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Before I visited Spain, Antoni Gaudi was not a name I recognised. Nor did I realise the beauty of his architectural designs. By far one of the most spectacular, unusual and unique architects, Gaudi’s designs are impossible to ignore and sure to excite each and every admirer.
For our second day in Barcelona, we decided to explore Gaudi’s Barcelona, visiting his main designs. We started at La Pedrera, also known as Casa Mila, which Gaudi completed in 1912. To describe the building as spectacular does not do the structure or its architect justice. The uniqueness of the design amazes all who enter. The archways inside, the incredible statues on the rooftop, the circular void and the intricate accessories add to the awesomeness that is Gaudi’s design.
Next we visited Park Guell, where the minute you walk through the gates, it feels like you have been transported into Alice’s wonderland. Incorporating many motifs of Catalan nationalism as well as elements from religious mysticism and ancient poetry, the housing development turned Municipal Park is inspiring. We wandered through the many gardens that make up Park Guell, getting lost in its seams, before visiting Gaudi’s house, which evokes its peaceful surroundings.
After relaxing in the park for quite a while, we stumbled across Casa Battlo, a building we had never read about, yet walked past on our way home from the train station. Looking back now, it is impossible to believe that we never noticed it before. Evoking skeletal images, the external façade is amazing. Indeed, the interior delights as well with oval shaped windows and polished sculpted stonework. Decorated almost entirely with mosaic, the building goes against conventions by virtually completely avoiding straight lines.
However, it has been said that Gaudi’s biggest success lies in the largest and most recognisable work, the Roman Catholic Church – La Sagrada Familia. While construction began in 1882, the building is still surrounded by scaffolding as work continues today. Rich with Christian symbolism, the most striking aspect, the towers, are visible from almost everywhere. It is almost impossible to describe the magnificent architecture and design that makes up this enormous Church. The views are spectacular from the tall towers. The peacefulness inside is astounding considering the amount of people milling about.
Gaudi’s designs are indeed spectacular. Yet more than this, they are unique, deeply reflecting the designer himself. It is easy to get lost in Gaudi’s designs, most of which have come to be a symbol of modernist Barcelona.
Who ever wants to say goodbye to a fascinatingly beautiful city such as Rome?
I had to… twice…
While I was only there for one day on the first trip, I experienced some of the most important parts of Italian culture. I visited the Trevi Fountain, I squeezed my way through the sales along Via Condotti, I circled Rome on the hop-on hop-off bus and I sat in Piazza Novona sipping on a café latte.
As I left the Trevi Fountain, I couldn’t refuse the idea of throwing in a coin. Even though I knew that I would be back less than a year later, who can escape the temptation of taking part in such a tradition?
Sure enough, just over seven months later, armed with three girlfriends and a pretty good map, the train pulled into Termini Station. We wandered into our pension before immediately dropping our bags and heading out. Our first full day in Rome saw us hopping-on and hopping-off the bus several times as well as circling the city at least twice.
Rome in a day is a tiring venture. We knew that we would be back to all of the places we had seen that day, yet it is almost impossible to leave after just a glimpse. We had photos in front of the Colosseum and aimlessly wandered through the Roman Forum trying to grasp the history of it all. We headed to the palace and up to the balcony, overlooking the space where Mussolini’s captivated audience stood. We manoeuvred our way through the busy streets towards the pantheon, walked along Via Condotti, sat on the Spanish Steps and finally, we made our way to the Trevi Fountain. Devouring our gelato, we people-watched as the sun set before making our way to Piazza Novona for dinner but not before agreeing that we would make a conscious effort to visit the fountain once a day.
The next day we headed to Vatican City. We stood in line surrounded by tour groups, nuns and school children for almost two hours before finally finding ourselves inside St Peter’s Basilica. We made our way to the top of the dome, which boasts 360-degree views of Rome. Learning about the Sistine Chapel is nothing compared to being in the room. Talking is prohibited, as is taking photos. However, it’s exceptionally obvious just how many people turn off their flash, pretend their camera is off, point the lens at the ceiling and click. I know I did it.
Sure enough, that night we found ourselves back at the Trevi Fountain, devouring gelato… this time from another ice-cream shop.
On our third and final visit to the Trevi Fountain, once again, I turned my back, tossed in a coin and walked away.
Arrivederci Roma… I know I’ll be back soon…
My family friend is a travel agent. So for her fiftieth birthday we were all invited to Sicily for two weeks. After a whirlwind flight, which took me to Cairns, Tokyo, London and then Rome, I boarded a flight with my family to Sicilia.
