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Gaudí.
Ever hear of him?
You can’t go anywhere in Barcelona without hearing the name Gaudí. However, if you are an architecture buff, you should be well-versed in his work.
The Catalonian architect, influenced by his passions in life…architecture, nature and religion…is most beloved in his home country. Taking a look at any of his works, it is evident that his passions are always displayed in his one-of-a-kind style. Many of his works are located in Barcelona…Casa Milà, Casa Battló, Casa Vincens, Palau Güell, Colonia Güell, Torre Bellesguard, Casa Calvet, Colegio Teresiano de Barcelona. The ones that most tourists come to see, however, are the still-incomplete, Sagrada Familia and Parque Güell, a park filled with architectural elements surrounded by lush gardens.
Having been to many of his installations, I decided that one of them was worthy of another visit, especially on the beautiful, sunny afternoon.
Years ago, I visited Parque Güell and wandered around for hours without paying to enter. Perusing the website, I noticed that admission was now being charged, seemingly to limit the large number of visitors to the park at one time. Purchasing a timed admission, I jumped on the bus and headed toward the park.
Parque Güell was built between 1900 and 1914 and was conceived by Count Eusebi Güell and designed by Antoni Gaudí with the idea of it being a park within a natural park. Within this park, they wanted to introduce a group of high-quality homes influenced by symbolism and modernism. These homes were to be outfitted with the latest technological advancements and not only be comfortable, but display an artistic attitude.
Officially opened as a park in 1926, on Carmel Hill in the neighborhood of La Salut, the park incorporated a large country home, Larrard House, which Count Güell moved into, hoping to add prestige to the community. Sixty triangular lots were available for the construction of the luxury homes, however, only two houses were ever built, neither by Gaudí. One, by Francesc Berenguer, was intended as a show house, but upon its completion in 1904, no buyers came forward. Gaudí purchased the home and lived there from 1906 until 1926. Today, the house, La Torre Rosa, operates as a museum within the park and was declared a historical artistic monument of national interest.
As I entered the park and wandered through the fantastical pavilions, I noticed that although there was ticket booth near the gates, no one was asking for tickets as I walked through the gates and through the park. Getting ready to enter La Torre Rosa, I suddenly realized that the ticket I had purchased online was for the Monumental Zone, the area at the main entrance, the terrace and the parts containing the mosaics. Realizing that my entrance time was valid for the Monumental Zone for only twenty more minutes, I explained my dilemma and asked if I could return to visit the museum.
Quickly making my way to the Monumental Zone area, I was able to enter on the terrace level, however, due to construction, the famous mosaic bench was partially closed. Still, elbowing my way through the crowded area, I was able to sit for a few minutes and enjoy the beautiful architectural element. The stairway with the Gaudí dragon fountain was also filled with visitors, each hoping to capture a picture with the iconic piece of sculpture. The two buildings flanking the entrance, each with unusual pinnacles and fantastically shaped roofs give the impression of gingerbread houses and one offers a permanent exhibition of the Barcelona City History Museum which focuses on the building itself, the park and the city.
After completing my Monumental Zone visit, I returned to La Torre Rosa, enjoying the amazing building filled with Gaudí’s captivating furniture and a fascinating film on the conception of the park.
Parque Güell is truly a place of tranquility, yet, fascination. As you walk through the lush gardens, you can almost imagine yourself to be in a fantastical dream. Take your time to enjoy each area of the park and if you see one of the many musical performers that spend time entertaining visitors, stop and relish in their music. The acoustics in some of the spaces are amazing! Also, don’t forget to make your way to the park’s highest point, marked with a large cross, for a phenomenal view of the city with both the Sagrada Familia and the Montjuic area visible in the distance. Lastly, make sure to keep your eyes open for the amazing wildlife that makes the park their home. Scour the trees for a variety of birds, most notably, non-native parrots and short-toed eagles, that reside in the area.
With so many of Gaudí’s works to see in Barcelona, it is extremely hard to choose which to visit first! However, if you find yourself with clear, bright skies and are tired of being indoors, Parque Güell is your go-to!
