25/06/2022
Hola!
Well, this is likely to be a long one and I think may even raise a few eyebrows, as I suspect I don’t share the same opinion as many of you.
Barcelona.
First things first. Everything is at least double the cost of everywhere else in Spain. And they’re sneaky bastards about it.
So why Barcelona? Good question. I really didn’t want to go there (I’d been before and wasn’t that bothered) but Chloe was desperate to go “because there was that famous artist bloke and loads of old buildings.”
No babe. Gaudi was an architect, he died in 1926 so his buildings aren’t that old…
We’re still going tho. And we’ll come back to these buildings…
So Chloe was navigating, as it was her thing to do. Famous for her navigation skills, she is not. Once we’d eventually got to the right station in Barcelona (there are four) we began our visit. I should note here that we ended up 2.5 miles away from where we needed to be, because Chloe thought “surely you just get the train to one of the stations and you’ll be near everything.”
Yes, of course. Because that’s exactly how it is in London too, right?
With Chloe desperate to see La Sagrada Familia, we embarked on what would eventually be over 24,000 steps that day. 24,000 hot, sweaty steps.
I’m not sure what you know about this particular Basilica, but this is where I’ll probably have a different opinion to many of you. Personally, I think it’s bloody awful. It’s ugly and stupid.
Gaudi took this project over after it had already started. The architect Francisco de Paula del Villar had designed the project but resigned in 1883. This is just the beginning of why I find it all a con. Gaudi is famous for this building, but he didn’t even do most of it! When he died it was only 25% built! And even now it’s still not finished!
You’ll have to Google the building to see where I’m coming from with this next bit. Gaudi is credited with “transforming the design.” You can imagine how Francisco feels about this. Gaudi, one evening, was sat looking for inspiration. As he stared across the room he saw a fruit bowl and thought yes, that’s it!! That’s what this building needs!
Moving on.
The joke continues. The building is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. How? It’s not even bloody finished. It can’t be historic by definition.
There’s a museum underneath it, all about the building. How can you have a museum about an unfinished building? Surely we just call it a mood board??
I’m not alone with my views. In 1936, a group of revolutionaries set fire to the crypt, broke into the workshop and destroyed Gaudi’s original plans, drawings and plaster models. Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to correct the monstrosity, the authorities then spent 16 years recreating his work, so they could carry on. Absolutely mental.
The building work continues, and they’ve now confirmed they will miss the 2026 completion target (marking the centenary of Gaudi’s death).
As you walk around you can see how the construction methods had changed. It’s clearly a build and a half. But had it been the ancient Egyptians I’d have been impressed. But it’s all done by CNC machines and Tower Cranes. Not a man with a chisel in site.
The project is sited as “entirely privately funded.” But, at 26€ per person to visit I have to disagree. It’s funded through daylight robbery.
Gaudi was killed in 1926 when he was run down by a street car. Now then, without being insensitive, I know of another Spanish architect, Cesar Manrique, who also did some weird buildings. He also died in a vehicle accident. Anyone else spot a trend here?
Most of Gaudi’s work is in Barcelona. You can see why they tried to keep it all in one place.
So in summary, I didn’t like it. Chloe thought Gaudi’s work was cool and apparently I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m not in to art!
Dinner was nice though. Tapas by the boats.
Now some facts…
Many people think Barcelona is a Spanish city. Sort of is. But it’s the capital of Catalonia. I once worked with a Catalan guy who said saying it’s in Spain is like saying Cardiff is in England.
Barcelona is the second most populous municipality in Spain (even tho we shouldn’t say “in Spain) with a population of 1.6 million just within the city limits. If you include it’s urban areas, then the total Province of Barcelona population is about 4.8 million, making it the fifth most populous area in the EU.
Barcelona Seaport is Europe’s busiest passenger port.
Barcelona is the most Southern point we’ve been to in a Motorhome. The most northern being Reading.
So there we have it. Enough of the Karl Pilkington approach now, onto more positives from now on.
Buenas Noches!
