Barcelona

The chief feature of the old city is the Rambla — a broad, tree-lined avenue leading to the Placa de Catalunya. Wide boulevards are occupying the site of the ancient walls. At many Barcelona intersections they have cut the corners of each block, and built the buildings so that the intersection is a very large, and potentiality interesting octagon. The problem is, they then proceed to park dozens of cars in the area and mess it up again.

Emmy ate a buffet lunch at a large Department Store. She enjoyed items like herring, various salads, roast beef, chicken, artichoke hearts, even ice water with plenty of ice. First time Emmy has eaten paella, a rice, fish, and chicken dish.

Catalonians who live in and around Barcelona are in constant disagreement with the government in Madrid. That Barcelona was permitted to present the Olympic Games was considered a break in the punishment cycle enforced by Madrid, ever since Barcelona was on the losing side in the 1930’s Civil War. The problem was heightened by that War, but is a carry-over from years past.

A most unusual Cathedral, named Sagrada Familia, (Sacred Family) is being built in Barcelona, and has been under construction since 1884. It was designed by Antonio Gaudí, and a most interesting design it is. Four colossal openwork spires, the tall round towers or spires of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, remind us of the Watts Towers in Los Angeles (perhaps that should be the other way around, but we saw Watts before we saw Barcelona). Only the towers and part of the front are completed, no auditorium — yet. In another hundred years or so, who knows.

Some people think it should not be completed, and should be left just like it is. Others think it's OK to add (ugly) statues and other (dumb) decorations that are completely different from the style of the original design. They have the beginnings of a unique and beautiful Cathedral, we hope they finish it just as Antonio Gaudí would have done it, if he had lived for two or three hundred years. Since he did not expect to live until completion, Gaudí left colored drawings of how he wanted it to look.

Gaudí also designed and built a most unusual apartment building that looks free form, and something like a cliff house, almost.