Why has it taken 50 years for us to discover Spain? Ok…it has only taken me 48 years…it has taken Cliff 50 😉 Spain is incredible! Now we understand why Stephanie Craig starts every trip to Europe with a quick jaunt to Barcelona 😉 You are so smart Steff!
As we sat down for our last dinner at El Salon (we ate there 4 times in 2 weeks!) we brainstormed our takeaways from Barcelona….here they are….
ONE PERSON CAN HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE
When we were at Kellogg studying for our MBAs, it was common knowledge that if you didn’t take Sterns Marketing Channels class, you hadn’t really experienced Kellogg. Similarly, if you work in the high tech industry, you feel like the latest biography on Steve Jobs is required reading. And if you travel to Barcelona, you haven’t really seen the city if you haven’t toured Gaudi’s architecture. His influence on the city oozes out of every crevice of every side street. He was a genius and he raised the bar for everyone and everything, so that those who tackle projects today feel obligated to bring their “A” game!
Gaudi’s Casa Milla rooftop. We were able to do a night tour which was really cool!
TURNING THE ORDINARY INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY
As a result of Gaudi’s influence, it seems that the Barcelona philosophy is to turn the ordinary into extraordinary. Simple security gates are painted with such beautiful graffiti, it is just as fun to walk around when everything is closed as it is when shops are open. TV towers that sit high on hilltops are designed by famous sculptors creating something spectacular to view, contrary to ruining the landscape like their distant cousins in the USA. Every public space displays an object that has been designed skillfully that leaves you in awe. There is so much to see, it is a bit overwhelming!
Barcelona’s Torre Agbar Building at night! It is the third tallest building in the city and houses the Barcelona Water Company headquarters…pretty sweet office for a water company 🙂 It opened in 2005.
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CITY OF NO COUCH POTATOES
Step outside at any time of day, any day of the week, and there are people biking, running, surfing, etc. The people of Barcelona are motivated to get out and about! We were strolling down the beach at 10 pm one night and there was a whole team of people doing wind sprints right outside of a shopping mall! Wescott loved the whole scene and went running along the waterfront every morning! One day, he was lucky enough to get to run with Keith Salustro, one of my childhood buddies who was in town with his wife Lorena.
Keith and Wescott before their run along the Barcelona waterfront. Keith is running in bare feet…his signature…it was awesome to see you guys Keith and Lorena!! Keep traveling and meet us in Bali 🙂
VANDALISM CAN BE ART
I know I have already dedicated a significant amount of real estate in this blog to the graffiti in Bacelona but that is because it is SOOOO… cool 🙂 I love the fact that the artists started out as vandals and are now represented in galleries around the city! Jamie O’Neill, you would LOVE this town!!!!
An awesome graffiti work done for a coffee shop in Barcelona. Thought all of you Seattleites would like it 🙂
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO ACHIEVE AWESOME!!
Barcelona is a city that does not rest on its laurels….Barcelona is constantly evolving and investing in its future. It is tackling crazy/cool projects like completing the Sagrada Família by 2026 or the recently created beaches for the Olympics. While Barcelona is already amazing, the city continues to focus on the NOW, reinventing itself with projects most cities would never begin. Simply awesome!!!
Picture of the Sagrada Familia currently under construction! The twins and I had fun coloring it in Art Studio 🙂
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