The Awesome Sagrada Familia

Well, after Zaragoza, let's move on to Barcelona. When I hear the word Spain, the first next word I would think of is Barcelona. I guess most of you will have the same answer too... except a few whose first next word would be "hot-girls". To be honest, I didn't really know about Madrid until I came here. I thought Madrid was just a football team's name.. Real Madrid. Don't blame me. At least I'm better than some Malaysians who didn't know Sarawak was in Malaysia.

And in Barcelona, for a foreigner, the most important spot to visit would be the Sagrada Familia. Even more important for foreigners who are architects or civil engineers. And of course I wouldn't miss that. But I haven't manage to get into the building yet. Just outside... I'll try to go in the next time. The queue was just too long and we didn't exactly have the time for that. It will take one whole day just to tour the Sagrada Familia.

The long queue outside the building.. I think there's a limit of how much time you can be in the building considering the really long queue.

I suppose it's worth standing under the sun waiting for our turn.

The Sagrada Familia is famous for its complication. Well, it's not a rumour. It is a fact that it's really complicated. It's such a gigantic building yet the fine details are all there. It's true that this structure is a 3D piece of art. Even my art is not that detailed. Gaudi is just amazing. He could design a building so artistic yet he was able to know that the structure will not collapse. I think I would shit in my pants every day if I work with him. And of course, the construction workers are extremely good too, to be able to make the plans into reality.

The Sagrada Familia, as known is divided into two main facades, The Nativity Facade and the Passion Facade. For this post, I'll just talk about the Nativity Facade. Can you imagine, I've taken so many pictures yet all the pictures are of different details. And the structure is still not complete yet. There's still another facade, the Glory facade which is under construction.

The Nativity Facade.. Still standing tall

How?? How did he do it? Without technology.. I guess technology is nothing. It's just the matter if we want to do it or not. Technology is just a lazy way

Can you see? Fine details even at the peak of the building.

So complicated... Even complicated when everything is made of concrete. There's a story behind all the designs

Zoom in. The statues are still not that difficult but the bushy mushy walls.. How did he even sketch it out in the first place

This building is also a good place for photographers to get inspiration. I wasn't interested in photography at all but when I visit this spot, suddenly I just got inspired. And so I started playing with my camera. If only I had a DSLR camera. It would be more fun. And of course it would be much nicer if edited. But I don't like make ups so it's always good to let it be..
Here are a few.. At the same time look at the story told by the structure.

I like this one best..

And opposite the Sagrada Familia, there is a beautiful garden to supplement the structure.

Synchronized duck swimming.. Do you think they are trained to do that too?

From the garden, you can capture the view of the whole building. Otherwise it's impossible because the building is just to big to fit into the camera.

I'll stop here. There's the other side of the building still. Till then.

Aljaferia Palace and More

I'm so not done with Zaragoza yet... so here you go. More stuff about the unique place...

This is Abu Jaffar Al-Muqtadir, the king during the Banu Hud dynasty. Once upon a time, as far as I can recall, I think I had a castle in Zaragoza, built during the late 11th century. Well, it was during the Muslim empire and I was really rich, so I got myself a summer castle. One castle is not enough. One for my wife, my mistresses... damn it.. how many do I have again?? I don't remember.

Well, this is my beloved castle. So so beautiful.. And I'm pleased with the peoples' work of maintenance. It still looked so new.. Wow!! I'm amazed.. Before maintenance, I was told it was a total wreck. Lots of Islamic

Of course, like the typical castle, I have a wide land area of garden surrounding my beautiful castle.

Let us go in..
And here you have...the interior of my castle...

Isn't it lovely? With all the beautiful complicated carvings. I am complicated as people say..

And here.. looking from another view... Wait!! who's that guy over there?? And what's he doing? Oh... now I remember. He's Jordan, my really good friend... But how come he's still so young?? Impossible!!

And here you have... more sophisticated designs...I like sophisticated designs because I'll feel relaxed when I get back from work.. Oh wait... Which one makes us feel relaxed?? Complicated or simple... Now I feel complicated..

And there's more designs... don't be shocked when you see it..

Well, I have great imagination and I added in lots of Muslim architecture. Lots of symbols to represent all kinds of stuff.

Even the ceiling in my castle looks complicated, I just realised.. Really... did I really ask that much?? Well, my architects and construction men sure are geniuses because they manage to make it into reality.

