Love your line 'you simply need to stand in that church and let it flow over you' as read those curves were generated (upside down) by gravity pulling on hanging chains. On my 'to do' list since read of Gaudi as a kid, the kid who read the non-fiction section of the library, and then reinforced by a later prog-rock connection.
It's so generous of you to write in such detail with your boots still on, Alan! I love the update and all your stunning photography. Maybe you should open a concierge business for mid-life adventurers when you get back. Call it Tired Bones Travel. I would definitely book your services! Keep going. Mwah!
Gracias, conductor! Europe really is far from Aotearoa, but my spouse would like to do a couple of walks there next year, including one of the Caminos. I haven't been to Europe since 2019. We landed in Madrid but left right away and went to a couple of places in the south. Looking forward to reading about the rest of the travels!
Well, I can definitely recommend the Portuguese Camino. It's long enough that it feels like a real pilgrimage, and short enough to be achievable. Best of both worlds.
So enjoyed this account Alan. Ant my husband has been to Barcelona I think 4 times without me (work and pleasure). You’ve sealed it. Def the next trip (for me)!
From the road to the pathway. It’s hard to believe that you can walk all day, and yet if I was driving the same distance I’d be there in 15 or 20 minutes. But both those experiences cannot be compared.
Thank you for taking us all with you to immerse ourselves in Gaudi’s extraordinary work . It was absolutely wonderful to see when we visited years ago, Breathtaking! I ran out of superlatives. Thanks for the return visit!
Oh yes, yes, Alan. I was there last year, and previously. The Sagrada Familia inside made my spirit soar. Even amongst the hoards. When I look at my photos, much like yours, and then close my eyes, I can elicit the feeling again, just briefly. The brilliant reflection of changing styles outside is astounding.
As for your travel to get there, ouch!
For others considering this journey: we flew cattle to Singapore, did a recovery night stopover, then on to Paris. So, two 13-hour legs (Singapore Airlines). We spent a day in Paris (I'd been many times so no need to hang about, but do stay longer if it's a first), with a night at an excellent little hotel near Austerlitz station where the night trains depart. (You could go straight am flight arrival to pm train, if you wished). We caught the Paris night sleeper train to Barcelona (with a quick border change to a local train, long enough for breakfast and a walk around). On our chosen route, at dawn it passes Carcassonne and travels through the Pyrenees. (Can choose a coastal route). Affordable, less brutal, easy and such a wonderful trip even before Barca. Summers months only I think. PS: Oh!! Note to users! travel light. There are shops where you're going! One *small* case and a day-backpack. Yes, that truly is all you need. Did me for six weeks. Shopped and discarded items along the way :)) PPS: we're mid-seventies, so this is fit for everyone; remember the luggage warning. (Flights by travel agent. Everything else booked online by me).
We've also wanted to get to Carcassonne but not yet. Good tip! We'll probably be starting the European leg of the trip from Ontario, though, which is much closer than from Aotearoa!
I always try to travel light and have managed to trim my pack weight to 4kg for a trip where I don't need specialized gear. No rolly bags for me. They're good for airports but not so good for stairs and cobblestones.
Carcassonne is really worth visiting. I went on a previous visit. Loved it. If I'd had longer, I'd have also done a riverboat trip while there. I hope you do get to it, Patrick.
Fabulous, Annie. We’ve tried to bring only what we need, in carry-on luggage, but they were a tad overweight so needed to check them on the flight 😭. Now that we are on the trail, we realised we could have halved the contents. We met an Irish woman yesterday who realised the same thing - the first thing she did when she got off the bus was walk to a rubbish bin and throw out some of her clothes!! We saw her a few days later and she had done a further cull. Lesson in life: We can ALL do things with a lot less.
Ha, ha! So right, and happy, *light* travels, Alan and wife. I'm looking forward to your trail-walking stories. I had the French Camino on my bucket list, after reading The Alchemist (terrific novel) but it's too late for that now, and I must do it vicariously.
