The most amazing building I have ever been in!

I have traveled to many countries, and have seen so many places and met the most amazing people.  Today I have to say that I have experienced something so beautiful that it is truly hard to describe.  The pics certainly do not do it justice... I'm writing about the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  One of Antonio Gaudi's obsessions... here you will be mesmerized by the beauty, the sounds of the organ and the creation of exquisite colors painting the interior of such a massive structure with an adroit avoidance of straight lines.... An attempt to create a space as if trees held up the ceilings, and the most interesting architecture I have ever experienced... organic almost natural living in its structural elements.  Gaudi had a vision that only an artist could have!  He could see what this could be before it was built and how it would be so incredible.

The construction will be finished by 2026...

and has been going on since 1882

The facade has modernist influences by the primary chief architects of which Gaudi was the second.

The exterior details are striking

But it is the interior that is so amazing!

The light with it's color content is spectacular!

Columns leap skyward and dissolve into tree like branches...

The ceiling shows the column termination and the amazing interplay of color turns to a dominating brilliant white

Simply amazing.  The volume of this space, the crispness of the wavelength's of light and how they mix and paint the floor, walls and columns is an experience to enjoy for a lifetime.

Belle

As you turn to towards the alter, the cascade of colors fades to different effect which brings focus to the Crucifixion 

Chapels along the walls have a miniature effect of color as well

And then there is the music!

Hope everyone liked the pics!  A most incredible place and well worth any extra effort you may encounter in trying to get here.

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Retro Auto-Moto Museo in Barcelona!

I was dissapointed to learn that  the motorcycle museum in Barcelona had moved...  it's now in Bassella.  So we set out to see the RAMM a very nice collection of cars and motorcycles in the Gotic Section of Barcelona.

A beautifully restored Senechal 804 'Torpedo'

A Le Zebre Cabriolet... note the simple fender manufacturing (no compound curves) and the cab is simply abruptly merged to the cowl.  The cost savings presented an automobile that was not as stylish, but performed as well as costlier cars at a lower price... a timeless formula for model placement.

Gosh this says Bugatti to me... but it's not!

WOW what a nice Triumph!

A springer Monet - just like new!

Cars of the 20's have a certain cache.  I do like the 30's the most though.

The Benjamin was a low cost touring car.  The simple fabrication of the fenders give it an odd look at a time when most maufacturers were making tooling for stamping out those beautiful curves we find in the 30's! The canvas top was cleverly designed to overlap the top of the windscreen so as to make a water tight seal - if a bit frumpy. Another low cost solution that provided the same water tight result without a molded channel and complicated interface between the canvas and the windscreen frame....

The Radior... a bicycle powered by a new fangled concept - the gasoline engine.

Looks like the designers of this sidecar were impressed with the bullet nose Studebaker!

Not an early  Karmann Ghia, but it  has a lot of those styling cues!

AND NOT an Isetta... it's uncanny how many ideas have come and gone, how so many manufacturers have copied from each other over the years... this shakes my faith in the design studio. Maybe an international travel budget should be part of every automotive styling studio! 

Oh my... so many of the rare motorcycles are here.  I have only read about them.  I thoroughly enjoyed studying the drive trains, the fuel systems, the manufacture of the frames and the ergonomics.... 

What a wonderful day! What's old IS what's new...

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Expo-electric at the Arc de Triumf - Barcelona 6-7 Octubre

WOW... for many years I have been interested in and an advocate of e-vehicles.  Walking through the Barcelona Expo was a most gratifying experience.  I looked really hard at an ELR before I finally bought my CTS, and have been watching the ev and PHEV scene in the US for many years. The manufacturers that brought products to this Expo help us all to see the EV is here - now, and you will soon be driving one!

Post emissions scandal, VW seems to have accelerated the launch  of the e-vehicles nicely.

The cabin is a bit plasticy for me... 

BMW continues to improve the i3

Super cool - a conversion kit for that old Bultaco or Matisse only guess what?  This is the new Bultaco!!!! I love it!

Nissan Leafs were everywhere

I've been watching this trend and I like it!  Retro motorcycles like the Black Douglas are just starting to catch on. I think the ergonomics are great as the idea here is comfort not the rams horn bicycle designs of the 70's on up.  AND hey, there's a battery and a hub motor!  Twist of the wrist and your silently propelled to your destination.

Whoa, Ducati-esk battery powered city commuter bike.

I think my friends in the Carolina's who PEDDLE the beach with fat tire bikes would LOVE this!

Another retro e-bike.  So cool!

Lime green and GREEN

The crowds of test drivers and interested onlookers filled the plaza

Kind of  like the Polaris Slingshot, but electric...

Battery in the down-tube, hub motor, lets go!

There were several electric scooters to see and test drive...

This was fun!  I used to be the faculty advisor for the Michigan Technological  University SAE Formula Team. This is the e-formula car developed by the students of the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya.  They were so much fun to talk to, and they did a superb job with their car.  Meeting the young men and women engineers that will be creating our future is always such a great pleasure!

Can't wait until these guys break into mass production runs and become affordable.  This is the ultimate commuter machine in humble opinion.

An electric Smart car...

I have to say, the Tesla had throngs of people around it all afternoon, the Jag... not so much.

I'd say this Tesla Model X was the favorite of the Expo!  

If you have snow, mud or sand perhaps a 4 wheel drive is what you need.  

I had to try the Twizzy.  I first met this little city car in Zweibrucken and I have to say, if were exported to the US I'd but one! This little commuter car makes driving fun again!

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Spain

It's been a while since we've had a vacation and this year we sure needed the break from hectic schedules and long days... I had put engines into a roll on roll off car ferry in Cartagena many years ago, and I was pleased to see things haven't changed much!

I'll share a few pics of the travels. This year we made our way through Spain and I must say, the places and people were great!

The Rinconcillo has now been open for 348 years instead of 323 years! The olives still taste delicious!

This is new... the Metropol Parasol, with a host of delicious restaurants and interesting shops.  The Seville Aquarium is below...

I had not been to the Catedral D Sevilla before and climbed the 40 flights up to the top of the Giralda.  A beautiful view of the city awaits you!

The sail symbolizes the dedication to the mariners of the sea.

The cathedral in Seville was formally a mosque as was the cathedral on Cordoba

Originally started as a Christian temple in the mid sixth century, then divided and used as a mosque and church, the building is a fusion of art and faith.  It was Christian, then Islamic, now Christian and is an amazing place to visit!

The treasures of the past are extraordinary...

In the center of the structure rises the cathedral

Looking like the funeral procession just passed through the doors, atop the statues are the remains of Christopher Columbus.

I never new his name was really Colon...

And this just happens when your trying to grab a bite to eat after a long day of traveling...

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