Barcelona and Figueres and Dali Museum
By far September is my favourite
month, days are still mild and the air is flavoursome. Everything seems to come
back to life after the lazy summer days. Also it's the month where I usually
decide to travel abroad especially because the flights are cheaper and the main
capitals are less crowded.
This year I decided to hide in
Barcelona, home of a few of my favourite artists such as Dali and Gaudi. I have
to say that after few days strolling around the city centre, which extends for
miles of the good, the bad and the ugly in design, I discovered a flourishing suburb
area namely Gracia.
In here everyone speaks only
Catalan, the food is Catalan and the people want to be called, well... Catalan.
The hospitality was great even thou I could only ashamedly mumble a few words
in broken Spanish (and most of the time I gave up and just started talking
English!).
However, a few days after exploring more or less all the main
tourist spots I had been advised to get a train from near Plaza Cataluña and
direct myself to Figures, hometown of the most eccentric artist to date,
Salvador Dali.
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| Above: "The Dalí Theatre-Museum, the largest surrealistic object in the world, occupies the building of the former Municipal Theatre, a 19th century construction which was destroyed at the end of the Spanish Civil War. On its ruins, Dalí decided to create his museum." |
The trip went smoothly and I have
to admit that at first I was not impressed by the look of the town. It looks
very old and shabby and the people are quite hostile...
Can't blame them thou
since they have to witness the everyday pilgrimage of rude tourist invading
their tranquillity. However, I had not to get distracted from my mission... I had to find the house of my
favourite artist who instilled in me the spark of a surrealistic creativity. The long search was worth it as the
house is not at all disappointing. I walked for half an hour in a circle
initially.
Then following a trail of clues and directions dimly through a maze
of narrow streets I reached my goal all of a sudden at a giant salmon-coloured
structure, surrounded by 4 towers that support the giant golden eggs. I did not
expect anything else! Well, inside was even more bonkers! Nothing is what it
looks and the whole building is drenched with the aura of this artistic genius.
This place is a must visit for
anyone with creative flair or an artistic temperament - or just someone looking
to see something cool!
For more info follow this link
