Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Rocks of San Sebastian

Travel photography begs us to capture the obvious defining factors of the location, but other times inspiration blossoms in the lesser appreciated landmarks as well. In San Sebastian, the former is most notably the trio of Eduardo Chillida Sculptures while the latter (for me) was the rocks.
Rocks. Really? Well, in Madrid it was the intense graffiti covered facades, in Barcelona the Gaudi architecture - specifically the roof tops, and in San Sebastian, while I took lots of photos overall, the rocks in La Concha Bay and River Urumea stood out in abundance.
The aforementioned sculptures notorious with San Sebastian are called El Peine del Vinto or The Wind Comb.
These contemporary works of art are proudly displayed amidst a rough sea, their natural weathered character blends seamlessly while their dramatic shape is in stark contrast to the landscape. If you ever visit this city, you'll likely want to make the short walk to the end of Paseo de la Concha to check these out! The view and sites along the way are pretty cool, as are the rest of the rocks that surround the coastal shores and stone pathways. A side note to my readers who are not bloggers or who don't use the Google Blogger platform - (otherwise I'm probably stating the obvious) - Did you know you can click on any photograph for a slideshow? Since I tend to incorporate massive amount of photos in one post, if you wanted to be able to scroll in a more orderly fashion, or see the pictures in a larger format, just click on one. :)There's a lot more to love about San Sebastian than its beaches and rugged coastline, particularly the beloved Pintxos, the enticing tapas cuisine of the Basque region. A mouthwatering food post is in the works....

Friday, November 11, 2011

Barcelona | La Pedrera

Introducing La Pedrera, another popular building in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudi during the years 1905 - 1910. These prominent urban apartments are originally know as Casa Mila, but more commonly referred to as La Pedrera meaning "The Quarry", nicknamed for the intense limestone facade and unique open pit construction. Embodying a subdued flamboyance in comparison to its neighbor Casa Battlo; the colors scheme sees more neutral earth tones, but the shapes, textures and overall appearance is no less a spectacle along the city's main promenade. The free flowing wavy exterior with elaborate wrought iron balconies and the rooftop terrace with mosaic chimneys and gypsy caves are major points of interest. Also shown are some of the interior rooms, where it is apparent I was particularly fond of the spacious bathrooms and pretty lampshades. Casa Mila / La Pedrera is located at 92 Passeig de Grassia in the city's Eixample District. It is open daily from 9am - 8pm. Adult admission costs 16.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Barcelona | Casa Battlò

A fantastically whimsical house designed by Antoni Gaudi, Casa Batllò delights with shapes and textures inspired from nature. Fish scale shingles form the roof and ceramic tree tops the chimneys. Doors are shaped like mushrooms and windows like clouds. Waves crash on ceilings and a snail shells coil into a banister. Colorful tiles and vivid mosaics captivate at every turn. Stained glass takes on forms and colors like you've never seen it. Hardwood floors and furnishings tie everything together with a polished finesse. It's an intricately imaginative space, a work of thought provoking architecture both inside and out.

Here are some of my favorite photographs from our tour.
Casa Battlò is located at 43 Passeig de Grassia in the city's Eixample District. It is open daily from 9am - 8pm. Adult admission includes an audio-guided tour and costs 20.