BENVINGUTS (Catalan: Welcome)

We headed to some more of Gaudi's creations last weekend.

 La Casa Mila (La Pedrera),  La Casa Batllo(known locally as the 'house of bones' cause of it's skeletal qualities)

La Sagrada Familia

Headed into the city with Mari and her daughter Tamar, Mari-Rosa and her sister Mari-Carmen and her little boy Carlos. La Sagrada Familia has been being worked on since the late 1800's and it is said will never be finished.  In the congregation they joke that when it is finally completed it will be just in time for Armageddon and it will all be for not.  It is by far one of the craziest looking buildings I have ever seen.  Its front facade has a gothic but almost surrealistic quality to it.  Looks as though acid has been poured ontop of the back area of Notre Dame de Paris.  On top of the spires are bunches of fruits in color which look so strange next to the dark and dreary stone of the main building.  Then the back area which is it is dated as being completed in 1982 but was started in 1882 is done in a more modernistic almost asian style.
Two of the most popular residential buildings that Gaudi completed that are both located on the "Rodeo Drive of Barcelona" Super posh.  These two buildings have a similar smooth quality that somehow feels like the waves of the ocean.  Beautiful and simple although very non-traditional.

Heard many speaking Catalan in the ministry this morning.  The area we were working was primarily Catalan and right now with the special offer of the Atalaya/Watchtower on Jesus they have it in Catalan as well and so it was exciting to try to converse with those who use Catalan mostly, although they all also know Castillano as well.

Here is an example of an excert from a brochure on the La Casa Batllo in Catalan.  If you know Spanish or French or Portuguese you'll see how simple it is to understand when you read it.  Hearing it...well that's another matter.

"Benvinguts a un mon magic La Casa Battlo, obra mestra de Gaudi, us convida a coneixer el que, mes que un edifici, es un mite de l'art.  Darrere l'espectacular facana modernista s'amaga tot un mon de sorpreses artistiques i arquitectoniques. La Casa Battlo, punt de referencia obligat del Modernisme, us proposa un viatgea l'interior de la joia arquitectonica de Gaudi. Viureu tot l'esplendor i la creativitat d'aquesta obra des d'una perspectivea magica i cautivadora, i hi fareu uns descobriments fantastics que us sorprendran i us fascinaran."

La Palau de La Musica Catalana

On our way to see this beautiful building we found ourselves amongst a heard of people wearing yellow shirts, of course we assumed they were most likely a part of an embarassing tour group but as we turned the corner we realized that there was an entire barrio full of these yellow shirts gathering for a march of protest.  We quickly turned the other way and went along a different route.  Several weeks ago there was a pretty bad protest in Madrid and Barcelona and you can still see the after effects on the shopwindows that were splintered and shattered.   One thing I've learned about Europe is that there is always a demonstration or protest of some kind but they do it with such style.

 Thinking we had avoided our share of possible difficult situations we entered the Metro to head home later that day.  Well, today Madrid played Barcelona...ahem... Futbol.  I thought our friends in England took it seriously but no no no... the game was here in Barcelona and the entire Metro was full of Red and Blue.  "MESSI! MESSI!" And they sang and they sang in Metro and it was packed in worse than I have ever seen on any metro system before.   It was amazing!  I will never ever forget that experience, poor little Carlito we were so afraid we would lose him but that is one city-wise kid he probably would have been just fine on his own anyways.  Barcelona lost sadly (So sorry Nathan) but that didn't stop the masses from singing at the top of their lungs in the street on their way home from the local cafes and pubs.

Parque Horta

Went to the Parque Horta with Mari and her husband Angel and Mari-Rosa today.  It has a very similar style to the gardens of Marie Antoinette.  It is the oldest park her in Barcelona and was originally a private residence.  I felt like I was in a Jane Austen Novel wandering through the beautiful little knooks and giant trees.  There is a large Labryinth in the middle of the park to test just how claustrophobic you really are.  ;)

We are having  a big dinner here at the Piso for all those who've taken me around the city.  Amparo and Mari and I have been busy preparing all the foods that we'll need to make.  I've been wandering around getting ingredients just about everywhere...Nope no Walmarts here.  I can hardly believe how much easier it is for me to communicate now.  It's like Jehovah opened the floodgates of my brain and everything is just rushing in all at once. Trying to find vanilla extract is one of those little things you take for granted however.  Baking here is left to the Panderias most don't make their own baked goods so trying to find any baking supplies is a little rough.  But finally found what we needed.   We made icecream... We made Apple Empanadas.. my Buela's Kolachi...  Pecan tarts (Gotta make these for you all when I get home!!!)... ... Verajena Rellena (stuffed egg plant)... Ensalada de Potatoes, Peas, Shrimp, Crab, Olives, Homemade Mayonaise,  Butter (shaped into little mounds and decorated w/ pimentos rojos, Arroz con Frutas y Pinenuts, Nuez, Raisins, and Crab... Empanada Con Carne, etc. etc.  It looks like a feast for Kings.

 Ana (a sister from our congregation here) and I headed to a little art gallery in Barcelona yesterday.  An Italian sister works there and so we were able to get a sort of backstage pass to the exhibits of an artist from Madrid.  I love hearing the different accents speaking Spanish here.  It's when you know you are really learning when you are able to start differentiating the accents.  There are many that have moved here from Russia and Romania.

 After the art gallery we wandered through the barrios and came across a small group playing the guitar and singing while some older couples danced.  It didn't last long but was a little spec of alegria.  Ana showed me a little chocolate shop with the European hot chocolate that we can't get in the states.  oyoyoyoy!  Delicious!  We stumbled across another art gallery which was hosting an open house of a painter from here in Barcelona and also an Italian painter.  The works were beautiful and slightly whimsical.  The barrio has a lot of normal modern shops like H&M, Mango, and Zara...but it is also known as being sort of the artist/hippy district very similar to the one area of Dublin where there are a lot of vegetarian cafes and adorable little shops that all look like little versions of Anthropologie.


Our Fiesta went splendidly.  Everyone left late with bellies full and smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes due to laughing so hard for so long.  I'm truly going to miss all here they've become my home away from home and I am so grateful to Jehovah for the opportunity to know so many wonderful brothers and sisters over the years from so many different places.  Jehovah's organization is an amazing privilege to be a part of.  One of my favorite things here is that every Friday or Saturday night Mari, Tamar, and Angel come over to study along with Amparo and I the watchtower.  What a time we have and I'm really going to miss it when I leave.

On Saturday we headed back to Montjuic as the La Fuente (The fountains) are up and running.  They are the only ones this large in the world set to music and lights.  All kinds of music, classical, arabic, pop, oldies, etc.  They are gorgeous and so calming!  There was also some sort of fireworks display having something to do with the holiday this past week of Sant Jordi of Catalunya as it had something to do  with a dragon but we're not sure.

Headed to Sitges (Barelonean's favorite Beach as it is very quaint and not as full of the tourists since takes a while longer to get to.  The weather has been a bit warmer the past two weeks and Sunday it was a perfect day to walk along the boardwalk.  Didn't brave the frigid water though.  :)

This is most likely my last posting while here in Espana. I can't believe that I have less than 4 days here.  Time has gone by so quickly and yet at the same time was relaxed.  What an amazing experience.  Can't wait to see you all from home though, I'm missing our congregation terrible!  My hands are aching from a lack of signing! :)  And I need some real big bear hugs desperately!  Can't wait to see you all at the convention :)