Barcalonetta Section Drawings

Barcelona

Friday 20 November

08.00 Breakfast, then put suitcase in storeroom.

09.30 Walked down Las Rambla to the covered market at Bocaria. So much food to choose from, meat, fish, sweets, bread, cheese etc. Then went back to CCCB so that the others could get the book I picked up the night before. Had a look at the Museum of modern Art next door, but really too modern. First exhibition was a display of everyday suitcase.

11.00 back up to the hostel by myself via the back streets again. Went to have a look at the design mecca shop Vincon on Passieg Garcia. Popped into some of the independent boutique shops off the main street, like mini shopping centres. Had a coffee, croquet monsieur and an apple tart at a small coffee bar behind the hostel.

15.00 Back to the hostel. Caught up with Samuel and Jason. Went back out to pick up some chocolate at Mouri on Carrer de Provenca. Found some Gelata biscuits, a clock and Manchega cheese for Kasia. Found a small fragment of a paving tile from Gaudi’s’ Passieg Garcia within a pile of building rubble.

17.30 Back to the hostel and then metro from Ave Garcia to overground train station and changed for the airport train (€3.50). Talked to Samuel about Uganda while waiting. Flight from terminal 3 delayed till 22.30.

Barcelona

Thursday 19 November

Bands also play some nights till the early hours in the common room.

08.15 Not so bad with a few pillows over my head, then onto breakfast.

09.15 Set off with Ed & Leo with large group to Parc Guell on the metro to Placa de Lesseps. This was one of Barcelona’s busiest traffic junctions and named after an old French Consul General in Barcelona, who later went on to develop the Suez Canal. It has recently been redesigned by Albert Viaplana and now provides a far calmer pedestrian atmosphere, taking the roads underground and covering the metro, whilst running the buses along its edges. If anything, the auditorium and the rising ship’s deck like section invites you to stop and spend time on one of the many seats. Gaudi’s’ Parc Guell is in a very old neighbourhood, with attractive low built houses. The 2 gate houses and the main steps are very impressive, with such detail and set the atmosphere straight away, leading to the grand staircase. The expansive terrace above, surrounded by the famous sweeping tiled bench with rooftop views towards the city. On into the park via the many meandering crushed gravel paths between grottos, olive trees, firs and very well maintained planted beds. The paths lead to a small monument at the top with a simple cross and even better views of Barcelona below. It really is a fascinating place, because it really shows Gaudi’s’ ability to de-construct construction. We then got the metro to Canyelles and visited Parc Central de Nou Barris, the winner of the Urban Landscape Award 2007 and supplied by outdoor furniture specialists Escofet. Another impressive park designed by the Barcelona based urban architects Arriola & Fiol and laid out across a large sloping area in a very residential neighbourhood. Their signature angular lines are reproduced by the triangular grass beds and terracing. The large lake at the bottom has very powerful water jets mounted in the side bank walls and within the water itself, as seen the night before from Parc Turo de la Peira. Some unique trees, such as the flowering thorn tree, Chorisia Speciosa, the Bottle Tree or the Drunk Stick. Bought a croques monsieur, a chicken pie and a chocolate croissant from a bakery close by. Then lunch on the metro whist going to Paral-el, to get the funicular railway up into Montjuic Parc. Followed very poor signs (as before) to find the Botanic Gardens, with Joe, Jason, Enrico and Aaron. Very impressive gardens designed by architects Carlos Ferrater and Josep Lluis Canosa, Landscape Archiect Bet Figueras and horticulturalist Artur Bossy. They showcase plants of the five Mediterranean climates from around the world, South Africa being very prominent. The triangular cement paths and sheet Corten steel walls really take you between the 71 beds and allow you to explore the vast variety of plants, whilst presenting fantastic views of the old Olympic stadium below and out over Barcelona. Walked back to the funicular station straight down the main road from the stadium in front of the gardens and passed the Joan Miro museum. Bought a €1.35 single metro ticket, as my pass had run out and went back to the hostel.

19.00 Ed and Leo arranged for all of us to go to the free entry evening at the CCCB, exhibiting Ildefons Cerdas’ Eixample master planning of Barcelona. In the 1859 he planned for the entire cities expansion to be aligned around the fall of the sun, lower buildings, underground infrastructure, decongestion of roads and open public spaces. This is the city we saw, but it remains a well to do area. I then went to see the World Photograph exhibition in the same building, which by coincidence displayed images of people around the world. Then walked back to the hostel via the Passeig Success, bought a delicious spinach tortilla from Buenas Migas and walked through the back streets to the hostel. Some very good shops and cafes on the way.

