Goodbye Barcelona!!!!

I finished everything for my program on Wednesday and this will be my last post. It's hard to believe my semester in Barcelona is over. By now most of my classmates have dispersed either to Europe or back to the states. It's bittersweet to have the time here ending, but it's also exciting to move forward into the summer.

If I could go back in time and make the study abroad choice over again, I would definitely once again pick Barcelona. The city itself is so multifaceted in every aspect. From geography to architecture to clothing to food, everything is compelling in Barcelona.
The cityscape has been a great scene fish bowl to explore and study. It's been interesting to see urban transformations occur in front of my eyes. I can only imagine if (...when!) I return to Barcelona how it will have changed. In addition to the city and architecture, the Barcelonians themselves live a great lifestyle. Eating dinner at 9 and starting business days at ten, it's clear that they value social interaction and leisure time in a different way than you'll ever see in the US. Spaniards in general have a different outlook on life than Americans and it's so interesting to compare the culture's priorities and motivations.

I'll be in Europe for a few more weeks so I'll have plenty more stories and photos to share. If you've been reading this blog, thank you for reading and I hope you've enjoyed it.
I hope to see you this summer or sometime soon.

Crypt Guell

Our last Barcelona field trip ever was spent visiting the industrial town of Colonia Guell. The city used to be a self-contained industrial commune but has since been modernized. Guadi was commissioned to design the community church which unfortunately was never finished.
Only the crypt was completed which remains to be one of the most beautiful in Barcelona and unique to the world. In typical Gaudi style, everything is inspired by nature in function and aesthetics and right angles are almost nonexistent.

Barcelona's Waterfront

Barcelona's waterfront and the relationship to the sea have been important elements in the city's history and development and a walk around the port area is always fun.
Last weekend Scotty and I visited the top of the Columbus Monument, the Maritime Museum, and Port Vell which is the most recent development that has transformed this part of the harbor.
While Las Ramblas (the most famous and well-visited street in all of Barcelona) traditionally terminated at the Columbus Monument, Port Vell architects extended the Ramblas across the marina and into a large leisure complex where you can find a mall, movie theater etc.
The new construction is itself well-liked and its integration has enlivened the area adjacent to the water where you can find flea markets and a park.
What's impressive about the complex is the subtle interweaving of boat, car, and pedestrian traffic. It's pulled off effortlessly and a pedestrian can take a long leisurely walk completely oblivious to the large amount of traffic that cuts through the area.
Just another example of Barcelona's urban planning greatness.

Valencia

Joe and I decided to hop on a bus down to Valencia for the night for Easter Break. The main attraction there is a huge complex designed by Calatrava called the City of Arts and Sciences. It's the largest landmark in the city and really quite overwhelming. I'm glad I saw it both during the day and at night because now I better understand Mr. Calatrava (who's one of the most sought-after celebrity architects these days).
The Arts and Sciences complex is unique and grand... but also overdone. Judge for yourself.

Morocco

The last Field Trip of the semester took us to the city of Fez in Morocco. Ironically, much of what we saw was wet,cold, and very green (not what I expected from Africa). We had several great tour guides who led us on excursions ranging from walking through the old city to exploring Roman ruins in the countryside. Going to Morocco was wildly different than any other field trip we've done. It was really interesting to experience another culture totally different from western Europe or the U.S. The form of their old city was the other highlight: it can only be characterized as a labyrinth and was completely mesmerizing.

Montserrat

I recently took a day trip to the pilgrimage site of Montserrat which is about an hour and a half away from Barcelona by train.. It's basically a very large mountain with very unique rock formations. There was an apparition of Mary here (I think) and now there's a basilica, monastery, and tons of other religious attractions near the peak. The landscape is extraordinary, and the church is quite pretty as well. It was really nice to get out into nature and breath some fresh air at last.

