Bar-the-lona
21 + 31/08/06

Like every other European city:



















Barcelona has its Arc de Triumphe

And, it’s not that this one is not unique. It is. But its not exactly Barcelona’s piece de resistance.

As you walk down the streets, there’s a strange and extreme mix of old treasures















And new modern art and architectural buildings that look as though they defy the odds of gravity:





























Much more satisfying than the old Arc de Triumphes.

Actually, I have to say that Barcelona has so much personality- and I generally don’t feel that way about big cities.

I also have a feeling that Barcelonians are worth befriending…











































If their personalities reflect their moto-style!

Even the squatters like to let the world know they’re there, in their abandoned-shack-with-a-view.














We were in Barcelona for only two days. The main reason we went there, seeing as it was a detour to our friend’s house in the south of Spain that we would not have normally made, was because of its Gaudi architecture. On the first day, we walked around the entire city from 7am till 4pm without finding Gaudi.

But luckily, after consultation with the Tourist Office, day 2 was a roaring success and we discovered Gaudi was everywhere.

At the turn of the XIXth-XXth Centuries, there was a bit of money in Barcelona, and it was put to the very best of uses: one-upmanship. On one block of the Passeig Gracia, there were five millionaires living next door to each other. First one would paint the shutters, then the 2nd would rebuild the door, then the next would extend the terrace, and another would tile the façade, then finally the last decided to rebuild the entire house under the supervision of the architect of the season. Here’s the view along the block from the centre house of: La Casa Josefina Boret, La Casa Lleo Morera, La Casa Domenech I Montenner, La Casa Amattler, and finally La Casa Battlo.















I’ll leave you to judge the winner, and to ponder what you would do: buy an island or hire Antonin Gaudi to win bragging rights with your mates?

to be continued...