Barcelona Part 3: Sagrada Familia 3

    So if the interior of the Sagrada Familia wasn't enough to inundate your

    senses, check out this exterior.

    I listened this talk show interviewing a clairvoyant who communicates with

    the deceased on the radio a few months ago. 

    They said one of the best ways to try to engage those you've lost is to ask 

    to see something crazy and look around throughout the day to see if it  

    appears. I asked to see a christmas tree (in May). 

   

Barcelona Part 2: Sagrada Familia 2

    Devoting just a single post to the genius of Sagrada Familia wouldn't be fair. 

    So here is part 2.

 
    I also decided to be brave and pay extra to go up into one of the spires to
    snap a few pictures of the new construction in between moments of intense
    vertigo and fear :)

   

    Ok, I'm dizzy again. I'll tackle the main façade next!

Barcelona Part 1: Sagrada Familia 1

    Filosofers!
    I am so sorry I have neglected you so! Please let me make it up to you!

    I just got back from Barcelona and took a few pictures for you.

    

    So let's get started with part 1 of our visit to Sagrada Familia,

    the forever under construction, jaw dropping masterpiece by Gaudi :

    The vaulting, the columns, the spiral staircases, the lighting!
    Too much visual stimulation for one day,
    so I'll save the rest for when you have recovered from all the saturated glory.
    Chapeau, Gaudi, Chapeau....

Pixel Church: Saving Your Soul One Brick at a Time

 
    Each time we drive to the pet store, we get to pass this church.

   And each time we pass this church it is either raining,
   or I don't have my camera, or we're late.
   So after several months of coveting this eccentrically compelling architectural
   specimen from the passenger window,
   I finally got a chance to pull over and take a look.

   Unfortunately it was a day that the church was closed to the public...
   But if the outside is this good,
   my guess is the interior will be deserving of its own visit.
 
    Until then, please take your time and marvel over the swirling,
    textured, pixel magic that can be achieved by
    using a single, repeating element.
    Who knew a brick building could look this good!

    And for whatever reason,
    all of this very ordered and logical brick work was paired with this
    deeply perplexing Grauman's Chinese Theater-esque entryway.
 
    This royal blue tiled, bulging canopy fiercely battles with the
    rest of the church for style, scale, period, color, and compositional domination.

 
    Yet somehow, while this church really makes no logical sense
    from a design standpoint...
    I haven't seen a church quite this compelling in ages.

    So, anyone want to come to pixel mass with me?
    I'm really hoping that they're performing this song on repeat inside:

The Vernacular of Southern Spain: Part 1

Filosofia is posting from South Eastern Spain for the next two weeks

so here is a look at some of the architecture I have encountered thus far:

This house looks like it is supported by ivy.

    This is the main church in Murcia.

    This is a really nice column detail.

    This is a gorgeous Murciano window.

   This is a fountain decorated by local protesters at City Hall.

   This is where the Bishop lives.
   You may visit him if your priest contests your marriage.

    This is probably a very nice Rafael Moneo building but the Spanish
    have decided to inexplicably cover it with a giant billboard.

    And this this is a nice palm tree.