Our first full day in Cambridge, and our first field trip away from the college. After eight pretty wonderful days weather-wise, we woke up to weather a bit more like what we'd heard we would encounter: gray skies, off-and-on showers, blustery winds, temps in the 60s. The rain - well, in Tallahassee we know rain, and this was no biggie. The cold and wind, however, was another story. Pretty much think December in Tallytown. Though we had our umbrellas, we shivered all day, but that didn't stop us!
SO - breakfast, load up on the small coach at 8:30, and we were off to Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim Palace is and has been the home of the Dukes of Marlborough since the first Duke led the British to victory at the Battle of Blindheim in Germany. John Churchill became the First Duke of Marlborough and was given the property as a reward from a grateful nation in the early 18th century. Today the 12th Duke and his family occupy the private portion of the Palace. A World Heritage site, it is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. (That last bit from Wikipedia.) This whole subject is fascinating and well worth an extensive Google search.
Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill, son of Lord Randolph Churchill, third son of the 7th Duke (so Winston was never in line for the position). Blenheim was his childhood home and he loved it all his life. He and his wife Clementine are buried on the grounds.
Our OLLI group was treated to a private guided tour of some of the state rooms of the palace, which, incidentally, is termed a "country home." An American parallel to this bit of understatement can be found in Newport, RI, where the homes of the very wealthy are called "cottages." Soaring ceilings, beautiful works of art, tapestries, fine furniture, many sets of priceless china - all are treasures here.
For all its glory, the actual palace is almost outshown by the gardens. They extend for acres and contain two lakes and a beautiful maze. After a look at the Churchill exhibit (fascinating), we lunched in the cafe beneath the ground floor of the residence where we were able to see the gardens and, in the distance, the Churchill burial site.
At 2:00 p.m., we boarded our coach again and headed to Oxford. A short drive from Blenheim, it provided a pretty interesting contrast to the country estate. We were a little surprised - Oxford is quite a large town, filled with wonderful shops and pubs and lots of visitors. And of course it is home to Oxford University.
Our first stop was the Ashmolean Museum, the world's first and oldest university museum. Elias Ashmole gave a cabinet of curiosities to the University of Oxford in 1677, and today it contains five or six floors of fine antiquities, artworks, and, yes, curiosities. The Ashmolean was at the top of my list for Things to Do Outside of London, and here we were!
After the museum, our wonderful guide, Paul, led us on a walking tour of the town, pointing out the various colleges of Oxford. As avid fans of "Inspector Morse," "Inspector Lewis," and "Endeavor" on PBS, we became just a bunch of groupies, walking around the settings for those fine TV productions. (We've always wondered why it is that such a small town could have so many murders; now we know it's actually a bustling city, with plenty of opportunities for mayhem.)
We entered the grounds of Magdalen College (pronounced "maudlin," of course), explored its chapel, and then went into the grounds, which include a river and two deer parks, one for summer and one for winter. Paul explained to us that Oxford colleges have been blessed with grants of large tracts of land over the centuries and consequently have much room for this sort of thing.
Incidentally, don't forget that we are wet and cold this whole time. There's a solution for that - we headed for the pub. Never has a glass of red wine tasted so good! And chili, interestingly enough. As lovers of bar food, we have felt quite at home in England.
Oxford is, of course, Cambridge's major rival. They jockey back and forth for academic honors and reputation. They face each other in any number of collegiate level sports activities. But I will say that Oxford seemed bigger, bolder, older. No disrespect to Cambridge intended, of course. Who knows what the future may hold?
Now home to Cambridge! A two-hour drive and we are back in our room, aching feet up, tired legs resting. Our Fitbits have had a field day on this trip. Any day that doesn't exceed our recommended 10,000 steps is deemed a complete failure, and usually means we have either sat in class or sat on a bus. Tomorrow we visit Sandringham, home of Prince William and Princess Kate and the kids, then on to the Norfolk coast for some even wilder weather and some legendary fish and chips. And at least one more glass of wine.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
From London to Cambridge - August 19, 2016
First, a note from me to you: Mike and I have been in London since Thursday, August 11, yet there have been no blogs. I'm pretty sad about this, as we have had a most wonderful time, and I hope to be able to go back and talk about some of our experiences. We'll see.
