Barcelona, Spain. 28th October 2018.

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The spire above the Porter’s Lodge.

Catalan industrialist Eusebi Guell commissioned Gaudi to design Parc Guell.  Construction happened between 1900 and 1914, and it was opened to the public in 1926.  It was originally intended to include a luxurious housing development with sixty dwellings but only three were built.  Guell lived in one, Gaudi purchased another and we will see an image of the only other one to be sold further down in this post.

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Looking back down the monumental staircase to the entrance.  The Porter’s Lodge is at middle left.

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The Washerwoman’s Portico.

The pinkish building in the background is the back of the Larrard House, not open to the public.

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The Washerwoman’s Portico.

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There are many of Gaudi’s ceramic collages.

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The Washerwoman.

A supporting figure in a column, maybe a reference to the Caryatids in the Erechtheion in the Acropolis in Athens.

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Consulting a paper guide.

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As you can see, we are quite high up, out the back of Barcelona, looking towards the sea.

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We are atop the Greek Theatre or Nature Square, looking out past the entrance and towards the distant sea.

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Looking around at the crowd.

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Dog sculpture I presume, maybe Cerberus since we are at the Greek Theatre, though he only has one head.

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Curious esoteric activities.  Perhaps electronic dowsing equipment.

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One of life’s little mysteries.

They are holding polystyrene cutouts likely of the same car, with at least three layouts including Japanese (and Korean?) inscriptions with the word Vezel.  Perhaps they are on a tour with the Nigerian Vezel Tours, don’t realise they are in the wrong country and are trying to find their car.  Or maybe it’s a reference to the Honda Vezel, and they are either Honda employees trying to impress someone, or they have fallen for a scam and believe if they wave around these car cutouts, one of them will win a car.

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We are now back near the entrance and inside the Porter’s Lodge.

I think this is probably the ceiling.

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Looking out from the Porter’s Lodge at the initial constructions and monumental staircase.

The Greek Theatre or Nature Square we just came from is on top of the straight columns at the rear.

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Porter’s Lodge Shop.

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Entrance spires of the Visitor’s Waiting Room, on the other side of the main gate from the Porter’s Lodge.

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The top viaduct and the spire of the Gaudi House.

Gaudi bought the house and lived in it, though did not design it, and now a museum).

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Sagrada Familia in situ.

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The aliens have yet to take off in their rocket ship.

It’s been there a while though.  Since 2005.  Torre Glòries features an observation deck with a commanding view of Barcelona, even more impressive if you’re there when the whole thing eventually takes off.

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Martí Trias i Domènech House.

This was built for the lawyer of Eusebi Guell between 1903 and 1906, and remains intact in his family’s hands.

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We saw a distant view of Tibidabo Amusement Park, Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Torre de las Aguas de Dos Ríos (historic water tower) from Castel de Monjuic a couple of posts ago.  Here’s a closer view from Parc Guell.

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Live music under one of the viaducts.

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I bought a CD but can’t seem to find it to identify them.

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