Barcelona, Mi Amor

Barcelona, Spain. A city of culture, a city of art and a city of exquisite architecture. Located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona is home to the Nou Camp, Las Ramblas, Parc Guell and Antoni Gaudi’s most ambitious work - the Sagrada Familia.

It’s somewhere I had always wanted to go. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like, I had only ever visited a holiday resort in Spain - it’s hard to visualise anything different. When you hear of Spain, the connotations which frequent the minds of most are sun loungers, sports bars and boozed up Brits. It was March, and I thought I’d get a tan - how silly of me. It was perhaps the wettest March the Catalan city had ever seen and I spent the vast majority of the trip in my coat and scarf, pondering through the intermittent deluges and leapfrogging over consecutive puddles. 

I didn’t really know much about Barcelona, but I knew that my camera would be getting some serious use over the week. As soon as I stepped off the plane and got onto the coach into the city, I knew I was going to love it. Glimpses of the incomparable architecture and buildings designed by Gaudi excited me - I love nothing more than trying to take an artistic photograph of a building. I knew a little bit about Antoni Gaudi, I knew that he was the figurehead of Catalan modernism and he had a very distinctive style. I knew that the majority of his work is located in Barcelona and of course, his magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia would certainly be a sight to see. I was excited, I wanted to take photographs, endless amount s of photographs, and I wanted to see the Sagrada in all it’s glory.

There are countless things to do in Barcelona. Strolling around the city on foot and taking in the sights are enough to fill several days, the possibilities are endless. One place in the city that I will never forget is the Mercat de la Boqueria. The vibrant spectrum of hues put into place on every fruit imaginable, the scent of fresh pastries baking and the sound of scurrying footsteps on the ground, these sensory feelings are what makes a market - and I’d never seen a market like it. I’ve been to countless markets before in a variety of countries, but the Mercat de la Boqueria is like nothing that I have ever seen before. With an array of speciality foods on offer and countless stalls to browse, the market appeared to me, more akin to a work of art. I will never forget the colours of the fruits and candies, I was in my element, snapping umpteen shots of the items on sale, I felt that it would be a shame to remove an item from the glorious display of mouth-watering delicacies on offer.

No matter where you are in the city, you simply cannot avoid the unmistakable work of Gaudi. Even if you know nothing about architecture, or have no interest, you will admire it. You will admire the buildings as they are pieces of art; Gaudi is not modest, and I was not modest about the fact that I was in architectural heaven. I also adore scenic views - they are often the perfect opportunity for taking photographs. The highest point in Barcelona is at Parc Guell, situated atop the hill of El Carmel, and if you haven’t guessed already, the park was designed by our ingenious friend, Mr Gaudi. I have ounces of respect for Antoni Gaudi as I simply cannot comprehend how it is possible to be so imaginative - it takes a beautiful mind to conceptualise such works of art; it is the substance of dreams. Parc Guell in itself is akin to a dream; a fantasy, a mythical wonderland. The ground paved with kaleidoscopic mosaic and towering pastel columns were only the beginning. A prominent feature of the park is Gaudi’s multicoloured mosaic salamander, also known as “el drac.” This prismatic statue is the perfect first impression of Parc Guell, and by seeing “el drac,” it is instantaneously obvious what the feel of the park is, and what other treasures that the wonderland might hold. I felt like Alice in Wonderland - the way that I imagine she felt when she first set eyes on the magical world; my camera seemed to love Parc Guell too - or maybe it was the person behind the camera? The most fascinating photo opportunity for me, is at the highest point, overlooking the city, the view is astonishing - Barcelona in it’s entirety in one blink of an eye.

The penultimate sight - the Sagrada Familia, was finally upon us. Antoni Gaudi’s superlative creation, the crème de la crème. The construction of the basilica commenced in 1882, and has an anticipated completion date of 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death. As I walked up to the gothic facade of the Sagrada, I was mesmerised. The detailing is so unique, so intricate and so enthralling, so much so that it is almost magical. Atop the spiralling towers of the Sagrada Familia, once again the city is in eyeshot, and I am on top of the world. My camera clicking and the wind in my hair, the view o f the Catalan capital is beautiful, and one that is certainly unforgettable. Aside from the fact that the Sagrada is still home to a rather disheartening construction site, the fascination is not lulled. The idea that I and my camera have seen the cathedral in progress is a monumental occasion - it would be simply enchanting to visit again to see how the work has progressed. There is no doubt in my mind that if Gaudi were here today, he would not be disappointed, even though the building has taken over a century to complete, it still showcases his individual talents and is the work of an incredibly beautiful mind.