Barcelona !!.... Messi, Sagrada Familia, Beach and more Crowds !!!! Part 2

View of the Barcelona Marina

In Barcelona, there are 2 fervent and intense loves, one is for the Sagrada Familia cathedral and eeeeevvverrrything Gaudi and the second is their Barca futbol team!..
 

 

Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family- symbolizing, the Holy Trinity)  is a Catholic Church designed in the Spanish Gothic style by the architect Antoni Gaudi in 1882 and its still being built and not slated for completion until 2026.  Yes you heard it right....the church is not finished yet 133 years later.   Gaudi was killed in an accident when he was run over by a tram in the streets of Barcelona in 1926 before he was able to complete the construction of it.  Since then there has been numerous attempts to finish this incredibly intricate and complex architectural piece that is really indescribable.  You have to see it.  There are plans in place now to finish Gaudi's work and it is estimated that completion of the famous Sagrada Familia will be in 2026, 100 years after Gaudi's death. 

 

If you look at the pictures you will see the intricate detailing of stonework and masonry that is required. It has become difficult to find the craftsmen who are skilled in that kind of work now a days.  Most churches have a façade to them and are designed that way with the front of the church being the central viewpoint.  Gaudi, a highly religions man, designed the Sagrada Familia to have three facades and each of those sides the ability to be the "front " of the church.  There are numerous writings all over the church, inside through the walls, nooks, outside by the windows with religious and biblical quotes and phrases.  Truly an amazing and complex building and one that that is a must to see when in Barcelona.

 

Camp Nou

The other love of all Barcelona people or really Catalan people as they are extremely proud of their heritage and do not consider themselves "Spaniards"...they even want to declare themselves a separate country from Spain...(a long story for another day)  is their city's futbol team, affectionately called "Barça".   One of the most "winniest" teams in futbol leagues around the world, the tour of Camp Nou is also a must to see when in Barcelona.  It's the home of the Argentinian Lionel Messi, considered the best futbal player in the world. Also home to many other excellent players from Brazil (Neymar), Uruguay (Luis Suarez, the "Biter) and of course Shakira's sweetheart, Pique.  Not only is the team a successful futbol franchise, they have turned the stadium tour into a huge money making Barça marketing promotion and business. 

When I went on the tour there were literally thousands of people there as well. It felt like a cross between a Disney World ride and an Ikea showroom.  Everything was synchronized, organized, including the predictable photo opportunity at the beginning of the tour which you pick up at the exit point....very a la "Disney" style. 

The tour opens in this massive store selling everything you can imagine with the Barça logo merchandise.  There is only one way to start the tour and you follow the herd...a la "Ikea" style.  The tour is very well put together. 
Cases and cases filled with trophies won by the team, the history of the creation of the Barça team, videos showing highlights of fantastic shots, the field, in essence; everything you can imagine about the team is on display and open to its fans.  An amazing and very well oiled marking machine !

My buddy Messi !

The trip to Spain is now coming to an end unfortunately but it has been an incredible experience. Very fast paced with lots of stops but saw and did an amazing number of things. The food has been outstanding and I've increased my love for tapas even more after this trip. I also think I've drank my fill of wine for a year (these people don't drink water !! its all wine or caña!) 


Peñiscula, the southwest coast

Toledo, Las Ramblas, Barceloneta Beach, Valencia

Real Madrid!

 


Favorite things along the way were the beautiful Mosque in Cordoba, the Flamenco dance classes and show in Sevilla as well as the magnificent royal palace Alcazar there and the tranquil Montserrat and its beautiful mountain surroundings.   I close with more images of my time in Spain.... Till the next trip....Enjoy !

Valencia, Museum of Arts and Science

Granada



Toledo

Martha, Isabella (Tour Director) and me



Side street of Las Ramblas

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza statue In Madrid

Palacio Real in Madrid

The Traveling Redheaded Lady

 Life is Good !

Redheaded Lady


 

Santuari de Montserrat...A place of Tranquility and Spirituality

View of the Montserrat mountain range

After seeing many churches and cathedrals all over Spain, I finally found a place that exuded peace, tranquility and spirituality up in the Catalonian mountains in Montserrat.

We arrive early in the morning as it is about an hour drive north of Barcelona and we are the first group to arrive so everything is tranquil.  There is still fog in the mountains and we are pretty high up on top of the world.
High up and deep in Mount Monserrat resides this monastery built over a thousand years ago, a site of sanctuary built for the Catalan people's patron saint Our Lady of Montserrat.

You can reach the monastery through automobile, train or a cable car which takes some courage as it is very steep up the mountain, however the views are breathtaking.

The atrium to enter the basilica is large and wide and is surrounded by the mountain range.  As you enter there are numerous chapels and rooms with different saints and each has beautiful stained glass windows with a large round one depicting the Virgin Mary in the rose window in the basilica.

Extraordinary beautiful craftsmanship art.

The Sanctuary is where the holy image of Our Lady of Montserrat is placed.   
  "La Moreneta" (The Black Madonna) as she is called, due to her dark color is a gilded carving dating back to the late 12th century.  The image is of  Our Lady seated with a child on her lap in a regal and frontal pose. She holds in her right hand an orb symbolizing the universe.  Many discussions have taken place as to the coloring of the Madonna and child and scientists and art restorers have concluded that the carving has gone through a transformation of the oxidation of the varnish and the smoke from the many candles and oil lamps that burned around the image throughout the centuries.  She is found in a Niche that was built to house the image and is accessible to everyone.  The stairs to get to the shrine are beautifully enclosed in paintings and wood carvings.  

