to draft with the square and compass), Gaudi looked to nature to see that while nature also follows mathematical rules of design, they execute them in slightly imperfect and organic ways.

Known to have an extremely limited library, when asked what his favorite book on architectural design was, Gaudi answered; "the tree in my back yard'.




Gaudi's house:

[Masato]

After this I was so inspired by his work and ideas, that I really wanted to go see the inside of his church, his masterpiece.

We dropped off the kids with my father-in-law, and went. We were expecting a long lineup, as we had seen them all day... but amazingly we somehow caught the exact perfect time and waited hardly 15 minutes for a ticket and went right in.

Waiting for ticket. This thing is HUGE:


It is a wild MIX of styles; the front being more traditional, and the back more modern and blocky in style. I think Gaudi was hell-bent on BREAKING STYLES. He takes all the patterns and expectations of architecture and design, performs them expertly, then BREAKS them obviously in a way that challenges your mind to start asking questions and thinking innovatively. In my mind he is a great genius. I will go back when this church is completed

[Masato]

The inside.

BEHOLD:

I cannot convey the scale of this place. What you are looking at is absolutely huge. If you are not breathtaken or even shed a tear, there is something wrong with you.














And yet, within this enormous work of sheer awesome beauty... the image of CHRIST exists as the centerpiece of the whole thing... in a completely different style!

Christ is hanging on the SIMPLEST of crosses, 2 plain planks of wood, under an almost circus-tent. Grapes hang from the tent, and UN-even patio-lanterns hang haphazardly from the tent, as if someone randomly hung them there. Jesus is simple, looking upwards (most look down), with no grand design or anatomical pretentiousness.

It is COZY, humble, like something in one's own backyard... amidst perhaps the most impressive architectural work of art of all mankind.

What is the meaning here? My wife and I tripped on it for quite a while.

[Masato]

These are the front doors.


The entire church exterior is stone/brick color... but all things carved of NATURE are PAINTED/COLORED.

Leaves, huge fruit, the tree (cannabis bud), etc etc are painted with color, while all statues of humans or architectural shapes are NOT colored. another interesting choice.

To get inside you must walk through walls filled with leaves and tiny creatures: lizards, bugs, spiders, etc. Gaudi obviously had a strong reverence for all of nature, even the things we learn to hate as humans



In the lower levels there is museum of the planning and development of the church, but they started to kick everyone out so we didn't spend much time there. I was still in shock from the interior.




pics from Gaudi's funeral:


Another shot to try to communicate the SCALE of this thing:

[Masato]

Seeing Gaudi's work, an artist I had never even heard of, was for sure the HL of the trip and an unforgettable surprise, as I really knew absolutely nothing about him until I came face to face with his work with my own eyes.

My wife and I strolled and ate around the city for the rest of the night (our last night) while the kids slept back at the apartment with my dad-in-law.

I put my feet in the Meditteranean, and it was warm.

The streets at night were wide, smooth, clean, and uncrowded; PERFECT for skateboarding. I wanted a big fact longboard so bad I could taste it.

I really really loved Barcelona, and wished for another life perhaps here. Next time I stay for much more than 2 nights



The beach:





Last picture I took of the trip. Next day we went back to Canada:


I am rocked.

Big culture shock coming HOME, even more than being there. Lots of things in question, my paradigm has been cracked open. It feels great.



Thanks for not trashin the place too bad while I was gone :D

[Edge Guerrero]

Another famous modern building, of which I thought was the ugliest thing I'd seen the whole trip. What a ridiculous design. Can you be any more obvious? lol

- Why those guys love creating building with phallic form?

http://masatotoys.freeforums.org/obelisks-around-the-world-t2426.html

[Winnson]

Very cool stuff!