Meanwhile, I write this sitting in our room in a student residence hall just across a narrow street from the gates for which we now have a key and through which we access this very beautiful institution - Corpus Christi College of Cambridge University.
Upon arrival (in the sprinkling rain, the first of our trip), we stowed our bags and headed out for an orientation and lunch. We were met at our bus by Paul, the charming graduate student from Australia who will be one of our companions on this visit. Paul gave us the quick tour. All the colleges of Cambridge are organized around "courts," which are simply squarish green spaces surrounding by buildings. We walked through Old Court, through an arch into New Court. We went through an arch marked Q and one marked D. We are assured that we will soon be running around this college like old hands - and we surely hope so!
Soon after that we were joined by Nick, who is head of summer programs here at Corpus Christi and who is the mastermind of our experience. Paul and Nick led us to the very cozy room that will be our classroom, where Nick handed out welcome packets and explained a bit about what is to come. We then enjoyed a wonderful luncheon buffet, then headed back out into the chilly rain for our library orientation. We are allowed to use the college library while we are here. Our library guide showed us how the cataloging system works, where the study desks are located, and where we might find books on 20th century English history (for those of us who are taking the Churchill class next week) and the architecture section (for those who are taking the architecture class.) I was transported to my college days in the '60s, when I spent many a day (and night) in the stacks of the university library. Yes, there are still actual books on actual shelves, and students have free rein pretty much any time of the day or night. One big difference: there's free WiFi.
Then back to claim our luggage and into our room. An OLLI favorite, this residence hall is accessed through an alleyway which runs right next to The Eagle, Corpus Christi's college-owned pub. I suspect we'll spend some time there.,
As soon as we settled in a bit, back out into the chilly air (rain temporarily stopped) to meet the Dean of the Chapel of Corpus Christi, an Anglican priest, for a bit of history. What a treat! We learned about the two really important periods in the history of Corpus Christi - the late 14th century, when it was established, and the early 19th century, when a great deal of the present construction was added. We visited the chapel, which is one of the 19th century additions. Not surprisingly, the college itself had been unable to provide much in the way of a chapel for financial reasons, and finally a pretty impressive structure was built.
Across the Old Court and into the main hall - we visited our classroom again, peeked into a room that was once the set (apartment) of a college master (teacher), then proceeded into a beautiful room which is used for a variety of activities, one of which will be our gathering for drinks shortly. Then through into the actual hall, which is truly a Harry Potter experience. There we will dine tonight, the ladies in dresses and the gentlemen in coats and ties. More about that later!
***
And it's now later - back to our room after an absolutely lovely evening.
Here at Corpus Christi, there is tradition, actually tradition around every corner. This evening, the OLLI group was graced with the opportunity to attend a Formal Hall, which takes place in the, well, formal hall. We were invited for drinks in the Outer Room (champagne, of course) and then invited into the Hall for dinner. We entered and stood behind our seats at a lovely long refectory table, laid formally, with a printed menu card placed at regular intervals. Just a peek at the menu: grilled sardines, pork loin, grilled cabbage, glazed carrot, desserts to die for, coffee and port. Plus our choice of red or white wine.
Then a gong sounded and the Fellows entered, stood at the head table for the saying of grace (in Latin) and all were seated. Yes, grilled sardines are delicious. (I know, I had my doubts, too.) And seated to my left was Paul, across the table was Nick, and on my right was Mike. What wonderful dinner companions - and great conversation.
After the dessert, a gong sounded, we all rose from our seats, the benediction was offered from the head table (Latin again), the Fellows departed, and the rest of us had coffee and port and more good conversation. This was truly an occasion that was tough to bring to an end. Then again, we must meet our tour guide (Paul) tomorrow at 8:30 for a trip to Blenheim Castle and Oxford. (Don't forget, FSU folks - Cambridge people regard Oxford pretty much in the same light as we regard UF. But we don't care. All of us are really looking forward to this. After all, we love "Inspector Morse," "Inspector Lewis," and "Endeavor"!)
