Big heads...museums...amazing fountains!
We began our day with Adrian in the Gothic Quarter, the center of the old city of Barcelona. Despite several changes undergone in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings here date from Medieval times. The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares.
We came here to see a shop I had read about in the airline magazine- El Ingenio. Rumor has it that El Ingenio was Salvador Dalí's favorite store and after a quick peek inside, that sounds about right. As you enter the antique storefront, we were transported to a circus of color and magic. Since 1830 this small workshop has been dedicated to paper-mâché sculpting. It has been a classic for costumes, puppets, carnival masks and gadgets for all ages. The gigantic paper-mâché heads are the stars of local fiestas and parades.
We then went to CaixaForum Barcelona Social and Cultural Center for their exhibit on the Ballets Russes (1909-1929), created by Diaghilev (1872- 1929) dictator, devil, charlatan, sorcerer, charmer was a man whose unique character and driving ambition caused a ferment in European culture. His greatest achievement was his dance company. Created a century ago, the productions of the Ballets Russes revolutionized early 20th-century arts and continue to influence cultural activity today. This exhibit was amazing with costumes, illustrations, programs, film footage and in-depth history.
After a day of many miles of walking we concluded our touring at the magic fountain of Montjuïc (first performed in 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition). The magic fountain is a spectacular display of color, light, motion, music and water acrobatics - if you mix all these elements together in just the right combinations, you end up with pure magic! This "show" is on most top ten of "must sees" in Barcelona. Adrian has been here for almost a month and this was his first time seeing it. Truly magical.
We then returned to our hotel for a bottle of Umbrian wine we had brought from Spoleto. It was the perfect way to end our visit and say "see you soon" to Adrian. Tomorrow we board our ship to head home. What an adventure!
We came here to see a shop I had read about in the airline magazine- El Ingenio. Rumor has it that El Ingenio was Salvador Dalí's favorite store and after a quick peek inside, that sounds about right. As you enter the antique storefront, we were transported to a circus of color and magic. Since 1830 this small workshop has been dedicated to paper-mâché sculpting. It has been a classic for costumes, puppets, carnival masks and gadgets for all ages. The gigantic paper-mâché heads are the stars of local fiestas and parades.
We then went to CaixaForum Barcelona Social and Cultural Center for their exhibit on the Ballets Russes (1909-1929), created by Diaghilev (1872- 1929) dictator, devil, charlatan, sorcerer, charmer was a man whose unique character and driving ambition caused a ferment in European culture. His greatest achievement was his dance company. Created a century ago, the productions of the Ballets Russes revolutionized early 20th-century arts and continue to influence cultural activity today. This exhibit was amazing with costumes, illustrations, programs, film footage and in-depth history.
After a day of many miles of walking we concluded our touring at the magic fountain of Montjuïc (first performed in 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition). The magic fountain is a spectacular display of color, light, motion, music and water acrobatics - if you mix all these elements together in just the right combinations, you end up with pure magic! This "show" is on most top ten of "must sees" in Barcelona. Adrian has been here for almost a month and this was his first time seeing it. Truly magical.
We then returned to our hotel for a bottle of Umbrian wine we had brought from Spoleto. It was the perfect way to end our visit and say "see you soon" to Adrian. Tomorrow we board our ship to head home. What an adventure!
3 comments:
WOW! This day looks like it was awesome! So exciting everyday is new adventure and better than the day before! How will you ever adjust to normal life again? :)
I wish I was hanging out with you three in Barcelona! What fun. :)
Your hotel room is cute. How much wine did you bring home?
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You two really go for the gusto! Such fun to read your Spain and cruise ship posts. Makes me think a cruise is lots more than 'port-to-port'. We'll have to try it. Haven't sent you any messages while our son was here from Seattle for 2 weeks. He left yesterday after a terrific visit. You can imagine all the Umbrian things we did during Frantoio aperti. Also visits to Montefalco (rented a car last weekend -- Carey drove, so Bob and I didn't have to break our two years since we've been behind the wheel!) and up the mountain toward Sellano behind Campello sul Clitunno. Saw the restaurant (Casaline??) you mentioned in one of your last week in Spoleto posts. Stopped at Fontenella before going on up to the communication towers atop the mtn. We've looked at those daily from our upstairs terrace, so it was fun to be up in the forest with the goats, sheep, white cattle, truffle hunters & their dogs, cingale hunters & their dogs, and look down on the hectares and hectares of olive orchards way below. Keep on having fun -- we enjoy reading about your good times and seeing you two. Loved the Halloween get-up, and .... at first we thought that was you two in the fab costumes in ice skates doing the romantic moves!! :-)
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