Let's move on..
Huh... who drew on my wall?? Monster house?? Really??

This castle was not only occupied by and my people. It was occupied by the Christian Kings after they reconquered. Don't wanna talk much about that because it was my downfall.

Well, that's basically what I could recall about the castle. So many security guards nowadays and tight opening hours. I didn't know I hired that many. I told them I owned the castle but they laughed. What's so funny about that?? Nevermind..

For more info, visit here.

Well, near my castle, there is a park, called Parque Grande. Beautiful park indeed.

And lovely couples go to beautiful parks... Isn't that nice? East meets West and they're loving each other.. That's how the world unites!!

Oh yea.. did I mention my car as well?? Limousines are everywhere... Normal limousines, Hummer limousines...
I want to be different so I got myself a limousine lorry.. Not bad ehh...

Goya the Artist

After the tour around The Pilar Basilica, we headed to an exhibition hall which exhibits the works of the world renowned Spanish painter, Francisco José de Goya y Luciente. A long name that is. 21 characters longer than my name..wow

Personally, I don't know him until I came to Zaragoza because I'm not a fan of arts but for those of you who takes art courses then probably you would have read about Goya. Well, he was way before the Picasso generation which is why I don't know him. But I don't really know Picasso as well. I have 0 knowledge about art history. However, in Zaragoza, I've learnt a thing or two about the great Goya. And I even know a few facts which is not available in Wikipedia. First, he's a really expensive portrait painter... money face I should say. According to the tour guide, he was reluctant to paint portraits of ordinary people unless he was being offered something he wants. He preferred engraving more than painting. Painting for him was to earn money and he surely had earned tons as he owned the second most luxurious carriage. The most luxurious carriage belonged to the king. That's how rich he was. And I was told that the Queen was a really ugly person and he was the one who managed to make the queen look beautiful in his painting..He was sort of the first person to invent the concept of Photoshop. HAHA...

Also, I have learnt that for portrait painting during that era, the painter would charge the most to paint a person's hand.

Again, cameras are not allowed in the exhibition hall but with Operation Paparazzi Jordan, it is made possible. It was too hard to take pictures of the portraits but I have managed to take lots of the prints of his engravings. They have the signs in other departments except this room so I suppose it's okay to take pictures. These are just prints of his engravings anyways. The templates are probably kept somewhere much safer from visitors like me. Drawing a picture out of imagination and complete with the shadings are difficult but to engrave the pictures, that's pure talent

So, Goya's engravings are divided into three main themes: People, War, Bullfights. Remember it's not drawing.. it's ENGRAVING

The Exhibtion Room for prints of Goya's Engravings only.. and it is a dark room as you can see.. no lights except the display lights

 Every picture has got its story but I only know some of the meanings behind it

CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE

This one I'm not so sure what it is about

This one is about men. The bird like creatures are men. There's a picture before saying men are free like a bird. But in this picture, it says that women are evil. They attract men, use them and when they are no use, they shoo the men away...hmmm... What do you think??

This one is about vanity. The women looking into the mirror is really old and ugly but the people around her keeps on telling her that she's beautiful, so she believes and kept on thinking of herself as beautiful. This one I agree..

This one I'm not too sure too. My brain is too simple for this. All I see is a woman and a man naked.

This one is about stupidity. Donkey represents stupidity.. and this one shows a stupid person teaching his son. So in the end the son will be as stupid as his father.

 
WAR
Goya, as I was told, was the first person who depicts war as a disaster full with gory and grief instead of victory and celebration of winning as assumed by people in the past.

Regular people being killed

Torture

An even more serious torture...oooouch.. this is real torture

People being treated badly.. as prisoners and slaves during war period

A helpless mother trying to save her daughter from the soldier..

Women braving up to fight in order to protect their family

BULL FIGHT
And of course, it's the tradition of Spain which Goya didn't miss out

This one is cool. It's not just about the bullfight, but look at the distribution of audience. They're all at one side, afraid of too much sun

This one probably is about the dangers during bullfight. Injuries and accidents can occur

Well, after the exhibition, I have learnt a thing or two. Now I know who Goya is and I know how to put more expressions when saying ooooo... or Wowww... after looking at all the paintings. I even know how to fake them.. =D

And here you have two statues created to depict and to appreciate Goya's artwork. Thank you Goya for all the pictures...