So to bed, my dears. There will be more tomorrow - and I'm still dying to tell you all about London ...
Meanwhile, I write this sitting in our room in a student residence hall just across a narrow street from the gates for which we now have a key and through which we access this very beautiful institution - Corpus Christi College of Cambridge University.
Upon arrival (in the sprinkling rain, the first of our trip), we stowed our bags and headed out for an orientation and lunch. We were met at our bus by Paul, the charming graduate student from Australia who will be one of our companions on this visit. Paul gave us the quick tour. All the colleges of Cambridge are organized around "courts," which are simply squarish green spaces surrounding by buildings. We walked through Old Court, through an arch into New Court. We went through an arch marked Q and one marked D. We are assured that we will soon be running around this college like old hands - and we surely hope so!
Soon after that we were joined by Nick, who is head of summer programs here at Corpus Christi and who is the mastermind of our experience. Paul and Nick led us to the very cozy room that will be our classroom, where Nick handed out welcome packets and explained a bit about what is to come. We then enjoyed a wonderful luncheon buffet, then headed back out into the chilly rain for our library orientation. We are allowed to use the college library while we are here. Our library guide showed us how the cataloging system works, where the study desks are located, and where we might find books on 20th century English history (for those of us who are taking the Churchill class next week) and the architecture section (for those who are taking the architecture class.) I was transported to my college days in the '60s, when I spent many a day (and night) in the stacks of the university library. Yes, there are still actual books on actual shelves, and students have free rein pretty much any time of the day or night. One big difference: there's free WiFi.
Then back to claim our luggage and into our room. An OLLI favorite, this residence hall is accessed through an alleyway which runs right next to The Eagle, Corpus Christi's college-owned pub. I suspect we'll spend some time there.,
As soon as we settled in a bit, back out into the chilly air (rain temporarily stopped) to meet the Dean of the Chapel of Corpus Christi, an Anglican priest, for a bit of history. What a treat! We learned about the two really important periods in the history of Corpus Christi - the late 14th century, when it was established, and the early 19th century, when a great deal of the present construction was added. We visited the chapel, which is one of the 19th century additions. Not surprisingly, the college itself had been unable to provide much in the way of a chapel for financial reasons, and finally a pretty impressive structure was built.
Across the Old Court and into the main hall - we visited our classroom again, peeked into a room that was once the set (apartment) of a college master (teacher), then proceeded into a beautiful room which is used for a variety of activities, one of which will be our gathering for drinks shortly. Then through into the actual hall, which is truly a Harry Potter experience. There we will dine tonight, the ladies in dresses and the gentlemen in coats and ties. More about that later!
***
And it's now later - back to our room after an absolutely lovely evening.
Here at Corpus Christi, there is tradition, actually tradition around every corner. This evening, the OLLI group was graced with the opportunity to attend a Formal Hall, which takes place in the, well, formal hall. We were invited for drinks in the Outer Room (champagne, of course) and then invited into the Hall for dinner. We entered and stood behind our seats at a lovely long refectory table, laid formally, with a printed menu card placed at regular intervals. Just a peek at the menu: grilled sardines, pork loin, grilled cabbage, glazed carrot, desserts to die for, coffee and port. Plus our choice of red or white wine.
Then a gong sounded and the Fellows entered, stood at the head table for the saying of grace (in Latin) and all were seated. Yes, grilled sardines are delicious. (I know, I had my doubts, too.) And seated to my left was Paul, across the table was Nick, and on my right was Mike. What wonderful dinner companions - and great conversation.