Brilliant scene setting Alan, and beautiful photos. What an amazing trip. Hope you’re coming home with recipes to cook up for us all. Hey and Happy Birthday next week
Thanks Anne. We arrive at Santiago the day before my birthday and then we have a full day on my birthday to explore. Happy birthday to you too. You are fortunately not as old as me 🥰
Fabulous descriptions and photos, Alan! Thank you! And great to hear you and Linda are enjoying yourselves. I’m housesitting in Switzerland at the moment and enjoying cross country walks most days through pretty villages, farms, vineyards and along the Rhône. I look forward to you getting going on the Camino. In the meantime, keep enjoying yourselves!
House sitting in Switzerland sounds fabulous. Time is slightly warped on our travels, so while I posted this story today the events described happened at the start of the month. I may not finish writing about this for some time. We are currently over halfway through!
A wonderful account of a wonder filled city! Fancy dining at Casa Lolea - this was spitting distance from where we stayed and we made many unsuccessful attempts to get a table there - it was always full to overflowing! The good thing is that you can’t get a bum meal in Barça so there were plenty of other options. Love your descriptions of Sagrada Familia despite there not really being words to describe its beauty and power x
Oh wow, that's amazing you couldn't get a seat at Lorea. It was a mighty fine meal. I sent Andrew a message about the Tintoretto at the Prada. It bought tears to my eyes walking across the face of it.
Love your line 'you simply need to stand in that church and let it flow over you' as read those curves were generated (upside down) by gravity pulling on hanging chains. On my 'to do' list since read of Gaudi as a kid, the kid who read the non-fiction section of the library, and then reinforced by a later prog-rock connection.
https://dataphys.org/list/gaudis-hanging-chain-models/
https://www.the-alan-parsons-project.com/gaudi
Wow, I love Alan Parsons Project and never knew he did an album based on Gaudi. ❤️
And you can see those hanging chain models in the museum under the church!
My favourite lines...
"To touch the sky
A dreamer must be
Someone who has more imagination than me"
Wow how marvellous! Awesome photos too (I think I can safely use the "A-word" here. It really makes me want to visit Barcelona!
You'd love it Peter!
It's so generous of you to write in such detail with your boots still on, Alan! I love the update and all your stunning photography. Maybe you should open a concierge business for mid-life adventurers when you get back. Call it Tired Bones Travel. I would definitely book your services! Keep going. Mwah!
Bones are definitely tired but nothing that a good dose of paracetamol can't cure. Onwards!!
Gracias, conductor! Europe really is far from Aotearoa, but my spouse would like to do a couple of walks there next year, including one of the Caminos. I haven't been to Europe since 2019. We landed in Madrid but left right away and went to a couple of places in the south. Looking forward to reading about the rest of the travels!
Well, I can definitely recommend the Portuguese Camino. It's long enough that it feels like a real pilgrimage, and short enough to be achievable. Best of both worlds.
Thank you Driver. This brought back a lot of very fond memories.
You are welcome Lynn.
Great read Alan! Life on the trail looks a lot better than bus driving!
Believe it or not Ross, I am really missing driving the bus 😔
The sagradia took my breath away then made me cry. So beautiful.
I can totally believe it Elspeth! ❤️
What a wonderful account. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Thank you Caryl.
So enjoyed this account Alan. Ant my husband has been to Barcelona I think 4 times without me (work and pleasure). You’ve sealed it. Def the next trip (for me)!
Helen, I can see you striding out on the trail too. Go to Barcelona, then hit the Camino. It’s wonderful.
Amazing Alan! From behind the wheel, to going on foot...
From the road to the pathway. It’s hard to believe that you can walk all day, and yet if I was driving the same distance I’d be there in 15 or 20 minutes. But both those experiences cannot be compared.
Thank you for taking us all with you to immerse ourselves in Gaudi’s extraordinary work . It was absolutely wonderful to see when we visited years ago, Breathtaking! I ran out of superlatives. Thanks for the return visit!