Stairs leading to the Niche

The tradition is to touch the orb and offer your prayers and thoughts in that small niche where she sits. I'm not a religious person nor do cathedrals and churches impress me other than the art and craftsmanship in them, but this place feels different, it feels .....holy.... and I kneel , touch the orb and thank her and the universe for all the blessings in my life and for continue protection of my loved ones.   

Our Lady of Montserrat

As you exit her chamber you walk into a small chapel.."The Chapel of the Niche" that is charming. 

 It has stained glass ceiling , mosaic tiles and beautiful painted ceilings in the Romanesque style.  As most cathedrals or chapels, very ornate but this one has lots of white colors and is more cheerful than most other chapels.

Walking through the main high altar there are many paintings on the wall, expert craftsmanship in the carvings and woodwork and then you exit and you find a large open space and you are surrounded by the majesty of the mountains. 


As you continue to the exit there are local farmers and vendors selling homemade cheese, wine, fruit desserts and all kinds of delicacies. Some are very delicious and I want to take many samples home with me !

As I breath the mountain air in, I give thanks again for having the opportunity to see such a wondrous place of worship in such a majestic natural place.

Life is certainly good....:)

Reheaded Lady

Barcelona !!....La Boqueria, Marina and Crowds !!!! Part 1

Wow, what a city !
I was not expecting sooooooo many people in Barcelona but hey I guess everyone decided to come see the city in July while I was there too !.....

So many things to see and talk about in Barcelona that I'm doing two posts on the city.  Here's Part 1

First of all , its a young city and by that I mean not in terms of how old the city is but in it's population.  It's crowded, bustling with energy and most definitely a younger population than the rest of the cities I've visited so far. Lots of action and many things to see and do.  I think all of Europe was there at the same time I was !

The Cataluña Square is the center point of which a whole bunch of roads lead off it and its a great meeting place too.  Sort of like Plaza Mayor in Madrid.  From here you will connect with Las Ramblas which is a huge avenue and it is immensely crowded.  Think of Times Square in NY !  Here you will find tons of restaurants and shops, the obligatory "El Corte Ingles" which is a great department store found all over Spain. 

La Boqueria Market is also located here on Las Ramblas Avenue which is the best market I've ever been to.  Everything is fresh, organic, healthy, great cuts of meat and fish, the fruits are amazing and there are little stands to buy cooked food from the market as well.

 

It was difficult not to buy the fruits or the spices or the oils, nuts, cheeses, etc.  It was crowded of course but so worth the time to go and experience and try different things while you are there.

Another place that was bustling with people and great food was by the marina.  Many restaurants are lined up against the water with great view of the Mediterranean Sea.
We ate at a great restaurant there and had our own personal DJ playing wonderful music.  I was happy to hear the DJ was from Cuba of all places !  Nice to meet a fellow compatriot and of course he played wonderful Cuban music for the group.  

Stay tuned for more of Spain tomorrow !

Redheaded Lady !

EVOO...Extra Virgin Olive Oil please ...

This trip through Spain has turned into a learning experience.... not just about history and culture but also about many things that are associated with Spain.... and yes I'm talking about olive oil. 

Now the general knowledge is that olive oil comes from, well Italy, right?  Ahhh but this is were that thing called Marketing comes in.... actually a very large percentage of the olives that go into the "Italian" olive oil comes from Spain. Most olive oils are blended from a variety of olives and Spain is the largest producer of olive oil.  

Yep, but the Marketing machine in Italy has created this idea that it is Italian olives.  Now I'm sure there are olive farms in Italy, without a doubt but even those use many of the olives that come from Spain and are mixed in with the Italian olives... interesting little bit of trivia there.

So here we are between Sevilla and Cordoba in an olive farm where we learn how to the process of olive oil.

They start the harvest anywhere from September through December and a few things will determine if the olive oil becomes extra virgin oil, EVOO, as its typically referred to or just virgin olive oil.  One big factor is when the olives are picked and that becomes tricky as they need to ripen or the oil will be bitter.  Wait too much and the oil is too sweet.  Very ripen olives will produce more oil but they won't be of quality for EVOO.  Temperature, location, trees will vary the output of the harvest for the year and when the picking should occur. So a balance in when to pick the olives is key and of great debate between farmers. The second is the amount of acidity in the oil, the less acidity the better quality of the oil hence the "extra" virgin oil classification.



The olives are picked by a tractor/machine the grabs the trunk and shakes it very hard and the olives fall down into a net surrounding the tree.  They need to be pressed within 24 hours of harvesting as oxidation begins immediately.  They are then cleaned, and stems, leaves are removed before putting them into the grinder.  Into the grinder the olives go and they are grinded, seeds and all, into a paste. The mixing of this paste releases the oil which is then separated and any sediment remaining in the oil is removed. The oil is then sampled tasted and given its classification.

One thing that is very detrimental to the oil is light, including fluorescent lighting.  So the bottle should be dark such as green, dark blue, amber or black.  Don't judge the quality of the oil by its color.  Some EVOO might actually be a little darker than just virgin oil.  The color will depend on the brand and should not be a determining factor in selecting the oil.  When tasting the EVOO, it will be light with no taste of dirt or oily taste.  Sometimes you can taste very lightly a citrusy flavor or apple or vanilla.  The olives pick up the flavoring from the nearby trees and you will be able to taste it in the oil every so lightly. 
Keep in mind when storing your oils to keep it in the coolest part of your kitchen or pantry preferably on the bottom shelf.