After the dessert, a gong sounded, we all rose from our seats, the benediction was offered from the head table (Latin again), the Fellows departed, and the rest of us had coffee and port and more good conversation. This was truly an occasion that was tough to bring to an end. Then again, we must meet our tour guide (Paul) tomorrow at 8:30 for a trip to Blenheim Castle and Oxford. (Don't forget, FSU folks - Cambridge people regard Oxford pretty much in the same light as we regard UF. But we don't care. All of us are really looking forward to this. After all, we love "Inspector Morse," "Inspector Lewis," and "Endeavor"!)
So to bed, my dears. There will be more tomorrow - and I'm still dying to tell you all about London ...
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Mike and Nancy are off again - this time to the United Kingdom, Brexit or not!
Just next week - yes, August 10, 2016 - we once again roll our suitcases into the Tallahassee International Airport and embark on another OLLI at FSU Study Abroad adventure. This year, it's eight days in London and seven days in Cambridge. There are 17 of us in our group this year, almost all of whom have been to London in the past, many of whom have been there multiple times. Mike and I are newbies, and we want to take in every corny touristy thing we can. I'm still getting used to the idea that I am actually going to stand in Trafalgar Square. Just can't take the country out of the girl, I guess!The accompanying photo is really just a stock one I grabbed off the Internet, but it does depict an actual castle. Having chosen to use it, I will say that this really isn't going to be a castle kind of trip. We did that through the middle Rhine Valley and loved it. But in England, I think we'll opt for a bit more history, with generous helpings of the wonderful museums and a play or two. (As newbies, we feel obliged to see "The Mousetrap.")
Today it has been very disturbing and also very sad to hear the news about the fatal stabbing of a visitor to London last evening. Added to our dismay is the fact that the victim was the wife of an FSU professor who has just finished teaching for the summer term in the Florida State program in London. The incident occurred very near where we will be staying, in the FSU flats near the British Museum. These are troubling times, and once in a while I think we should just pile up on the couch and live vicariously through Netflix streaming. But there are new worlds out there, and we will step out into the London streets with aplomb! And an umbrella.
Watch this space for daily accounts of our adventures, beginning (presumably) on August 11th, once we have unpacked our stuff, figured out the wifi code, and taken a bit of a nap. We can't wait!
Saturday, June 20, 2015
June 20, 2015 - Some random thoughts upon returning home from Barcelona with OLLI at FSU Study Abroad
There's a columnist in our local newspaper who writes a piece every once in a while that's kind of a bullet list of his random thoughts (I figure he jots these down from time to time, then uses them when he's at a loss for a topic). Inspired by him, I'm inclined to share my stray musings from our just-completed trip to Barcelona and other cities and towns in Spain. So here goes:
1. Dogs: We saw so many cute dogs in Barcelona. These are urban creatures, in every sense of the word. As a city that's existed for over 2,000 years. Barcelona seems to have grown randomly, with no planning for such second millennium luxuries as green space. Consequently, parks are at a minimum. There are many trees, but each one has its own (tiny) space carved from the sidewalk. Some dogs seek these little sandy areas to do the necessary, but most dogs just poop on the sidewalk. Note: Owners seem quite diligent in their pickup activities. AND - Barcelona, at least in the areas we frequented, is quite tidy. We saw many municipal employees sweeping and picking up. So one way or the other, dogs are not a nuisance, and we loved seeing them and talking to their owners.
BUT - conclusion: Our dog would not do well in this city. He doesn't even like the tile floor in the kitchen. Can't imagine him loving living on sidewalks. Side note: The dogs were amazingly well behaved and friendly, even with the crowds of tourists. Many were not leashed, yet stayed with their owners like good doobies. Additional note: We missed our dog.
2. Toilets: When we were in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, we became accustomed to the presence of public toilets. Yes, one had to pay a euro to use them, but they were there. In Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Montserrat, Besalu - no public toilets. My conclusion is that this just isn't happening in Spain. SO - one has two choices: go into a bar/restaurant and purchase something in order to use the W.C., or find McDonald's. No one ever batted an eyelash when we marched through Mickey D's to use the (always very clean) facilities. I don't know whether the lack of public potties is simply a cost-cutting measure on the part of the Spanish government, which has, admittedly, had a lot of hard times in the past decades and can't afford to construct and maintain public facilities, or if it just hasn't occurred to them. This old lady (and her hubs and companions) found it to be an inconvenience and sometimes a REAL inconvenience.
