Bill Reid Photography

No trip to Barcelona is complete without visiting the architectural legacy of the city’s most famous genius, Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926).

Gaudí’s work was influenced by his passions in life: architecture, nature, and religion. Gaudí considered every detail of his creations and integrated into his architecture such crafts as ceramics, stainded glass, wrought ironwork forging, and carpentry. He also introduced new techniques in the treatment of materials, such as trencadís which used waste ceramic pieces.

Hemingway said of his response to viewing a Brughel for the first time that it was like a sudden blow to the solar plexus. My response to Gaudi’s architecture was a similar experience,  simultaneously both visceral and staggering, a shock to the senses.

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

The cathedral that is Gaudi’s masterpiece in Barcelona. Started in 1920, set on fire in the Spanish civil war, and scheduled for completion within the next decade, almost a century after Gaudi’s premature accidental death in 1926 after being hit by a street tram. With nearly 3 million visitors each year, this is Spain’s biggest tourist attraction. Make sure you get your tickets at least a day in advance.

 LA SAGRADA FAMILIA REAR

 LA SAGRADA FAMILIA FRONT

 PARK GUELL

The park was built between 1900 and 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984 UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site. Güell and Gaudí conceived this park, situated within a natural park. They imagined an organized grouping of high-quality homes, decked out with all the latest technological advancements to ensure maximum comfort, finished off with an artistic touch of pure fantasy.

 FAIRY TALE DWELLING, PARK GUELL

 CASA BATLLO

Casa Batlló is the result of a total restoration in 1904 of an old conventional house built in 1877.  Gaudí used for it the typical constructive elements of the Modernisme (Catalan Art Nouveau) that include ceramics, stone, and forged iron.  Even though it was highly criticized by the city during construction due to its radical design that broke all the bylaws of the city, in 1906 the Barcelona City Council awarded it the recognition of being one of the three best buildings of the year.

EPISCOPAL PALACE, ASTORGA, PROVINCE OF LEON

The Episcopal Palace in Astorga is only one of three Gaudi buildings erected outside of his native Catalonia.

 Some odd shots from my recent London visit.

LONDON EYE

THE “CITY” AT NIGHT 

SHIT HOUSE TO PENTHOUSE

Frenetic construction activity near the Olympic Park as builders try to cope with housing demand.

SOUP KITCHEN FOR THE JEWISH POOR, BRUNE STREET,  SPITALSFIELD

 Not much left of the old East End, but a few relics such as this still remain.

THE TEN BELLS, COMMERCIAL STREET, SPITALSFIELD

Jack the Ripper’s favourite pub! Stalked several of his victims from these premises.

ROYAL  EXCHANGE

DIRTY DICK’S PUB, LIVERPOOL STREET

Right across from the Liverpool Street station. One of my favourites back in the day when it proudly really lived up to its name as the dirtiest pub in London. Now terribly up market and yuppified.  

HERTFORD UNION CANAL, BOW, EAST LONDON

 Remembrance Day, 2016.

POOL OF LONDON

The indomitable HMS BELFAST rides at anchor in the Pool of London with Tower Bridge in the background.  The Belfast has been a must see tourist attraction for several decades now.

HMS BELFAST

The Belfast’s mighty guns fired on the SCHARNHORST and provided naval bombardment to cover the landing of elements of the First Canadian Army on Juno Beach, Normandy. 5,000 Canadians died in the successful two month Normandy campaign.

 A recent visit to London allowed the opportunity to explore a few of London’s bridges.

MILLENIUM BRIDGE WITH ST. PAUL’S IN BACKGROUND

MILLENIUM BRIDGE

 MILLENIUM BRIDGE AT LOW TIDE WITH GLOBE THEATRE IN BACKGROUND

LONDON BRIDGE ALCOVE, VICTORIA PARK

Not all of the old London Bridge fell down! The last remaining remnants are two stone alcoves  located in Victoria Park, East London in 1860. Formerly the haunt of thieves and brigands during the bridge’s life, one came in very handy during a brief rain storm. Strangely enough, felt right at home.

HISTORICAL MARKER

ROMAN BRIDGE OVER THE THAMES, LONDON MUSEUM

The Romans were the first to bridge the Thames. Subsequent “LONDON” bridges have been raised at this very site. 

CANNON STREET BRIDGE AT LOW TIDE

Remarkable blend of the old and new with remnants of old wooden wharf structures in the foreground and the stunning architecture of the “Shard” in the background.