Barcelona

I'm rushing to get up to date with my field reports, but I'm still three weeks behind. I arrived in Barcelona, Spain on 20 October after a 12-hour train ride from Granada. It was a pleasant ride and the scenery, especially in southern Spain was pretty. I even saw windmills of the Don Quixote style on the hilltops. I arrived in Barcelona at 9 pm, had a much easier time finding the Metro and headed north. I emerged about 30 minutes later, walked past the breakdancing youth, walked past them again because I had gone the wrong way, eventually walked past the sculpture of giant matches and to the Mennonite guesthouse where I would stay for the next three nights. It used to be a Mennonite nursing home, but now it houses students and international visitors such as myself. I wasn't in Barcelona for the weekend, so I wasn't able to attend a worship service, but I did meet Juan Luis, the pastor. He lives just across the street. Even with my rusty Spanish we were able to converse.

The first language of Barcelona, though is Catalan. Since the death of Franco, it is coming into more common use. Most of the signs I saw were in Spanish, Catalan and English. I enjoyed Barcelona. It is a beautiful and very "cosmopolitan" city. I especially enjoyed discovering the architecture and design of Antoni Gaudi. I won't waste and space with a biography. Use Google for that. I'll just say that I spent a lot of time, and a surprising amount of Euros, in buildings of
his design: the Sagrada Famila, La Pedreta, Casa Batllo, and Parc Guell.

The Sagrada Familia is a cathedral that has been under construction for over 100 years and is still not completed. I had to pay to get in and then pay another fee and stand in line for an hour to take the lift up the bell tower, but it was worth it. I took many photos which you can see below. Gratis. I spent a couple hours there, then I walkedt o La Pedreda, a building renovated by Gaudi. Again I spent a couple hours there. Then I hustled over to Casa Batllo. When I saw the
admission price there, I was hesitant, especially as it would close in little more than an hour. But...when will I be in Barcelona again? I don't have any photos of these places uploaded yet. I'll let you know when I do. I enjoy the fanciful and fun architecture: the geometric forms and catenary arches. They create spaces that are fun to live in. I'd love to live in the attic of La Pedreda. Or any of these buildings. They are the kind of spaces that inspire creativity.

The next day I visited a park designed by Gaui: Parc Guell. Again, very cool. Then I hit las Ramblas, the main drag, as it were, and the old city. By 5 PM, I was tired so headed back to the guesthouse for my last night in Spain.

The next morning I awoke early, took the Metro to the train station and boarded a train to Montpelier, France. The Mediterranean was visible for part of the trip. And at some point along the way we crossed over into France. I bought a croissant in Montpelier and rushed to the next train, which would take me to Geneve. At one point, about a dozen immigration cops came through the train car to look at the papers of anyone who looked African. They didn't ask for mine, or speak to the Asian man sitting across from me. They were in plainclothes with only armbands and pistols on their hips to identify themselves as police. But some of them looked for all the world like the stereotypical undercover cop, with leather jackets, long sideburns, ridiculous-looking gold chains and earrings, chewing gum. They were trying so hard to NOT look like the Fuzz that it was impossible to look at them and not think "cop."

I arrived in Geneve and spent another night with Martin and Cindy. This time we enjoyed some delicious raclette. Raclette is melted cheese served with potatos, mushrooms, onions, or whatever you prefer. You put the cheese, onions and mushrooms in a little pan and then put it under a heaing element to melt. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette) The next morning Martin drove me around to some old churches in the area and then put me on the train to Lausanne. I didn't spend much time in Lausanne because I was really on my way to visit a castle they had recommended.

A real castle! When I was a boy I had a severe infatuation with knights, castles, swords, etc. I read and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. I took fencing lessons. I put a hole in my bedroom wall swinging a wooden "sword." (It was actually The Paddle, but I don't think it was applied in this case as it had already done enough damage.) So, I was excited to visit Chateau Chillon. It is a very well preserved castle and I spent about three hours wandering around. No, I didn't pretend I was defending it from a horde of orcs. I am a LITTLE more grown up now. I did, however, take a ton of photos. Which I have yet to upload. It's not easy uploading a hundred photos five photos at a time. From Chateau Chillon, I headed back to Bienenberg for one night before taking off the next day for a weekend in the Jura visiting the Sonnenberg Mennonite Church. (Not the one in Ohio). More on that later. Tonight I head to Germany for four days, so we'll see what I can get done before then. Today I plan to visit some Roman ruins and the history museum, although it is still very foggy....

I trust you are all doing well. I have two weeks left in Europe. So some of you I will see soon.

Photos of the Sagrada Familia:
More Photos of the Sagrada Familia + some others:
Sagrada Familia Wkipedia