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Parque Güell
- https://www.parkguell.cat/
- Address: 08024 Barcelona, Spain
- Hours: January 1-March 24 and October 28-December 31, 0830-1815, March 25-April 29, 0800-2030, April 30-August 26, 0800-2130, August 27-October 27, 0800-2030
- Admission: Online Prices, Adults, €7,50, Children 0-6 years, free, Children 7-12 years, €5,25, Over 65 years, €5,25. Ticket office prices, Adults, €8,50, Children 0-6 years, free, Children 7-12 years, €6,00, Over 65 years, €6,00.
- Getting There: Park Güell is off Carrer d’Olot in Barcelona and has three entrances: one on Carrer de Larrard (main entrance), one at Carretera del Carmel, nº 23, where there is also the coach park for tourist coaches, and a third on Passatge de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, which you get to by going up an escalator. By Metro: You can take the Metro to Lesseps or Vallcarca stations and walk, approximately 20 minutes. By Bus: Lines H6, D40, 24 and 92. From the bus stop on Travessera de Dalt (lines H6 and D40), it takes 10 minutes on foot, and we would recommend going either to the Carrer Sant Josep de la Muntanya, which has an escalator, or Carrer de Larrard entrance. From the bus stop on Plaça Catalunya (line 24-Paral·lel/El Carmel) it points along Passeig de Gracia to Carretera Carmel-Park Güell stop, wich is one of the main entrances to the Park, near the top of the hill. From the bus stop Trelawny-Passeig Marítim, the line 92 (Pg. Marítim – Av. Tibidabo) points along Sagrada Familia and Hospital de Sant Pau, and stops at Carretera del Carmel-Park Güell in front of one of the Park’s main entrance. By Tourist Bus or Barcelona City Tour: From the Bus Turístic (blue line) the stop is “Park Güell”. From the Barcelona City Tour, the route is “East” (green colour) and the stop is also “Park Güell”. In both cases, the stop is located on Avinguda de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat, it takes 10 minutes on foot, and we would recommend the entrance on Carretera del Carmel through Av. Pompeu Fabra.
A beautiful day in the city, it was a nice walk to the Pacaembu Stadium where I found the grounds filled with young kids practicing to the sounds of Brazilian music. Paying my admission, I first entered the stadium, gazing up at the stands and down at the rich, green turf that has withstood the trampling of the Big 4 football clubs of the State of São Paulo…Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paulo and Santos.
Before making your way through the museum, be aware of one thing…everything is written in Portuguese. There is, however, a helpful app which guides you through each of the areas of the museum.
Many areas of the museum contain interactive exhibits that you can access and participate in. After encountering the most famous football players in history, you will be able to listen to the Radio broadcasts by Ary Barroso from the 1940’s and Osmar Santos, four decades later. Here, you can choose your favorite announcer by name or by year when the goal took place. You can also choose your favorite historic goal and later on, practice your own goal kicks.
There are countless photographs, team flags and old uniform pieces…even old cleats. You can even challenge your friends to a game…of foosball,…the tabletop version of the game.
My favorite part of the museum, however, was the Room of Celebration. Dedicated to the fans of the sport, it reminds us how the sport unites. Sound bytes of cheering fans echo under the stadium and videos are broadcast on the supporting pillars…those firmly planted in the ground when the stadium was built and those that support the bleachers on which the fans congregate. It is very loud in this area…however, I am sure it is nothing compared to what is the reality during an exciting game!
The Futbol Museum is very interesting for all visitors, especially younger ones who may not understand what part Brazil played in escalating the sport. For the older visitors, it is a walk through the past. And for the price (less than $4), it is something truly worth experiencing in São Paulo!
Watching the movie, it was quite thrilling to see the Map Room, which was used continually by the officers of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force who produced a daily intelligence summary for the King, Prime Minister and the military Chiefs of Staff. The other room I recognized was the Cabinet Room, from which Churchill visited in 1940 and famously declared, “This is the room from which I will direct the war.” And that he did. 115 Cabinet meetings, in all, were held in the Cabinet War Rooms.
The Kunsthal Museum, located in the Museumpark in Rotterdam is unique in that it offers no permanent collection, instead, a wide range of temporary exhibits, attracting visitors who may come from one artist and open their mind to another totally different kind of art.