3. McDonald's: So interesting to me that McDonald's in Europe is far, far superior to McDonald's in the U.S. Wassup with that? And before anyone expresses shock that we actually patronized McDonald's while in the land of beautiful coffees and pastries, I'll note that on two occasions we broke down and purchased caffe Americano decaf, which, as far as I can tell, doesn't exist anywhere else in Spain. Side note: Starbucks is just as boring in Spain as it is in America - can't tell a bit of difference. Still don't like their coffee.
4. Windows: One of the true joys of European travel and staying in small hotels is the wonderful windows. Our room had a little balcony-ette (small ledge with iron railing) with French doors that opened to the street. We were on the fifth floor, so could have quite easily climbed the railing and jumped, if we had so desired. Curiously, no one seemed worried that we would do that. Consequently, we had access to the breezes, smells, sights and sounds of the neighborhood - and, with the exception of one fly, no bugs. This alone is a miracle to someone from Florida.
The most wonderful thing about the windows, however, is the mechanical shade. One of my pet peeves in travel is that, no matter how fancy the hotel, the heavy, light-blocking drapes NEVER meet in the middle. There's always a little sliver of a crack, and the sunlight comes pouring through in the morning, usually around 6:00 a.m. So annoying! Listen up, Holiday Inn Express (and Ritz-Carlton, for that matter): install some mechanical shades. With the touch of a button, the shade completely covers the window, blocks the light, and keeps the room DARK. Which is what one needs to be able to sleep, right?
5. Air travel: I never realized before what a difference a congenial (and quiet) flight crew can make on a lengthy flight across the water. Our flight to Barcelona was pretty miserable, with the crew making noise, talking, clattering, etc., all night long. Plus the head attendant was pretty crabby. The flight home was a delight. We had a newer plane with more comfortable seats, and one of the attendants actually joked with the passengers. This seems like something Delta could work on. Just sayin'.
6. Loved going, loved returning: Finally, I'm so grateful for OLLI at FSU. The staff (Debra and Terry) work so hard to make everything comfortable and interesting, and keep their smiles and pleasant demeanor through thick and thin. We learned so much on this trip (and others), and had an experience we'll treasure forever. And having good OLLI friends as traveling companions is just the icing on the cake. I will admit, however, that it's good to be home - did I mention that we missed our dog?
Thanks to all of you who have followed the Adventures of Mike and Nancy on this trip. I will blog again!
1. Dogs: We saw so many cute dogs in Barcelona. These are urban creatures, in every sense of the word. As a city that's existed for over 2,000 years. Barcelona seems to have grown randomly, with no planning for such second millennium luxuries as green space. Consequently, parks are at a minimum. There are many trees, but each one has its own (tiny) space carved from the sidewalk. Some dogs seek these little sandy areas to do the necessary, but most dogs just poop on the sidewalk. Note: Owners seem quite diligent in their pickup activities. AND - Barcelona, at least in the areas we frequented, is quite tidy. We saw many municipal employees sweeping and picking up. So one way or the other, dogs are not a nuisance, and we loved seeing them and talking to their owners.
BUT - conclusion: Our dog would not do well in this city. He doesn't even like the tile floor in the kitchen. Can't imagine him loving living on sidewalks. Side note: The dogs were amazingly well behaved and friendly, even with the crowds of tourists. Many were not leashed, yet stayed with their owners like good doobies. Additional note: We missed our dog.
2. Toilets: When we were in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, we became accustomed to the presence of public toilets. Yes, one had to pay a euro to use them, but they were there. In Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Montserrat, Besalu - no public toilets. My conclusion is that this just isn't happening in Spain. SO - one has two choices: go into a bar/restaurant and purchase something in order to use the W.C., or find McDonald's. No one ever batted an eyelash when we marched through Mickey D's to use the (always very clean) facilities. I don't know whether the lack of public potties is simply a cost-cutting measure on the part of the Spanish government, which has, admittedly, had a lot of hard times in the past decades and can't afford to construct and maintain public facilities, or if it just hasn't occurred to them. This old lady (and her hubs and companions) found it to be an inconvenience and sometimes a REAL inconvenience.
