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Julie Shipman Photography in Baja, Cabo, Los Barriles, Mexico and Park City, Utah – Park City Photographer

Julie Shipman Photography in Baja, Cabo, Los Barriles, Mexico and Park City, Utah - Park City Photographer

Action Sports Photographer, Portrait Photography, Travel Photography, Senior Portraits, Family Portraits, Salt Lake City & Park City, Utah

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Barcelona

Gaudi’s Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia

September 27, 2013 by Julie Shipman

Cathedrals are a “dime a dozen” in Europe.  You walk in and ‘ooh and awe ‘and after you’ve been in 25 or so, they begin to look the same, with minor differences.  A few notable “must sees,” i.e. Notre Dame, Westminster Abbey… check.  La Sagrada Familia falls into that MUST SEE category.  And, yes, there is a reason you stand in line for two hours to get in, and then have the pleasure of paying $20.  What’s the big deal?  Start here and then go see for yourself.

Building began in 1882 and it is still under construction. Optimists predict it being finished around the middle of the 21st century.  Gaudi, its famous architect, is long gone having been hit by a tram/bus in 1926.  However, a man way beyond his time, he left detailed and complicated instructions on how the work should be completed.  Actually, many of his instructions are only recently being understood with the help of computers. This building is also unique in that it is – and always has been – funded completely by private donations, starting with the Sagrada Family trust and continuing on with the millions of visitors each year who pay to visit. Truly this is a remarkable structure and is the definition of “awe inspiring.”

The Facades.  There are actually four facades, but only three of note.  The tourist enters through the Passion Facade.  For non-Catholics, this means the “passion of Christ,” in other words, his death.  The lines are harsh and stark.  There are purposefully no symbols of Joy, such as birds or flowers or other ornaments.  The figures represent Pain, Sacrifice, and Death.  The desolate architecture invites the visitor to appreciate Christ’s suffering for humanity.  I personally found the Crucifix very powerful.

Passion Facade

Crucifix on Passion Facade

Passion Facade

Flagellation

The Glory Facade will eventually be the main entrance but is not yet complete.  The sculptures there represent Man within Creation: Origin, Purpose and Pathways… finding Redemption thru Virtue.

The other main facade, completely different in design, is the Nativity Facade, or the Birth of Christ.  It is more traditionally Gothic in design and incredibly ornate:

Nativity Facade

Nativity Facade

Upon entering the place of worship, one is awe struck.  From the elaborate designs on the floor, to the incredible stained glass windows, there is one thing after another to stare at!

Again, with a weak Catalan translation, this floor art reads, “Hosanna in the Highest.”

Sagrada Familia

Other interesting details include this numerical table which apparently represents the number 33, the age at which Christ died.  All columns and rows should add up to 33.

La Sagrada Familia

Jesus

The stained glass is spectacular.  Pictures are better than words.

La Sagrada Familia Glass

Sagrada Familia Glass

Glass Sagrada Familia

And, what I found to actually be the most interesting feature of all was the columns.  Gaudi studied nature obsessively to create his homage to God.  The columns represent trees and branches reaching to the sky.  Gaudi actually invented a new column called the double twisted helicoid with an elaborate system of proportions.  As you stand at the base and look up, it emulates a tree trunk.  It is wide at the bottom with the striations far apart, that narrow and twist as the column rises.  At the very top, the branches incline toward the center as trees growing over a courtyard.  It is magnificent!

Photo below borrowed from La Sagrada Familia website to demonstrate column design.

columns

 

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

And finally, below the structure is the Carmen Chapel and Sagrada Familia Crypt, where Gaudi is buried.  There are windows in the nave which peer down into the chapel.  When I was there, I saw a service being held below.  Interesting…

Carmen Chapel

In closing, art on the wall.  No translation necessary.

La Sagrada Familia

Filed Under: adventures, Barcelona, Catalan, Spain, travel, Vacation

Barcelona!

September 26, 2013 by Julie Shipman

Barcelona is a VIBRANT city!  So much to see and do.  We were there during the La Mercé Festival which reminded me of the crazy festivals in September in San Miguel de Allende.  The Spaniards/Catalans love their fireworks and live music! La Mercé Festival has been celebrated in Barcelona since 1871 to observe the Catholic Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy.  It is a time to say good bye to summer with the largest street party of the year…

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Barcelona is bustling everywhere…  from walking down Portal de L’Angel:

Portal

…to visiting the UNBELIEVABLE market on La Rambla called La Boqueria.  This marketplace dates back to 1217 but has been in its current structure since 1835.

Fresh fruits and veggies…

fruit

Lots of great fungi!

funghi

All the seafood you can imagine, and then more after that…

seafood

YUMMY!  this fish head looks DeLish.

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…and Meat galore ~most of it beyond recognition for the average Whole Foods or Albertsons shopper (leads me to think our food is not quite as “whole” perhaps as it could be?)  YEP, that is a WHOLE head, and a tongue, and organs, and so on…

meat

The peppers, garlic and onions were beautiful!

peppers

Just about anything you can imagine eating you can find here…  didn’t see any cotton candy, but it may have been there.

misc

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Just walking around one spots many interesting things.  Think my dog Charlie might want a ride like this one?

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I was wondering where I could get a hat like that and join their group??

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More great graffiti!

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It’s always better to fake it till you make it…

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An Erotic Museum 69?  And, conveniently located just below the youth hostel!

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In case you were looking for an LSD store, there’s one right here!! Check out those Dream Catchers!

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Anyone know the temperature outside?

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And, finally, legend has it that if you drink out of this fountain, you will return to Barcelona!  I filled my water bottle!

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check in tomorrow, I’ll take you to Gaudi’s famous cathedral, the Sagrada Familia!

Filed Under: adventures, Barcelona, Catalan, Costa Brava, Fresh Veggies, Market, Spain, travel, Vacation

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Park City Photographer - Baja Photographer

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