Too kind, Alison. 😍
Oh yes, yes, Alan. I was there last year, and previously. The Sagrada Familia inside made my spirit soar. Even amongst the hoards. When I look at my photos, much like yours, and then close my eyes, I can elicit the feeling again, just briefly. The brilliant reflection of changing styles outside is astounding.
As for your travel to get there, ouch!
For others considering this journey: we flew cattle to Singapore, did a recovery night stopover, then on to Paris. So, two 13-hour legs (Singapore Airlines). We spent a day in Paris (I'd been many times so no need to hang about, but do stay longer if it's a first), with a night at an excellent little hotel near Austerlitz station where the night trains depart. (You could go straight am flight arrival to pm train, if you wished). We caught the Paris night sleeper train to Barcelona (with a quick border change to a local train, long enough for breakfast and a walk around). On our chosen route, at dawn it passes Carcassonne and travels through the Pyrenees. (Can choose a coastal route). Affordable, less brutal, easy and such a wonderful trip even before Barca. Summers months only I think. PS: Oh!! Note to users! travel light. There are shops where you're going! One *small* case and a day-backpack. Yes, that truly is all you need. Did me for six weeks. Shopped and discarded items along the way :)) PPS: we're mid-seventies, so this is fit for everyone; remember the luggage warning. (Flights by travel agent. Everything else booked online by me).
We've also wanted to get to Carcassonne but not yet. Good tip! We'll probably be starting the European leg of the trip from Ontario, though, which is much closer than from Aotearoa!
I always try to travel light and have managed to trim my pack weight to 4kg for a trip where I don't need specialized gear. No rolly bags for me. They're good for airports but not so good for stairs and cobblestones.
Carcassonne is really worth visiting. I went on a previous visit. Loved it. If I'd had longer, I'd have also done a riverboat trip while there. I hope you do get to it, Patrick.
Fabulous, Annie. We’ve tried to bring only what we need, in carry-on luggage, but they were a tad overweight so needed to check them on the flight 😭. Now that we are on the trail, we realised we could have halved the contents. We met an Irish woman yesterday who realised the same thing - the first thing she did when she got off the bus was walk to a rubbish bin and throw out some of her clothes!! We saw her a few days later and she had done a further cull. Lesson in life: We can ALL do things with a lot less.
Ha, ha! So right, and happy, *light* travels, Alan and wife. I'm looking forward to your trail-walking stories. I had the French Camino on my bucket list, after reading The Alchemist (terrific novel) but it's too late for that now, and I must do it vicariously.
Love your word and photo pictures. Enjoy enjoy.
Brilliant scene setting Alan, and beautiful photos. What an amazing trip. Hope you’re coming home with recipes to cook up for us all. Hey and Happy Birthday next week
Thanks Anne. We arrive at Santiago the day before my birthday and then we have a full day on my birthday to explore. Happy birthday to you too. You are fortunately not as old as me 🥰
Fabulous descriptions and photos, Alan! Thank you! And great to hear you and Linda are enjoying yourselves. I’m housesitting in Switzerland at the moment and enjoying cross country walks most days through pretty villages, farms, vineyards and along the Rhône. I look forward to you getting going on the Camino. In the meantime, keep enjoying yourselves!
House sitting in Switzerland sounds fabulous. Time is slightly warped on our travels, so while I posted this story today the events described happened at the start of the month. I may not finish writing about this for some time. We are currently over halfway through!
A wonderful account of a wonder filled city! Fancy dining at Casa Lolea - this was spitting distance from where we stayed and we made many unsuccessful attempts to get a table there - it was always full to overflowing! The good thing is that you can’t get a bum meal in Barça so there were plenty of other options. Love your descriptions of Sagrada Familia despite there not really being words to describe its beauty and power x
Oh wow, that's amazing you couldn't get a seat at Lorea. It was a mighty fine meal. I sent Andrew a message about the Tintoretto at the Prada. It bought tears to my eyes walking across the face of it.