Barcelona - La Pedrera

So at last my trip to Barcelona came along. I had picked a Sunday flight mid-morning. More civilised than most. And I plumped for BA and so Terminal 5 from Heathrow rather than Stansted or the like. More importantly, this meant I arrived in the airport which is actually near Barcelona, rather one that is merely in the region and requiring a long journey for the city.

Anyway, Terminal 5 is actually quite nice. But I would still rather not spend a couple of hours there.

My hotel in Barcelona, or at least the first hotel, was the Granados 83.

I have stayed there before, so you see I do like it. Why? Well, its a decent location. But above all it is really quite stylish. I enjoy the designer feel, even if it veers into the impractical. For example, if my bum was square, then that would be the ideal geometric shape for a toilet seat. Unfortunately...

And the sink is a lovely simple sheet of marble which just slowly slopes to the taps. So of course when you "fill" the sink, all the water is furthest away from you, and if you have short arms...well yes not terribly practical. But looks ace.

Unlike the works of Antoni Gaudi. Which are stylish, but also just WORK. A great architect but also a great designer. Its all so clever.

So arriving in the hotel mid-afternoon it left me time to visit one of Gaudi's masterpieces nearby - La Pedrera. Only disappointment was to find it wrapped in scaffolding.

But that couldn't detract from enjoying the interior, both the courtyard area with its oozing organic shapes, and the rooms within. Although the rooms aren't square but rather the apartments look like a series of wonky honeycombs, the rooms all look very practical as well as being attractive. It all is aesthetically pleasing as well as superbly thought through. And everything is designed to fit in, from the staircase to the doorknobs. It all flows beautifully.

Its a building one explores from the top down, as it is the roof, and in particular the vents and chimneys, that are its crowning glory. The undulating roof terrace with its weird sculptural, but practical forms is justly much photographed. So here are some more to add to the catalogue.

 And the terrace's position gives great views across Barcelona, of old and new city

Underneath is the attic showing Gaudi's trademark parabolic arches. He was a genuine innovator.

 And a nice model showing what the facade would like if it didn't have a wrapper on it.

The "show apartment" is a beautiful example of art nouveau decor. Only really the kitchen that I think would put off a modern tenant. Otherwise, a highly desirable flat, both now and a century ago.

 

 Quite a phone set

 Ok, I wouldn't swap my mp3 player for the music centre - elegant though it is.

Next door is the department store Vincon - another art nouveau concoction

The area here, and in which my hotel is is situated, is call L'Eixample and was the posh new area of turn of the century Barcelona. So a stroll around allows one to gawp at the big apartments and department stores,

 until one reaches Placa de Catalunya, a sort of greener version of Trafalgar Square.

Bit hungry now so dinner on the terrace of a restaurant overlooking the Ramblas

Then back walking down the Ramblas to the Waterfront.

 The lions on the Columbus statue aren't as nice as those round Nelson's Column

The waterside has a had a lot of money spent on it to become swish and a leisure destination of choice. Largely well-spent I would say.

 A truly massive marina.

 

A nice place to wander around as the sun goes down....