After a challenging and
demanding 8 months of hard work, my second year of studying architecture had finally
come to an end. Although stressful at times it was a fantastic year, and I am
proud to have survived it! I am excited (but also nervous) and intrigued to see
what third year has install for me… But not without a well deserved break
first!
I visited Spain for two
weeks with some of my school friends, first staying in Barcelona, then
travelling south to Benicassim Festival for a week, then returning to Barcelona
for a final few days.
Barcelona – take 1
Our first morning in
Barcelona was spent sat outside a café sipping ice tea, enjoying the warm
temperatures whist being perfectly shaded by Sagrada Família. Views of the
cathedral were still obstructed by scaffolding and cranes, as it had been when
I visited many years ago, so I was struggling to see how the construction of
Sagrada Família had progressed since then. However, how much the construction
had come along became apparent much later.
From Sagrada Família we
headed to the north of the city to visit Park Güell. Antonio Gaudi’s designs
were often characterised by organic and nature inspired sculptural forms, Park
Güell appearing to have a reptilian theme. The long curved mosaic tiled bench
personified a sea serpent, which surrounded a large open space, which also
provided viewpoints over Barcelona down to the coast. However I preferred the
more sheltered enclosed spaces adjacent to this. As the paths winded up from
street level we were lead to cavernous areas formed from leaning columns and
made from stone, producing a scaly effect. The beauty of the mosaic tiles
reflecting the sun and the flowing sculptural forms which create social spaces
provide the perfect escape from the busy city.
Returning to the city we
continued our Gaudi themed sight seeing, and visited Casa Batlló. Again easily
recognisable as one of Antonio Gaudi’s works, the structure had more of a
skeletal form but still featured a scaly ‘fish’ like tiled roof.
During a stay in Barcelona
we also spent time by the coast, browsing the market stalls and of course a bit
of sunbathing. But one thing you can’t miss on the sea front is the giant fish
sculpture, designed by Frank Gehry for the 1992 Olympics.
Benicassim
Finally it was time to
head south for Benicassim Festival! After what seemed like the longest coach
journey of our life we arrived in Oropesa, a town just outside of Benicassim.
The festival was four days long and I was lucky to enjoy some amazing bands
with my friends, in an incredible atmosphere. The performances covered so many
genres I was able to enjoy the likes of Bob Dylan, Bombay Bicycle Club, The
Maccabees, The Vaccines and David Guetta. However my favourites were The Stone
Roses, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds especially.
Singing along to ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ is definitely one of my favourite
and most memorable moments of the holiday.
It was neither practical
nor safe to take my SLR camera to the festival, but I had my trusty disposable
cameras! I always embrace the chance to use disposable cameras, especially at
festivals just for their vintage quality and imperfections. With the festival
taking place during the night, to avoid the high daytime temperatures, the
pictures did not come out as well as if they had been taken in the daylight,
but the cameras fulfilled their purpose all the same!
Barcelona – Take 2
After a long week of
festival madness we returned to Barcelona for one night in an attempt to
recover before flying back to England. On our last day we revisited Sagrada Família,
to properly experience the building.
On entering the Cathedral
I was both amazed and speechless. Previously when I had visited many years ago,
all I can recall is being rushed through a dark and dusty obstacle course of
scaffolding. But this was quite a transformation. The vault heights alone were overwhelming,
and the amount of light that entered the space was quite uplifting. With a
rainbow of colours projecting from the stained glass windows all around the
cathedral, it was quite a magical ambiance.
To say I was impressed would be an understatement. I look forward to returning in 2028 to see the finished outcome!
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