walking_on_sunshine: marec 2011

After long and cold winter in Slovenia and after examination period at faculty

I was really looking forward to see some sun and happy faces!

What shall we do...?

...vamos a España! :)

Barcelona - Such a beautiful horizon
Barcelona - Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti seré gaviota de tu bella mar
Barcelona - Suenan las campanas
Barcelona - Abre tus puertas al mundo
If God is willing...
Friends until the end
Viva - Barcelona

~Queen: Barcelona

BARCELONA

The capital of Catalonia and second biggest city in Spain with amazing architecture and... ...our hostel - 5 minutes walk from the beach :)

FC Barcelona is the biggest privately owned stadium in the world:

(seating 100 000 people).

-Barca FC-

And after FC Barca, what is the first thing you think off when you hear ´Barcelona´?

Sagrada Familia maybe?

There is really hard to find words to describe this breathtaking masterpiece

design by Gaudi.

Gaudi: catalan architect, whose distinctive style is characterized by freedom of form, colour and texture, and organic unity. Gaudí worked almost entirely in or near Barcelona. Much of his career was occupied with the construction of the Expiatory Temple of Sagrada Família, which was unfinished at his death in 1926.

Sagrada Família, is a large roman rhatolic church. Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO world heritage site and in November 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.

-in a few years it should be look like this-

Gaudi's original design calls for a total of eighteen spires, representing in ascending order of height the twelve apostles, the four evangelists, the virgin Mary and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ. For now eight spires have been build. It should be finnished till 2026 - the centennial of Gaudí's death.

The Church will have three grand facades: the Nativity facade to the East, the Passion facade to the West, and the Glory facade to the South. All three are ful of symbolism.

-I think all the tourists have pfoto like this :)-

But Sagrada Familia it is not the only wonder Gaudi designed.

-Casa Batllo by Gaudi-

-one of first pieces of Gaudi´s work-

-Casa Mila (La Pedrera) by Gaudi-

Antonio Gaudí’s Casa Milà is also known as “La Pedrera”. It is considered to be Gaudi’s greatest contribution to Barcelona’s civic architecture and was built between 1906 and 1910 as a home for the bourgeois Milà family.

La Pedrera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Its unmistakable undulating stone façade has led many to consider it as a sculpture rather than a building.

And there are other amazing buildings in Barcelona...

-Agbar Tower-

-Animal-influenced structure: the Barcelona Fish on the Barcelona beach boardwalk, designed by Frank O. Gerhy-

-Hotel Arts Barcelona is one of the most popular 5 Star Luxury Hotels in the city-

-Barcelona behind us, in front Montjuic-

-The Montjuïc is a hill located near the center of Barcelona. It features a large number of attractions including the Spanish Village and the Montjuïc Castle-

-Barcelona Market-

Passeig de Gràcia is the most important street in the city.

It is often compared with New York’s 5th Avenue or London's Bond Street.

-ornamental fountain in Park Ciutadella-

-Triumphal Arch was designed as a invitation point to 1888 World Exhibition. It was designed by Josep Vilaseca I Casanovas. As it seems, even from far away, the arch is not a local style, but oriental. Architect used Moors brick architecture here. The Triumphal Arch is also decorated by statues symbolizing craft, industry and trade-

VALENCIA

-sweet parks-
.

-historical sights-

-great view-

-lovely city-

-fountain in main square-

-green areas-

-chill out areas-

-oranges :)-
.

-rainbow-
.

-city of arts and science-

-in front of aquarium-

and after the science....sandy beach :)

-wind in our hair, sand in our eyes :)-

MURCIA

-spring in Murcia-

-Cathedral in Murcia-

-Plaza de Toros from outside-

Many supporters of bullfighting regard it as a deeply ingrained, integral part of their national cultures. The aesthetic of bullfighting is based on the interaction of the man and the bull. Rather than a competitive sport, the bullfight is more of a ritual which is judged by bullfighting fans based on artistic impression and command. Bullfighting is seen as a symbol of Spanish culture.

On the other hand Bullfighting is criticized it as a cruel or barbaric blood sport, in which the bull suffers severe stress and a slow, torturous death. On 18 December 2009, the parliament of Catalonia, approved by majority the preparation of a law to ban bullfighting in Catalonia, as a response to a popular initiative against bullfighting that gathered more than 180,000 signatures. This meant Catalonia became the second Community of Spain (first was Canary Islands in 1991), and the first on the mainland, to ban bullfighting.

-Plaza de Toros from inside-

-city of Murcia-

-nos encontramos con Gema :)-

-happy faces :)-

MADRID

It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin,

and its metropolitan area is the third largest in the European Union after London and Paris. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.

-Puerta del Sol; one of the best known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads and this is the place where city symbol - Bear and the Madroño Tree - is standing-