After picking up a hire car at the airport we drove to the magnificent villa that would house the adults. With an endless view of the ocean, it truly was paradise. Unfortunately for us, the 18-27 bracket was staying down the road. However, although we didn’t get the luxury of the enormous villa, we got the familiarity of home in a small bed-and-breakfast that the eight of us took over.
Every morning we would have breakfast at our “villa” and then join the adults at theirs for a second breakfast before hitting the road to explore the island. We drove in convoy to all of the main towns, losing each other along the way and almost running out of petrol on a couple of occasions.
Lunches would be bought during our exploration. We would often eat in little places. They always seem to be more authentic. With the abundance of pastas, meat dishes, salads and finally the incredible desserts, not one of them left me disappointed.
However, despite the amazing breakfasts and the scrumptious lunches, the best meals were definitely dinnertime. With a team of exceptionally skilled chefs, a four-course meal would be presented to us at the villa every night.
First would come the pastas – there’d be at least two to choose from. Then the abundance of salads to place on the side plate. And just when you thought you were full, the meat course would come out. There’d be some sort of red meat, some sort of white meat and a fish option as well. And then… the magnificent finale… dessert. And wow… what a dessert. Cakes, tarts, ice cream, chocolates and the list goes on. Whatever you can think of, we had it.
Needless to say, the hike up Mount Etna sure did us good. The volcano, that I must add was active while we were climbing it, is spectacular. Driving around Sicily you can see its peak from every angle. At night, when the red lava weaves its way down the peak, the picture opportunities are endless.
And yet, during the day, the mountain covered in snow, it is difficult to imagine exactly how much lava has spilled out until you are just underneath its peak. Standing there, after the long and daunting climb up, we watched the lava as it hardened in the snow, forever imprinting its path, before turning around, sitting in the snow, and sledding our way back down the slope to eat our way through the delicious lunch waiting for us at the bottom.
I have been lucky enough to experience the Greek Islands three times: once with my family, once with a group of girls, and once with a group of boys. All three have been very different experiences.
I went to Santorini with my family when I was fifteen. We stayed in a beautiful luxurious hotel, carved into the cliff face overlooking the everlasting ocean. We hired a car, a little two-door mini that the four of us barely fit into, and drove around for most of the four days, exploring the many faces of the gorgeous island. The downside… I suffer from heat rash. As such, I wasn’t able to step into the sun without umbrella protection
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For those of you who have never studied the history of Vietnam or the Vietnam War, I will attempt to explain the Demilitarized Zone in a few words. Despite the long and daunting history, basically the Demilitarized Zone is an area in central Vietnam that includes the 17th Parallel, the imaginary line, which fiercely divided the country in two during the Vietnam War. Commonly known as the DMZ, the area was supposed to be ‘no-man’s land’, no fighting was meant to take place, no bombs were meant to be thrown and no lives were meant to be taken in that area. Ironically, the DMZ was one of the most devastated areas.
On my recent trip to Vietnam, being the history buffs that we are, my boyfriend and I decided to do a day tour of the area. Boy were we surprised when we saw absolutely nothing
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At the age of nineteen, I journeyed to India with my family – grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins included. This trip had been in the planning stage for forty-two years – ever since my mother and her family left India for Sydney.
We experienced New Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Agra, Cochin and Goa. My aunts and uncles spoke to the locals. We ate off stalls in the street. We wandered through the markets, spending up a storm. We ate at all the local (or dodgy) restaurants. At each and every place we experienced something new
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Don’t get me wrong, I’ve stayed in my fair share of exquisite accommodation, mostly with my parents as it’s fairly unrealistic that I can afford luxury, but this blog is a warning of things to look out for.
Firstly, watch out for bunk beds. I stayed in a hostel room that housed eight bunk beds and in turn sixteen girls. Most of the girls I knew fairly well so the close quarter issue was not such a tragedy. However, the crash and mellowed yelp in the middle of the night did prove to be disturbing. The lights were turned on and sure enough, the top bunk, sleeping girl and all, had fallen on the girl underneath
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With sufficiently lacking funds, my boyfriend and I decided to go away for three weeks in February. We needed somewhere cheap but still nice and in order to stimulate our passion for history we needed somewhere interesting.
Our Vietnam trip was born
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Combining my photography and my travels has always been a passion of mine. I am constantly saving my money to go to a new and exciting place, or, alternatively, an old and friendly place.
My first overseas trip was when I was eleven years old and since then, I have struggled to stay at home. I travelled for eight months after finishing high school. That is another story in itself. Since my year-long travels, I have had many adventures, with friends and boyfriends alike, each with their own individual flair. Your text goes hereYour text goes here
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Comment by Jessica Goulburn
on India with the Locals