spain – TAPE PARADE

It’s all systems go here at the moment but I wanted to show you a bit more of beautiful Barcelona. On our first day we went to La Pedrera, one of the many notable buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi. As well as being a great example of Modernist design it’s a hugely innovative building in that it is self-supporting (mostly due to an innovative arch design rather than using load-bearing walls).

Most of these photos were taken on the roof which is decorated with these amazing statues and sculptures. To me they look like deformed heads or statues from some strange mutated army of warriors, and what with all the sun and peachy, sand coloured walls it did feel a bit like we had been transported into a sci-fi desert. It was just a really unusual and evocative environment. When the building was first completed it was used as luxury flats. Can you imagine living somewhere so fantastic?

We spent about an hour wandering the top of the roof; Christina sat sketching and I was furiously scribbling words as they sprang into my head. Afterwards, we went down into the museum. The cabinets housed various natural and manmade forms that inspired Gaudi’s designs and architecture; types of plant, animal skulls, driftwood, metal filings, glass bottles, geometric drawings. I left with my mind buzzing and whirring with ideas, and a strong sense of reverence. I’ve always thought that good architecture is like the grandest extension of art; unlike most of the art I deal with it’s so permanent, inherently useful and with such a clear reason. Gaudi was an artist, designer and an architect and had the kind of genre-changing career most people can only dream of. He devoted himself entirely to his work, eventually giving up socialising, relationships and everything but his religion and his work. Maybe that’s just what it takes?

Hola from Barcelona! I spent most of last week in Barcelona, one of my favourite European cities. I went with 3 other girls and we had such a fun week: living like locals, running around museums, exploring backroads and side streets and meeting lots of amazing people.

I think travel is so important. I’ve spoken about this before and every time I go away it’s something that crystallises even more in my mind. I’m in the unique position that I’d racked up 3 different continents before I was 2 years old as my immediate family is spread across the globe. I think my whole life I’ve grown up with the sense that the rest of the world is just around the corner, rather than imagining “travel” to be some huge insurmountable obstacle I’ll tackle when I’m older.

It’s often considered lucky to be able to travel but really if you’ve got a little bit of money and a bit of time where you’re not directly needed there’s not much else you need to go away (maybe a cheerful attitude and an open mind). Like most people in the UK I spent a lot of university going on European excursions with my friends – every time our student loans came we would pick a new destination for reading week and live on beans the rest of the term (RIP £5 Ryanair flights). I’m already planning my next 3 trips this year and I’m so excited to see the rest of the world! Where would you like to go?