“Then I dreamed that they came in sight of the city, very old, and full of spires and turrets, all covered with ivy…” CS Lewis, The Pilgrim’s Regress
Park Guell isn’t old, but it is full of spires and turrets, all covered with lush gardens — a vision and architectural wonder — another of Gaudi’s creations. A Humanist, the father of Modernista and a devout Catholic, Gaudi drew on the Catalan culture, Creation and Christianity for inspiration. His friendship with Eusebi Guell was the catalyst for the project, which was built initially as an estate for wealthy families. Due to lack of interest and the difficult terrain, it failed as a residential building and was opened to the public as a park in 1926. In 1984 it was named a UNESCO Heritage site and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
The metro is on strike today so we hailed a cab and arrived a little early to take in the gardens. As we climbed the staircase up the mountainside, vendors laid their wares — mosaic geckos and elephants, necklaces, scarves — on white blankets (a quick and easy way to “scoop and hide” for when the police make their rounds). Buskers played jazz and Spanish guitar, hordes of tourists couldn’t decide where to point their cameras, and the sky threatened rain. My impressions of Park Guell? I felt as if I were inside a live exhibit, not viewing it objectively, but a part of the creation itself. I wonder if that’s what Gaudi intended — that through imaginative participation we continue to be drawn to God.
It’s our last day of touring in Spain and we have loved being here, learning about the culture, tasting the foreign dishes of octopus, sea bream, pintxos, and experiencing a culture that lives out loud. We will miss the spontaneous singing in the streets, the double kisses of greeting, and the siestas but we’re ready to board the train for a 6 hour ride to Paris tomorrow. Adios, Barcelona!
