October 29, 2024 — Sagrada Familia, Holy Family


 This church is intended to be a multigenerational endeavor, and therefore it is not finished.  Many architects have worked on it, but they are trying to follow Gaudi’s plans. The plans were lost in a fire, but enough people had worked on it that they were able to piece together most of the original plans.  It is unlike any structure I have ever seen.  Because of the busyness and touristy aura, however, I did not experience it as a sacred space. An awesome space, to be sure.

Just as sampling of the exterior sculptures:

 

The columns are made to look like trees.  They are made of different stones depending upon the weight load each must carry. The idea is that one enters the Garden of Eden.

See the branches at the top?


Looking straight up at the ceiling in the center

The stain glass windows are exquisite.




And my favorite, the light coming through the windows and being filtered in the ethereal air:


Now for some doors, original furniture:

Awesome Christ Candle 

And you thought YOUR pew was uncomfortable?

The raised pulpit is movable AND can be detached from the stairs.  In theory, you could get your preacher into position and then remove the stairs….

A door from the sacristy

This will ultimately become the main entrance. The door has the Lord’s Prayer in many languages.

Over the sanctuary 


There is so much more!  But I don’t want to bore you.









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Spain Trip begins—27 October 2024

 Paul and I left our kitties, Tinker and Belle, in the care of house sitter Laura on Saturday evening. We drove to the home of Peggy and  Bruce Hoppes in San Antonio to spend the night and catch an early ride to the airport in the morning. There is something weird going on at United Airlines.  We have not flown with them in over a decade. We could not understand their carry on policy from the website. It sounded like you could take your one “personal” item, but bringing a carry-on suitcase was sketchy.  So we very carefully planned the items we might need onboard with us for the  ten or so hours we’d be traveling, including overnight. When we were in the process of boarding they asked for volunteers to check their carry on bags for free. Naturally, we did not volunteer, because we had an international flight ahead of us.  We could have gotten along just fine if they were offering to check them to the next stop, which was Newark, but the only option was to ...
Read more

Fun on the ship

Image
Our first night in our stateroom. Paul's Peruvian Chicken  My fish Wine tasting  Another bedtime present from our stewards ( including chocolates!) A towel critters from our dinner time waiter, Indra! We got an adorable elephant with chocolates for eyes! Our waiter had me choose a square piece of colored paper, and then he made this butterfly for me.
Read more

Feb. 25, Straits of Magellan

Image
 We took a shore excursion to the Straits of Magellan, a replica of his ship, and a museum showing life in the area when settlers and the Salesian priests arrived.  As we stood there looking south towards the sea, we were aware that here is where oceans meet:  the Atlantic on the left and the Pacific on the right.  I didn't notice any particular signs of the meeting, but it was cool! Also, I guess I always thought the straits of Magellan meant going around the point of the continent, but it's not that at all.  The bottom of South America is broken up into many waterways and islands.  Magellan simply found a good way through those water ways.  I believe the year was 1520.  So until the Panama Canal in the last century, this was the way past the American continents!  700 ships used to pass here per month.  I never really understood the importance of the Panama Canal! These amazing trees populated the town square. The "palace" of Sara Braun...
Read more