3. McDonald's: So interesting to me that McDonald's in Europe is far, far superior to McDonald's in the U.S. Wassup with that? And before anyone expresses shock that we actually patronized McDonald's while in the land of beautiful coffees and pastries, I'll note that on two occasions we broke down and purchased caffe Americano decaf, which, as far as I can tell, doesn't exist anywhere else in Spain. Side note: Starbucks is just as boring in Spain as it is in America - can't tell a bit of difference. Still don't like their coffee.
4. Windows: One of the true joys of European travel and staying in small hotels is the wonderful windows. Our room had a little balcony-ette (small ledge with iron railing) with French doors that opened to the street. We were on the fifth floor, so could have quite easily climbed the railing and jumped, if we had so desired. Curiously, no one seemed worried that we would do that. Consequently, we had access to the breezes, smells, sights and sounds of the neighborhood - and, with the exception of one fly, no bugs. This alone is a miracle to someone from Florida.
The most wonderful thing about the windows, however, is the mechanical shade. One of my pet peeves in travel is that, no matter how fancy the hotel, the heavy, light-blocking drapes NEVER meet in the middle. There's always a little sliver of a crack, and the sunlight comes pouring through in the morning, usually around 6:00 a.m. So annoying! Listen up, Holiday Inn Express (and Ritz-Carlton, for that matter): install some mechanical shades. With the touch of a button, the shade completely covers the window, blocks the light, and keeps the room DARK. Which is what one needs to be able to sleep, right?
5. Air travel: I never realized before what a difference a congenial (and quiet) flight crew can make on a lengthy flight across the water. Our flight to Barcelona was pretty miserable, with the crew making noise, talking, clattering, etc., all night long. Plus the head attendant was pretty crabby. The flight home was a delight. We had a newer plane with more comfortable seats, and one of the attendants actually joked with the passengers. This seems like something Delta could work on. Just sayin'.
6. Loved going, loved returning: Finally, I'm so grateful for OLLI at FSU. The staff (Debra and Terry) work so hard to make everything comfortable and interesting, and keep their smiles and pleasant demeanor through thick and thin. We learned so much on this trip (and others), and had an experience we'll treasure forever. And having good OLLI friends as traveling companions is just the icing on the cake. I will admit, however, that it's good to be home - did I mention that we missed our dog?
Thanks to all of you who have followed the Adventures of Mike and Nancy on this trip. I will blog again!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
June 16, 2015 - La Sagrada Familia, the Palau de la Musica Catalana, and our last day
Today has been memorable. We began our day at La Sagrada Familia, an artist's conception of which has graced this blog account since the beginning of our trip. Rick Steves characterizes Gaudi's masterpiece as a "melting wedding cake," and that description seems pretty apt. That is, if one is speaking of the exterior.
This structure is almost a fever dream of loops and sags, towers topped with what looks like ceramic fruit, hundreds of sculptures, friezes, symbolic plants and animals, and much, much more. Our very capable guide made it clear to us that many artists have worked on this still unfinished church, and their vision has become a part of it. It's uncertain as to how Gaudi would have felt about that!
The interior space is truly magnificent. Inside, the church is a marvel of symmetry. All the measurements, front to back, side to side, floor to ceiling, are in multiples of 7.5 meters, except those that are very small - and they are one-half of 7.5. The significance of this number wasn't made clear to us, but I found this little factoid fascinating.
Gaudi spent the last 43 years of his life obsessively working on La Sagrada Familia, living in the church, and walking back and forth to mass more than once a day. He was a devoutly observant Catholic, and he, like so many of his predecessors throughout the centuries, was quite comfortable with the idea that the building wouldn't be finished in his lifetime. He said, "My client [God] is in no hurry."
