Barcelona - Batlló house

Front facade of the Batllo house

Front facade at night

Front balconies

Built in 1877, the Batlló house in Barcelona is the most famous of Gaudi's residences, and for good reason.  What an amazing place!  Gaudí was the architect and contractor, and because there isn't hardly a straight line in the house, it would have been nearly impossible to draw blueprints one hundred + years ago.  He made rough drawings, but had to be there everyday to tell the workmen how to free form everything from walls, to windows and doors, to the ceilings,

Living Room of the Batllo house

etc.  Because Gaudí designs are so unique, the house is described as being Art Nouveau "in the broadest sense" (what an understatement!).  It's a highly organic-shaped house, and I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but you have to experience the space to fully appreciate it.  Unfortunately, the camera card slot on Chris' computer broke, so I can't download any of the pics I took and got these from the internet ...

Afterward, we went to a Basque bar and restaurant on the same avenue.  The place was very well done, and it was interesting to see the difference between Basque restaurants in Madrid and here.  Because of the history of Basque terrorism (directed mostly at Madrid), Basque restaurants there have very mild references to Basque culture and language.  Mom always told me that Catalán and Euskadi ( the Basque country) have always been kindred spirits regarding their individual identities and feelings toward Spanish nationalism, so the Catalonians aren't wigged-out by overt Basque displays.  Too, the Catalonians have never been targeted by ETA, the Basque terrorist group.  This bar, called "Txapela", or in Spanish "Chapela", is the name for the Basque beret-like hats that men where there.  The sign out front says "Txapela Euskal Taberna" or "Chapela Basque Tavern".  "Taberna" was written in Castillian, I assume

 because no one would know what the Basque word means here.  Poor Chris listened patiently while I explained the Basque significance of this thing and that.  I took photos of the inside with their thoroughly Basque decor, but can't download the photos ... grrr.



Lots more on Barcelona, but can't upload my photos until I get back to Madrid tomorrow.  Then we're leaving for Florida on Sunday ...