IWCB Visit to Palau Güell, March 23, 2012

A group of IWCB members spent a few hours exploring the area to the south of La Ramblas, known as El Raval, as led by our intrepid guide, Liz. We first met for coffee at the newly restored Hotel España:

The carved fireplace in one of the lounges:



The formal dining room:



Close-up of the dining room ceiling:


From there we went to tour the recently reopened Palau Güell, on Carrer Nou de la Rambla. It is the only major Modernista building in the old city, built by Antonio Gaudi in the late 1880's for his patron, Eusebi Güell. It is full of Gaudi's favourite styles-art nouveau, Gothic and Islamic. After the Civil War, it was taken under police control and political prisoners were tortured in the basement. Some highlights starting with the front door:





Gaudi's signature parabolas feature in the basement:



Vaulted ceiling in the basement:



Looking out the front entrance to the street-horses and carriages would have entered through this door:



Up the main staircase:






Note the carved wooden ceiling:



Looking out a window toward La Ramblas:








The dining room:




Outside on the terrace:








Another carved wooden ceiling-note the details:


In the centre of the house, the main hall has a dome reaching up to the roof, as well as an organ for formal recitals:




Ground level of this main hall:




And on the roof, polychrome-tiled chimney pots in various shapes:
















The group posing on the rooftop:


Hasta luego...

Location:El Raval, Barcelona

Views of Barcelona from the W Hotel March 19-23, 2012

I joined Pat at the W Hotel by the Barcelona seafront while he was in meetings all week. We stayed on the 28th floor and here are some views from our room facing the port towards the airport to the south:





On the elevator side of the building, you see more of the port and Montjuic:









The Club Nautico of Barcelona and beach at Barceloneta. At the far right, the Hotel Arts and the Mapfre building, home of Coty's Spanish head office:





Looking north towards the Costa Brava:




Close-up of the Club Naurico:




Car ferry going to the Balearic Islands with Montjuic in the background:




And what a difference a day makes...the winds came up, the waves were immense and it wasn't very nice outside!







Hasta luego...

Location:Seafront in Barcelona, Spain

Paella March 18, 2010

The next day dawned clear and sunny. After breakfast, we drove to the nearby ruined Carthusian monastery, Santa Maria d'Escaladei, currently undergoing renovaciones by the Catalonian government. It was the first monastery of the order of Saint Bruno in the Iberian Peninsula, founded in the late 12th century. The Carthusians colonized and Christianized the region, planted crops, notably vines, and taught basic agricultural techniques. The local Priorat wine region is testament to their work.

Pat, Mary, Joan Jr and Sr, Marie-Angels and Oriol in the entrance courtyard:















Oriol in the Cloister:




Reconstruction of a monk's cell:




















Back at the house, preparations began for paella: Pat trims artichokes while Mary cuts up botifarra.





Dried mushrooms are set aside to soak in caldo (broth):




Joan sautés garlic and homemade tomato sauce over the fire:




Add artichoke heart pieces:




Stir in botifarra:




Add the rehydrated mushrooms, rice and broth:




Leave to cook over the fire about 20 minutes, turning occasionally but not stirring:




During cooking, you can play with the rabbit!




Ready to eat...almost...




We were told it is best to let it sit awhile covered in clean tea towels so as to soak up more liquid:




Fresh Raf tomatoes add sweetness as a side dish:




Delicious! Bon Provecho!



All gone!




What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon! ¡Muchas gracias todos!

Hasta luego...

Location:Cornudella de Montsant