La Sagrada Familia is totally financed by donations, with no help from government or the organized Catholic Church. And, very touching to Mike and me, there is a small school attached to the main building which was designed and built by Gaudi for the children of the workmen. It is an architectural gem. We agree with Gaudi: who says a school must be built with straight walls, flat ceilings, and institutional paint? I think some of my favorite pictures from today will be of this little building.
After a most delightful lunch with some of our group in which we sat for one last time at an outdoor cafe, we headed for the spectacular Catalan Music Hall, the Palau de la Musica Catalana. Privately owned by the Orfeo Choir, this building, while not designed by Gaudi, is a true jewel of Modernista design. The acoustics are perfect! I only hope that my little camera will produce some good shots. At every turn there is a WOW moment. What a wonderful way to end our day!
(Our delightful guide.)
Now we are packing, for, alas, we must leave Barcelona tomorrow. We will have one last gathering of our group this evening to toast our unparalleled instructor, Dr. Arleen Pabon, and our guiding lights, Debra and Terry. They have planned and executed a perfect trip for us. Of course we haven't had as much time as we'd have liked, but does one ever? We are truly leaving this party at a point when we are having a good time.
So home to Tallahassee, to family, friends and beloved pets, to summer heat and doldrums. We will never forget this experience - Barcelona is truly a magic city!
This structure is almost a fever dream of loops and sags, towers topped with what looks like ceramic fruit, hundreds of sculptures, friezes, symbolic plants and animals, and much, much more. Our very capable guide made it clear to us that many artists have worked on this still unfinished church, and their vision has become a part of it. It's uncertain as to how Gaudi would have felt about that!
The interior space is truly magnificent. Inside, the church is a marvel of symmetry. All the measurements, front to back, side to side, floor to ceiling, are in multiples of 7.5 meters, except those that are very small - and they are one-half of 7.5. The significance of this number wasn't made clear to us, but I found this little factoid fascinating.
Gaudi spent the last 43 years of his life obsessively working on La Sagrada Familia, living in the church, and walking back and forth to mass more than once a day. He was a devoutly observant Catholic, and he, like so many of his predecessors throughout the centuries, was quite comfortable with the idea that the building wouldn't be finished in his lifetime. He said, "My client [God] is in no hurry."
La Sagrada Familia is totally financed by donations, with no help from government or the organized Catholic Church. And, very touching to Mike and me, there is a small school attached to the main building which was designed and built by Gaudi for the children of the workmen. It is an architectural gem. We agree with Gaudi: who says a school must be built with straight walls, flat ceilings, and institutional paint? I think some of my favorite pictures from today will be of this little building.
After a most delightful lunch with some of our group in which we sat for one last time at an outdoor cafe, we headed for the spectacular Catalan Music Hall, the Palau de la Musica Catalana. Privately owned by the Orfeo Choir, this building, while not designed by Gaudi, is a true jewel of Modernista design. The acoustics are perfect! I only hope that my little camera will produce some good shots. At every turn there is a WOW moment. What a wonderful way to end our day!
(Our delightful guide.)
Now we are packing, for, alas, we must leave Barcelona tomorrow. We will have one last gathering of our group this evening to toast our unparalleled instructor, Dr. Arleen Pabon, and our guiding lights, Debra and Terry. They have planned and executed a perfect trip for us. Of course we haven't had as much time as we'd have liked, but does one ever? We are truly leaving this party at a point when we are having a good time.
So home to Tallahassee, to family, friends and beloved pets, to summer heat and doldrums. We will never forget this experience - Barcelona is truly a magic city!
June 15, 2015 - Valencia!
[As I write this, it is early morning June 16. I began last evening, but was so tired I had to promise myself to finish today before breakfast!]