22.00 Back at the hostel and had the tortilla. Checked up on what I still wanted to see on the last day and packed.

Barcelona

Wednesday 18 November

The hostel common room is right behind my room and I found out that is open till 04.00 some days. I went down to reception at 01.00 to try to move.

08.30 Got up and went to breakfast. Leo advised me to fill up on packets of cakes and biscuits to take snack on later in the day. Good advice. We then worked out which what sites we should try to see out of Ed long list.

10.30 Changed rooms. A smaller room, two floors up and at the rear of the building.

11.00 20c. Down to Barceloneta with the group to carry out our project. Draw 3 sections of the Barceloneta esplanade waterfront with the usual suspect group. A warm day and very busy on the beach with people sun bathing. Walked along the waterfront via the parks. Through the marina Port Olympic, through Parc de la Nova Icaria and on to the McDonalds for a selection of 1euro items. Over the Bridge to Parc Poblenou. A large open sports area at first, continuing along a gravel path into a pine tree woodland and on into a more formal grassed area. Otherwise, not very inspiring. Then through newly developed residential areas to get the metro at Poblenou. Up to Sagrada Familia, which just like a Hollywood star, is smaller than expected and a real building site. We did not go in due to the high charge and time. Back on the metro to Parc Turo de la Piera. Surrounded by what looked like new build / refurbished council blocks. The park stands on the top of a neighbourhood hill and has 360 degree views from the cross at its summit. We could see the 144m Torre Agbar on Ave Diagonal, Barcelona’s’ copy of the Gherkin building in London. But another hill blocked the main view of Barcelona’s’ centre. Now 18.00 and time to get back, due to poor light and the stench of dope coming from the growing adolescent group gathering on the basketball court below us. We walked back to the metro at Vilapicin, got off at metro Diagonal, to walk 6 blocks to the hostel. Passed Mouri, a fantastic food shop come cafe and on to Passieg de Garcia. Some very high end shops in this area. Spent an hour relaxing in the common room and catching up with others. Then off out with Aaron, Joe and Jason (Enrico spend time with his Uncle, who is in Barcelona on work to eat at Eds recommended Spanish restaurant. Not so good, but ordered a veggie paella and a beer. Then a dry almond cake dipped in sweet wine, very good.

23.30 back at the hostel via a very busy Las Ramblas, had a shower in the en-suite, then time to sleep (I hoped).

Barcelona

Tuesday 17 November

08.00 Got up after a disturbed night, due to corridor door banging. Must get moved.

08.30 Breakfast in common room, very good coffee, small cakes, toast, cereal and juice.

09.00 Expedition party set off into the cooler mist morning and walked to Ave Diagonal. A very well planned road, simply incorporating car lanes on the outer edges, then a cycle lane on one inner path and a grass covered tram line on the other, with a wide tree lined pedestrian walkway in the centre. The bought a 10 journey transport ticket for €7.70. Took tram to El Maresme.

10.00 Met the others at the main entrance to Parc de Diagonal Mar, designed by Enrico Moralis. Helter scelta style tracks with a mix of large suspended Gaudi style hanging planters. Loose crushed gravel and concrete from the entrance to the lake. Planting of Eucalyptus, Acacia sofia, Olives and Palms. We then walked further in to the west side of the lake, to find a more formal landscaped grassy layout. A further area laid out with a large number of sports pitches, basketball and table tennis. Another section provides some younger playgrounds, which were even able to keep most of us occupied with interactive activities. The whole park is very well maintained, due to the service charge income received from the residents of the surrounding developments. We then walked on to the black wedge shaped Forum building, floating over the ground. This was built for a recent 2 week world forum exhibition and looks very run down already, which proves why it was considered a massive waste on money by the public. Then on to the Diagonal mar Forum Esplanade / Parc de Auditorials, a large area with open air structures for outdoor events. The dominant structure being the enormous Solar Panel Forum now seen in Mazda car adverts. Back onto the Metro and back to the hostel to get warmer cloths.

