It started off wet - so wet that even the living statues were just sitting around waiting for the sun. They had a long wait as it rained most of the day until just before we returned home exhausted.
We decided that today was the day for Sagrada Familia and the Park Guell will just have to wait till the sun comes out. There are so many photos of this amazing church available elsewhere that I will just show you some of my close up ones as you just cannot do it justice with snaps at ground level.
One thing that you do not realise is that it is completely still a building site inside and out. At first you might be disappointed and then you realise it is even more interesting as you are seeing history being made. I suspect it wont be finished in my life time so to see it now is even more satisfying.
These enormous lettered panels form the doors
The stained glass is intense and rich. There is a great display of how it is made and the processes taken to get to the finished stage. I loved seeing how the windows started out as watercolour paintings and then are translated into glass.
The columns are represented as trees and the 50 or so of them are meant to depict a forest as the branch out at the knots and reach the ceiling.
I loved the museum and the crypt (where Gaudi is buried) and especially the workshop area where they are recreating and repairing the plaster models which are critical to the completion of the church. Many were destroyed in a fire during the Spanish Civil War. Nowadays computer design is used with old and modern materials but in Gaudi's time it was all drawn and modelled by hand. That really makes it even more unbelievable.
There is also a great exhibition called Gaudi and Nature and how he was influenced by it. This, for example is how his curved roofs are created.
As I said at the top - it was a good day until.....Peter had his camera stolen.
He was sitting on a bench in a park with no one around him and he took the battery out and put the camera on his leg while he got the other battery out and out of nowhere came a push bike and a hand swooped the camera off his leg before he could even register what had happened. He is upset as it has all his photos of the trip. I had downloaded some to my computer a few weeks ago but most of them are now gone. I know it is only a camera and photos are just images and no one was hurt but it doesn't stop us being upset.
8 comments:
Wow, what an open brazen despicable act! I have been pickpocketed in a foreign land & it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
That's awful Lisa, because you feel violated. Such a shame.
Oh no! Not Peter's new camera! I know someone warned u on Facebook about pick pockets. But this is just so bold! Little blessings. At least it wasn't your travel docs or cash.
That is terrible. The worst is losing the images. Can he claim the camera on his travel insurance. If so go to a police station quickly - it is supposed to be reported within twenty four hours! Maybe even change the date it was stolen - and I did not say that.
Oh Lisa, how shockingly unexpected! You naturally protect yourself against pickpockets and bag snatchers in the street, but this situation sounds so safe. Peter must feel really shaken up. Do as Jenny says and report it though, so at least you can buy a new camera for Peter to take all those photos of beautiful Orvieto, and claim the money back on your travel insurance.
Devastating! All of those pics gone.. but one husband still intact! Sorry Peter... hope you can get the exact model as a replacement.
What beautiful photos you were able to post. Sorry about the camera. We had the same thing happen years ago in Italy-all the trip photos of Germany were gone. I've really enjoyed your travel posts!
I guess that you'll just have to retrace your steps so Peter can take all those photos again!
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