Social media is inundated with fetching felines. Anywhere you look on you YouTube today, you can find countless videos on cats. Check out Instagram and you’ll find cats exposed by their owners. In fact, cats are more popular than ever. Over the years, cats have inspired many artistic masterpieces by Henriette Ronner-Knip, Théophile-Alexandre Steinelen, Karel Appel, Picasso and Wallasse Ting, contemporary artists such as David Shrigley and photographer Marie Cécele Thijs and many of these are on display here. Meandering through the hall, you are offered some insight into how these artists were inspired by numerous felines. In fact, one area of the museum offers a place to experience what it is like to be a cat…creep around on all fours among the bushes, take a nap on one of the “cat beds”, sharpen your nails on a scratching post or take a stroll down the Catwalk. Cat lovers will be in heaven!
My favorites, however, were those that represented the cultural heritage of the airline, like Thai Airways, Allegheny Airlines, so proud of their name and of course, those worn throughout my own airline’s history! Though I loved seeing the various costumes worn by thousands, the way that they were displayed in a vertical manner, made it hard to inspect each of them at close range. All in all, however, it was thrilling to see such an awe-inspiring compilation of something so near and dear to my heart!
Though I cannot say that he was an artist whose work was one that I had previously sought out, I did enjoy his nude portraits of women from the 1920s and the paintings that incorporated macabre skeletons. The dreamlike quality exhibited in his work was extremely calming!
The next artist showcased in the Kunstal, was photographer Jeroen Oerlemans, a Dutch press photographer, who captured mesmerizing shots from Afghanistan, Chad, Libya, Haiti and Iraq of the local residents, despite the danger he constantly faced. The celebrated three-time recipient of the first prize in the Silver Camera foreign news category was unfortunately killed in 2016 by an IS sniper in the Libyan city of Sirte.
Despite visiting the museum for a specific purpose, I can concede that it was nice to step out of the winter day and enjoy some different types of art that I had not anticipated. Sometimes the best things are the least expected!
How many kinds of tulips are there? One. There is one kind. The tulip. This statement is quite misleading, however, because there are many different groups of tulips each with their own specific characteristics and classified into a system of 15 different groups, broken down into shape, heritage and flowering season.
Should bulbs be dug up every year? In warmer climate zones, digging of the tulip bulbs is advised after the flowering periods and new bulbs planted during the following fall season. For zones 3-8, the bulbs do not need to be removed.
Can tulips be brought to your home country (USA)? Ensure that the bulbs have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Flower bulbs remaining within the European community can be exported throughout Europe with no problems.
What I did find, however, is that the Katten Kabinet offers a look at the role of the cat in art and culture throughout the centuries, displaying hosts of art in the forms of posters, original paintings and sculptures paying homage to cats. The most interesting display, however, was a host of letters written to the museum and its cats from other cat lovers expressing their love of felines!
Founded in 1990, by William Meijer, a wealthy Dutchman, the museum pays homage to his feline companion, John Pierpont Morgan (1966-1983) and is housed in a structure that commands more attention than the collection displayed in it. Built in 1667, for William and Adrian Van Loon, the museum faces the historical Museum Van Loon, an identical floorplan, just across the canal. After a draw, which decided which of the brothers were to receive either of the homes, it was William who acquired the property at 497 Herengracht. Throughout its history, the house has hosted several famous people, such as the Mayor of Amsterdam, Jan Calkoen and former American president, John Adams. It has been rebuilt and redecorated several times, though most of its current state represents the 19th century.
After walking through a couple of the rooms in the museum, I finally did encounter two of the five cats that are reported to live on the premises. Stretched out on a window sill, a black and white feline stared impassively at the visitors wandering through its home. A short while later, another mostly white cat paced back and forth behind a glass-pane doorway, obviously hoping to be released from its confines by the owner who currently resides on the top floor.
One museum, the Sexmuseum Venustempel, located on busy Damrak Street, has been around since 1985, welcoming curious visitors by the thousands. With its convenient location near Amsterdam’s Central Station and many of the city’s hotels, plus its relatively cheap admission, it has evolved into one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands, with 675,000 visitors in 2015 alone.