14.00 Down to the metro, picked up a sandwich and on to Placa Espagne to meet up with the whole group. We then walked up the hill towards the Palace and went to the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion. I was so pleased to finally visit this authentic reconstruction and see how its clean lines and natural decoration have influenced so many designers for so many years. Then another long walk with Ed, Leo and some others up to the castle at the top of Montjuic, getting very lost and colder on the way. The cooler afternoon resulted in the views of Barcelona below us being blanketed in heavy mist. Advice would be to get a bus to the castle, don’t walk. The castle was not so interesting, but potentially great views of the city and its perimeter hills. Then sat and had a water and a Snicker form the cafe, before getting the expensive cable car (€6) down to the metro. Back to the hostel at 18.30.

Barcelona

Monday 16 November

03.30 Woke up in darkness and drove to Gatwick, just avoided a speeding ticket by slamming the Minis’ brakes on (not possible in normal traffic).

05.30 Arrived Gatwick in the early morning rain and got a shuttle bus from long stay. Met up with others from Kingston (45). Decaf Pret cappuccino and sandwich for the plane.

07.30 On time for the Easyjet flight to Barcelona. During the flight I received an Easyeducation, via the in-flight Traveller magazine, on Landscape Architecture. Articles on the Tel Aviv sea front, the concrete block Berlin Holocaust Memorial, a lengthy one on urban art in Madrid, South Bank street life in London and green living in cities, showcasing Copenhagen. Urban Art in offered as a degree at Madrid University, within the Fine Arts faculty. Javier Abarca, ‘To many, street art is inspiring, as it can offer a comment on society or even, in some cases, improve the urban landscape’. Picture of ‘Masks’ by Susso33, depicting faces on walls. It mentions that Bristol Council, England even protects graffiti by coffee book artist Banksy. Artist 3ttmans work has been exhibited in the Tate modern, London. Another artist Zeta, says ‘It is the way we express ourselves. It is the space where we can interact with the public, who don’t need to be either experts or critics to be affected by it’. Nowadays it is more ‘Post Graffiti’ using images, rather than dated tagging or bombing. The flight comes to an end and we arrive at a recently redesigned Barcelona Airport.

10.00 A Sunny 24c and took the airport bus to central Barcelona (€4.50).

11.00 Last stop Placa de Catalunya and walked three blocks up Passeig de Garcia to the Centric Point hostel. Checked in, put on a t-shirt, then walked around for 3 hours with Joe, Enrico, Jason and Aaron. Via Placa de Catalunya, a vast expanse of inlaid marble, some perimeter planted beds with a few trees, loads of Spanish speaking pigeons and 2 very big fountains. South to Barri Gotic, the old quarter, through historic narrow lanes looking for some lunch. In hind sight, the best places to grab something were on the first of the narrow lanes. Passed the Gothic Cathedral, with Enrico Moralis’ colourful tiled wave topped market in the distance. Through Placa de Saint Jaume. Some very shabby chic buildings and a real mix of uses. Out to Las Ramblas where my young fellow explorers were delighted to find some local food at Burger King. Then sat in the open space of Placa Cataluna, amongst the attack formation pigeons. It was then that I really noticed how dirty the square was and the large population of down and outs. Back to the hostel to wash.

14.00 Group meeting to go over rules of the trip and the hostel, which must be difficult to hear when most are listening to an I-Pod. Then it was off with expedition leaders Ed and Leo to walk down to the sea front area of Barceloneta, via the area we had just walked through. The first surprise was how much cleaner and designed the civic spaces are down at Port Vell and the impressive yachts. This was the first legacy of the Barcelona Olympics that I noticed. Then along the enormous terraced area of Moll de la Barceloneta, overlooking the Marina Port Vell. Refurbished industrial warehouses now home to some very designed restaurants and the History museum of Catalunya. Saw the cable car in the distance at Torre de St Sebastian. Out onto the beachfront at Platja Barceloneta. An enormous expanse of grey granite leading to the immaculate man made sandy beaches, a result of the Olympic regeneration of the run down fishing area. The beach of Platja de Sant Sebastia to the left has established as a nudist/gay hangout. Walked along the beach promenade passed the ‘Iron Window Stack Tower’ by German artist Rebecca Horn, towards the Frank Gehry Fish sculpture at the trendy night life end. My immediate expedition party then walked back via Bari Gotic and stopped at a pizzeria, which was given the ok by Enrico. Had a beer, but should not have, as I was still on a course of antibiotics of the bladder infection. Back to the hostel to find out that the air con in my twin room with Enrico (no dorms for me) was broken. 23.00 Asked to be moved, but not possible.