The PCUSA Pilgrim Pastor

The last few days of my solo Europe trip were spent in Barcelona. Not having enough of Antonio Gaudi’s work, I visited Parc Guell.

This was an entire neighborhood Gaudi was creating for the upper class outside of Barcelona. Unfortunately, the project had to be abandoned due to lack of interest. At the time, there were no roads to get there and it was considered too far away from the city. So they turned it into a park. Gaudi built aqueducts…

Elevated walkways that provided shade underneath…

and a passageway on top.

He created gathering places for those who would live there full of beautiful flowers.

And tree lined paths throughout this neighborhood.

From here you could get a great view of the Sagrada Familia.

Even the columns that supported the retaining wall were artistic. Can you see what this figure is doing? (Hint: they didn’t have washing machines in those days.)

The final entrance/exit was a large common space shaded from the heat and rain.

The ceilings were decorated in Gaudi style.

The dragon staircase tops off the entire visit. Look at these guys!

We made friends quickly.

One final Gaudi visit was a fancy house called Casa Battlo.

It was in true Gaudi style with a spine as a staircase,

Turtle shells as skylights,

and mushrooms as seating areas.

My favorite part was the first “sliding glass doors” that transformed a living room into a balcony. These blue glass doors open up through a pulley system.

So that everyone on the street can see the well-to-do wave as they pass by.

The inner courtyard was different shades of blue as I ascended the stairs.

The rooftop contained a garden and Gaudi’s signature style chimneys.

A cross adorns the house

But there is more to my Barcelona trip than Gaudi. One night I went to see Flamenco Dancing in the gorgeous Music Palace.

The auditorium is breathtaking.

Just look at that ceiling.

Here’s a little video of the place just to give you some perspective.

Then it was time for some Flamenco dancing. I happened to be there for the Grand Gala of Flamenco. Who knew?

They were fantastic as you can see.

Another night I walked down the most famous street in Barcelona, La Rambla

The main cathedral of the city is pretty impressive.

That night was a festival, St. John the Baptist feast day. The next day was a holiday so folks celebrated by lighting firecrackers and fireworks in the main plazas.

But my favorite part was staying with the dear sweet sisters at the convent. This time it was personal. Nelio’s aunt was the head nun at this community for 18 years before leaving just a year before I arrived. She arranged for one of the sisters to meet me at the airport and take me to the convent. It was really just a house where about 12 women lived in community. Everyone pitched in cleaning up after meals…

Enjoying some downtime watching the Euros (European soccer championship)…

and joining in daily prayers in their own chapel.

I loved their centerpiece in the chapel. It was a different and hopeful way of displaying the cross.

We had fun eating breakfast and dinner together, worshipping, and watching soccer (football, I should say). They were such faithful and sweet women. We had to get some pictures in the garden.

It was the perfect end to a truly blessed pilgrimage.