Today [June 15] our group boarded a bus for a long, but comfortable, ride to Valencia. We arrived at the building that houses the permanent site of the FSU Study Abroad Program in Spain. What a lovely historic site! The building enfolds a part of a Roman tower and wall from the 3rd or 4th century. The director of the FSU program, Dr. Ignacio Messana, gave us an overview of the program, the building, the students, and the program's mission. (Current students were in the midst of final exams and presentations, so, alas, we were unable to go downstairs to see the lower ruins.) We loved making this FSU connection, and were so proud to hear comments from shopkeepers in the immediate area who praised our young folks for their demeanor and enthusiasm. Dr. Messana noted that the FSU's international program, which maintains four permanent sites and many more locales, is generally ranked in the top five in the U.S. - go Noles!
After this "campus" visit, we set out to walk in the area. Arleen took us first to the Torres Serranos (Towers of the Mountains), which have stood as sentinels of the city for a thousand years, then into the placa of El Micatel, a bell tower attached to the Valencia cathedral.
After taking a brief lunch break, we crossed the busy street to gaze into a most impressive park - a dry riverbed that has been dedicated as public space by the city of Valencia, which winds through the city to the Mediterranean. Faced with the necessity to re-route the Turia River as a flood control measure, the city and its citizens created this most beautiful space. From the pedestrian bridge we could see soccer fields and long expanses of grass and trees. Dr. Messana had told us that this park compares to both Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London in size. And we had only just begun to experience its attractions!
Back on the bus, we proceeded to drive along the length of the park (former river) to an area called the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies). The buildings that occupy the riverbed are almost impossible to describe. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the buildings swoop and soar (seemingly) and overwhelm the visitor with their size and grace. My poor camera could hardly do this area justice! We have been so fortunate on this trip to learn about architecture in Spain that spans thousands of years - and the City of Arts and Sciences was the icing on the cake,
After a lengthy bus ride back to Barcelona, we stopped at our favorite tapas place, had a quick bite and are heading for bed. Tomorrow is our last day in this magical place, and we're going to make the most of it! We will finish our studies with a tour of the Sagrada Familia - and figure out one last special treat.
Today [June 15] our group boarded a bus for a long, but comfortable, ride to Valencia. We arrived at the building that houses the permanent site of the FSU Study Abroad Program in Spain. What a lovely historic site! The building enfolds a part of a Roman tower and wall from the 3rd or 4th century. The director of the FSU program, Dr. Ignacio Messana, gave us an overview of the program, the building, the students, and the program's mission. (Current students were in the midst of final exams and presentations, so, alas, we were unable to go downstairs to see the lower ruins.) We loved making this FSU connection, and were so proud to hear comments from shopkeepers in the immediate area who praised our young folks for their demeanor and enthusiasm. Dr. Messana noted that the FSU's international program, which maintains four permanent sites and many more locales, is generally ranked in the top five in the U.S. - go Noles!
After this "campus" visit, we set out to walk in the area. Arleen took us first to the Torres Serranos (Towers of the Mountains), which have stood as sentinels of the city for a thousand years, then into the placa of El Micatel, a bell tower attached to the Valencia cathedral.
After taking a brief lunch break, we crossed the busy street to gaze into a most impressive park - a dry riverbed that has been dedicated as public space by the city of Valencia, which winds through the city to the Mediterranean. Faced with the necessity to re-route the Turia River as a flood control measure, the city and its citizens created this most beautiful space. From the pedestrian bridge we could see soccer fields and long expanses of grass and trees. Dr. Messana had told us that this park compares to both Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London in size. And we had only just begun to experience its attractions!
Back on the bus, we proceeded to drive along the length of the park (former river) to an area called the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies). The buildings that occupy the riverbed are almost impossible to describe. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the buildings swoop and soar (seemingly) and overwhelm the visitor with their size and grace. My poor camera could hardly do this area justice! We have been so fortunate on this trip to learn about architecture in Spain that spans thousands of years - and the City of Arts and Sciences was the icing on the cake,
After a lengthy bus ride back to Barcelona, we stopped at our favorite tapas place, had a quick bite and are heading for bed. Tomorrow is our last day in this magical place, and we're going to make the most of it! We will finish our studies with a tour of the Sagrada Familia - and figure out one last special treat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