As you make your way up the stairs, plastic body parts line the stairwell and each floor offers encounters with various exhibits including Asian Art, Sex Through the Ages, Sex and Artists (with a depiction of Rembrandt painting a nude subject, Demons and Sex and numerous phallic representations, displayed singularly and in groupings. In the architecturally compelling atrium, which houses the Venus Gallery, make sure to look up at the window where a leather clad sex worker perches asymmetrically atop a stool.
Though not for those easily offended, the museum is both amusing at times and quite compelling. Judging from people’s reactions when I mentioned that I visited, it is also probably not what most people imagine it to be. You’ll definitely get your five euros worth (and maybe more!).
Setting out on my bike and riding along the canals, I passed throngs of tourists out enjoying a sunny break in the otherwise rainy afternoon. Searching for the Biblical Museum, I eyed each of the canal houses until finally finding the correct one and parked my bike. Trying the door, I discovered it to be locked.
The Suasso collection is disbursed throughout the Cromhout Museum, mainly on the second level, and is interspersed with the family’s prized collections. The home itself is also worth inspection as it gives a glimpse into the way of life that the families of this time period were accustomed.
When visitors to the Cromhout family arrived, they were received in the Antechamber, where a cabinet of curiosities, its drawers and cabinets filled with extraordinary natural phenomena, exotic items and unique hand-made artifacts, was located. The guests were then allowed into the Grand Salon, where parties were held and guests were entertained. The family’s art collection, a symbol of their status, was highlighted during a stroll around the first floor.
Artist Jacob de Wit, then young and relatively unheard of, was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Cromhouthuis in 1718, one of his first ceiling pieces. The grand work of art depicts twelve Olympic gods, surrounded by personifications of the seasons, the points of the compass and the zodiac.
Two kitchens are also located in the home, one small and one large. The large, used for cooking since construction, was located in the basement so that temperatures remained cool and food stayed fresher for longer periods of time. The small kitchen, older than the rest of the home, was incorporated into the construction from a smaller house on the property. The red and green tiles were sourced from the Swedish island of Öland in the Baltic Sea.
In the rear of the property, the Cromhouthuis garden, is worth stepping out for a look, especially during a nice Dutch day. Although once longer than it is today, the design is one of order and symmetry and quite beautiful during the spring.
Since the Biblical Museum is also located on the premises, many biblical references were added to the garden’s design by landscape architect Jan Van Der Horst who incorporated an 18th century geometric pattern into the design and decorated the garden with plants and trees featured in the bible. The pools with stepping stones are a reference to the crossing of the Red Sea and the sculpture by Martie Van Der Loo represents the Apocalypse.
Since 1975, the upper floors of the Comhouthuis have housed the Biblical Museum. Having expected to find rows upon rows of dusty books, I instead found a light airy space consisting of biblical models, antiquities, archaeological finds and first edition bibles.
Adjacent rooms exhibit models of temples including a famous model of the Tabernacle, commissioned by the founder of the museum, Rev Leendert Schouten. This 19th century reconstruction uses materials mentioned in the Bible, including goat’s wool imported from Syria for the awning and sand from the Sinai desert.
Egyptian antiquities are also displayed including artifacts collected by Schouten in the 19th century. Inscribed stone slabs, funerary figurines, canopic jars (for mummified remains), scarabs, statues of the gods and a sarcophagus were intended to be laid out around the Tabernacle to give visitors an impression of the religious life of the ancient Egyptians. The most impressive item is a complete mummy of a young woman. Other unique items include oil lamps, clay tablets, earthenware, shards of pottery and coins.
Be sure to climb up to the loft area to observe varying photographic presentations.
Though my intentions were to only visit the Biblical Museum, I must admit that visiting the Cromhouthuis and its exhibition on the Soussa collection were the highlight of the my outing. Though probably not a museum that I would have picked out of a guidebook, it was a wonderful way to spend a drizzly afternoon and learn about the illustrious history of the Netherlands and their .
Beginning with a brief introduction on where Tanzanite is found in one small area in the Mererani Hills in Northern Tanzania, at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Akiyo then went on to explain how Tanzanite could once be collected on the surface. Eventually, this scavenger mining gave way to pits and tunnels extending far beneath the earth’s surface.
