NorthDownMuse

Streetscapes

Typical street in Barcelona, not unlike the one where Dara rented the second-floor apartment we stayed in. Then on the wide avenues you get the grand buildings. Here’s a Gaudi building (or Gaudi inspired, not sure which) And a traditional building: It’s wonderful how these very different types

Montjuic Castle

One day we took the subway for a few stops, then took a funicular railway up a steep hill, then took a cable car to get to Montjuic, a mountain overlooking Barcelona. The cable car takes you right to the castle: Where you get a great view of the port:

Still rambling

Building on Las Ramblas. Don Quixote mime on Las Ramblas. Fountain in a park that hosted the 1888 world’s fair. Wiki: "The Arc de Triomf (Catalan) or Arco de Triunfo (Spanish), is a triumphal arch in the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It was built, by architect

Tipping the scale.

You were no doubt wondering when I would mention Catalonian independence. We saw banners and flags everywhere promoting independence and none opposed. I had read before I came that those in favour of independence are in the minority--maybe low 40s. So while it was wrong for the central government to

Quixotic

In real time, I flew back to Northern Ireland on the 9th. But the blog is just going to keep on keeping on with Barcelona photos. Like this one: One day, Dara and I walked aimlessly around the city. There is no end to the things that catch your eye

FLW

As I toured Parc Guell, the song in my head was Simon and Garfunkel: “Architects may come and architects may go and never change your point of view. When I run dry, I'll stop a while and think of you.” If Simon and Garfunkel were Spanish instead of

Tiles to make you smile

So see these three mosaics? They make up this wall: And see this window? It’s on this gate lodge, built as an entry to the development. There are two buildings at the entrance, maybe the one below was the gate lodge. Unfortunately I couldn’t get good light to

Parc Guell 2

At the very top of Parc Guell, where a big mansion was probably once planned, we encounter a band. One of them was from Chile, one from Peru, one from Venezuela, I can’t remember the last. They were phenomenal. The guy with the smile playing percussion got up and

Parc Guell

Still in Montserrat. Incredibly cool light fixture with names of saints incorporated. After touring the chapel, we went for a hike. Which offered a nice view of the monastery. And nice views generally. Like I said I’m throwing in random shots. I don’t know what building this is,

Strategy

It’s early February and I’m catching up the blog. I won’t provide a daily journal of our travels a month ago in Barcelona--just select photos. Here for instance are some interesting creatures who were inspired by Antonia Gaudi. They were in the lobby of a stately building--I

Old School

From the “modernisme” of the Sagrada Familia to the traditional of the Barcelona Cathedral built in the Gothic quarter, known for the gargoyle sculptures at the top of the towers. Sculpture at the marina. Marina. 1-3

Barcelona

One of the weird things about Barcelona is the street intersections. They are shaped like diamonds, so you have to go a bit away from the corner to cross. I guess that is part of what gives the city its spacious elegance. Day one we went to the Sagrada Família

British Air

I started the year with a British Air flight to Barcelona. This is how wonderful [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCoQwZ9BQ9Q] British Air is--how well it captures British culture. Enjoy. Jan 1, 2018

The gift of time

It is so lovely to be home with my time as my own. No Preventable Surprises, no volunteer shift, no class at Queen's. David’s in the states so I have zero distractions. I finished a book. I built and maintained a fire one day (very small fireplace

Christmas discs (CDs)

The great thing about traveling at Christmas is it gives me a chance to listen to my Christmas CD collection. When I travelled to my mom’s, I’d drive about seven hours each way and have plenty of time to listen to: Julie Andrews, Nat King Cole, Perry Como,

Glenshane Again

I had lovely visits with Mary Richmond and Cathy Arthur today then hit the road for Belfast. The drive through the Glenshane Pass was breathtakingly gorgeous. I couldn’t find a place to pull over safely and get a shot of what I was seeing. This was maybe 2 pm-2:

Leftover Day

I’ve learned one of the cultural distinctions here is that British Northern Irish refer to Boxing Day while Irish Northern Irish refer to St. Stephen’s Day. Being fairly food-focused, I think of it as Leftover Day. Julie and I started our day on Fahan beach near Buncrana with

Christmas craic

I started the day right with a run along Queen’s Quay to the Peace Bridge and back. There weren’t many other people out but everyone was full of Christmas cheer. I’d say Merry Christmas to someone walking along the quay, for example, and she’d say “And

Ervey Woods and Ness Woods

Julie, her friend, Elizabeth, and I went for a three-hour hike today in the two forests named above. The woods were gorgeous and much of the trail was either along the Burntollet River or at the top of a gorge looking far down onto the river and its many waterfalls.

I’ll be home for Christmas

I’ve spent 15 of the past 18 Christmases with my mom in Parkersburg, W.Va., 13 while I lived in Pennsylvania and two since I’ve been in Northern Ireland. Last year and this year, mom and I agreed she’d go to my sister’s in Virginia and

Bus blues

Belfast is one of the most congested cities in the UK. This becomes even more pronounced at Christmas, when hordes from around Northern Ireland descend on the province’s largest city to do their shopping. Traffic grinds to a halt and the buses are packed. There are dedicated bus lanes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Today the delivery man brought a very small box of chocolate truffles, maybe six truffles and one rectangle of plain chocolate. These are from my very kind boss, Kylelane Purcell, who runs an outsourcing business for financial writing--my quarterly writing gig. I bring this up because the value of the

Ballyliffin

Mom doesn’t read my blog so it’s safe to report that I got a package in the mail today of goodies related to our July 2018 visit to Ballyliffin Golf Club for the Irish Open. Here is what a hole on the course looks like: Not too shabby,

Time management

I’ve recently applied for two jobs, both of them full time, both in Belfast. I don’t like that, after nearly four years living here, I have no professional network and am cut off from economic and political life in Northern Ireland. The part-time gig I have is not

Cinderella day

I spent the morning vacuuming, painting mouldings, and polishing brass. I spent the evening at the Belfast Jazz Orchestra Christmas dance, all dolled up in a little red dress with a santa hat. Yet again, no photo. I really enjoy hanging out with the Swing Belfast crowd. When I first