Hi everyone! My third week in Barcelona has proved to be just as fantastic as the first two, complete with a trip to Sitges (a suburban beach town about an hour outside of the city) and a lot more sightseeing.
Now that I feel completely settled into life at my residence, I have really begun to fully appreciate the beauty of our daily surroundings. Take the University of Barcelona itself for example. Designed by Elies Rogent, instructor of Antoni Gaudí (arguably Barcelona’s most influential architect of all time), the main building displays classic traits of 19th century Barcelona architecture, including a central courtyard and Rome-inspired archways. I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting place to discuss the works of Barcelona’s great architects.
Speaking of these masters, my class finally made a visit to the Sagrada Família—Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece. Designed by an architect who was inspired greatly by nature, the outside of the building resembles a sandcastle (in my opinion) and is too laden with intricate details for one to process all at once. It’s breathtakingly unique, but for me, the inside of the building is even more impressive. As I stepped into the massive structure, I felt as though I was walking into a sci-fi movie, as tree-like columns reached far into the sky where a circular skylight projected a ring of light around the church’s altar (see picture below). With its curves and bold concepts, the Sagrada Família is a perfect example of the modernist architecture we’ve been studying in class for the last week.
Unfortunately, Gaudi died in 1926—after 43 years of work on the Sagrada Família but well before the structure’s completion. He’s fittingly buried in the crypt of his masterpiece, and, as a tribute to him, the city of Barcelona has continued with the architect’s initial plan. According to current projections, the Sagrada Família could be completed as early as 2026—almost 150 years after its inception.
Beautifully designed buildings aside, one thing I’ve noticed in my time here so far is how easy it is to get around Barcelona using only English. In fact, most people try to talk to you in your native tongue if they know it, so it takes a conscious effort to get in as much Spanish practice as possible each day. Luckily, everyone I’ve encountered is willing to speak Spanish with you if you want to put yourself out there. And speaking only Spanish provides other benefits outside of the obvious one of increasing speaking proficiency in the language. Solicitors hoping to get you to spend four euros (roughly $5.70) on a bottle of water at the beach or an equally over-priced fedora definitely approach me less frequently if I’m speaking Spanish. Using English, though definitely doable, is a sure sign you’re a tourist.
While we’re on the subject of communication, because of the nature of being in a new city, I’ve had to ask for directions pretty often these past few weeks. And let me tell you—the answers I have received are a lot different than the elaborate stories I’m used to giving around the Boston area. In fact, most of the time, your destination’s location can be described in one of two ways: it’s either “arriba” or “abajo” (literally “up” or “down”). Though it seemed at first that these directions were some kind of joke, you actually can get around Barcelona if you know whether you should go “arriba” or “abajo.” Because the city radiates outward from the inner core of the Old City and extends to the Mediterranean, no matter where you are, roads have a slight incline in some direction. “Arriba” takes you generally west, toward the mountains, while “abajo” sends you to the coast. It’s an efficient and surprisingly effective system.
Next week looks to be a busy one, with a flamenco concert and a trip to Madrid on tap. I’ll be sure to update you at the end of the week. Hasta luego!