Girona Day Trip

The Class recently took a day trip through Catalonia to visit Girona and Olat.
Girona was a compact little city with some nice examples of Romanesque architecture.
We originally meant to visit Figueres to see the Dali museum, but the king of Spain decided to visit that day so we had to change our plans. Instead, we went to Olat where we visited the architecture firm RCR. We were able to tour a restaurant, hotel, and park that they designed. Their buildings were interesting because of their thoughtful detailing and the blurred lines between interior and exterior.

Field Trip 2

The class just returned from a two day trip to Rioja and Bilbao.
The first day we spent exploring Bilbao. We saw (another) Calatrava bridge but the huge attraction is the Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry. It's a true masterpiece and it is completely mesmerizing from the inside and out. Pictures don't really convey the experience of being there.
The next day we toured three wineries in the Rioja Valley. The first winery was all-natural and hand done which was very cool to see. They also had a pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid which was interesting.
The second winery was very mass produced but posh. The winery consisted of a large complex and the showpiece was a chic hotel by Gehry.
The last winery was very upscale and was entirely designed by Calatrava. It was stunning, and clearly inspired by Guadi.

Spring Break

For Spring Break I was able to swap apartments with some friends who are studying in Rome program. I was able to spend 8 days there which allowed me to tour it extensively. The weather was not ideal, but I had a couple of non-rainy moments.

The art and architecture are unmatched, and it was great to finally visit buildings I've learned so much about in architecture history. My favorite experiences were the ancient ruins scattered throughout the city. Touring them is evocative and intriguing.

Some of the museums I visited were the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican Museums, and the National Museum.. which were all amazing. I loved seeing Bernini's sculptures and Michelangelo's works. The Roman art at the National Museum was also a highlight.

It was nice to be able to see what everyone is up to in Rome, and compare it to Barcelona.

This is the view of the Campo from the apartment window. Not bad.

This was my favorite sculpture inside the Vatican Museums.

The Villa Borghese gardens are a welcome respite from the congested streets.
Rome's air pollution makes Barcelona's look like a joke.

Here's the Forum from Capital Hill.

A view of the Colosseum from the Victor Emmanuel Monument.

The Trevi Fountain needs no introduction.

The last day in Rome, I toured the Appian Way and Testaccio (where you can find this bizarre pyramid).

Sagrada Familia Construction Tour

Last week the class took a construction tour of the Sangrada Familia for History class.
This was definitely one of the best experiences I've had in Barcelona. We got to explore all of the areas closed to the public as the construction happened all around us. We also got to visit the architect's offices and see them actually building pieces of the church on the computer. It was very, very cool.

Field Trip One

The group returned yesterday from our extensive trip across Southern Spain. In eight days we visited Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Seville, and Merida... it was quite the survey.
We stayed in the historic districts of each area, so I got to experience the best (touristy) sites that each city had to offer.
Seville and Granada were my favorites, but I loved Cordoba and Madrid as well (Merida is definitely only worth one day).
We had beautiful weather except for one drizzly day in Cordoba. In Granada we went to an overlook on a hillside and saw a very spectacular sunset over the Alhambra. Speaking of which, the Nazarine Palace at the Alhambra is unbelievable. It's definitely the must-see of Spain that I would recommend.
Seville was pleasant and beautiful, a very nice place to visit. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees while we were there. The gardens of the Alcazar were also a highlight.
It was really nice to see the spectacular examples of Islamic architecture sprinkled throughout Spain. All in all, the trip was great, but it's nice to be back in Barcelona, with all its gritty and unique charm.


Our first day in Madrid, we sketched Placa Mayor. It was cold, but worth it.

This is the Roman Bridge of Cordoba with the famous mosque in the background.

This a picture of the famous horseshoe columns in the mosque.

This is a panorama looking out at Granada from the Alhambra.

These are the light and delicate columns of the Court of Lions in the Alhambra. The geometry and math behind these columns is extremely complex.

Here's the Placa Espana of Seville (they shot some of the new Stars Wars movie here).

Here I am in the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic church in the world.


Our last night we visited the aqueducts in Merida (among other Roman ruins). The designers of the mosque in Cordoba were inspired by these aquaducts, it seems...

So, there's a brief summary of the field trip. Eleven days until Rome!