Bobble Hats of Barcelona
Actually there were two but one of them kept moving out of the way thinking I wanted a photo of Casa Batllo.
Barcelona
Antoni Tapies in Barcelona
I went up to Barcelona, got off at Passeig de Gracia as usual and five minutes later was in the Fundacio Antoni Tapies. There was a steady stream of people arriving but no queues and it wasn’t so full that you felt squashed in. The spaces are large and airy and the pictures arranged with plenty of room to stand and stare. There was an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, respect and sadness – or at least I felt sad. There is something powerful about visiting the gallery of a great artist only a day after he has died. A feeling of both presence and absence.
I stood for a few moments waiting to sign the book of condolence – not sure what made me want to do this but I wanted to make some mark
I find Tapies art inspiring – like so much abstract art it helps me contact something that is both human and other worldly. Like cave art – messages from the unconscious
Antoni Tàpies
Just heard on the news that the Catalan artist Tapies has died aged 88. I have been meaning for ages to go back to the Fundacio´ Tàpies in Barcelona. I went there first without really having a strong feeling about Tapies art but came away feeling really inspired
I go to Barcelona tomorrow I may pop in there and sign the book of condolence. It is only a few minutes walk from Passeig de Gracia station.
“Art should startle the viewer into thinking about the meaning of life.” Antoni Tapies 1923-2012
El Clàssic or Yet another football post
Tomorrow evening there is a football match between Barcelona and Madrid. It’s called El Clasico or El Clàssic in Catalan, and is the name given to any match between these two teams. It is one of the most watched football matches in the world – hundreds of millions of people glued to their TV screens, as well as the lucky ones who are actually there to see it live.
As I’ve said before, I don’t know much about football, but it is easier to learn about it when it grabs your attention like this does.
To show how ignorant I am in general I will embarrass myself by admitting that I didn’t know there was a Barça/Madrid match tomorrow night until I just saw it on TV. Then I noticed something interesting – I felt nervous! I realised it makes me anxious thinking about it and I know that when I am watching the game there will be butterflies in my stomach.
Weird isn’t it?
Five Things I Have Learnt About El Clàssic
1/ Real Madrid has more supporters in Spain than Barça does while Barça has more support in Europe. Worldwide, Real Madrid appears to win the number of supporters competition with over 228 million fans according to some studies. Perhaps if you keep expanding your horizon to include the universe, Barça would come out top!
2/ Barça has won more Classic matches than Real Madrid. Barça 103 – Real Madrid 90 (I’ve never seen them lose which is one reason for my pre-match anxiety)
3/ More players have switched from Barça to Madrid than the other way around with 17 going to the Spanish capital and only 4 coming to Catalunya. I wonder why? More money offered by Madrid? Barça preferring to get new players elsewhere?
4/ The other rivalry is between the team coaches – Guardiola and Mourinho. They share a first name but for Guardiola it is the Catalan version Josep/Pep and Mourinho is known as Jose. In English? Joseph or Joe.
As I’ve said before, I don’t know much about football, but it is easier to learn about it when it grabs your attention like this does.
To show how ignorant I am in general I will embarrass myself by admitting that I didn’t know there was a Barça/Madrid match tomorrow night until I just saw it on TV. Then I noticed something interesting – I felt nervous! I realised it makes me anxious thinking about it and I know that when I am watching the game there will be butterflies in my stomach.
Weird isn’t it?
Five Things I Have Learnt About El Clàssic1/ Real Madrid has more supporters in Spain than Barça does while Barça has more support in Europe. Worldwide, Real Madrid appears to win the number of supporters competition with over 228 million fans according to some studies. Perhaps if you keep expanding your horizon to include the universe, Barça would come out top!
2/ Barça has won more Classic matches than Real Madrid. Barça 103 – Real Madrid 90 (I’ve never seen them lose which is one reason for my pre-match anxiety)
3/ More players have switched from Barça to Madrid than the other way around with 17 going to the Spanish capital and only 4 coming to Catalunya. I wonder why? More money offered by Madrid? Barça preferring to get new players elsewhere?
4/ The other rivalry is between the team coaches – Guardiola and Mourinho. They share a first name but for Guardiola it is the Catalan version Josep/Pep and Mourinho is known as Jose. In English? Joseph or Joe.
5/ When they speak in the after match discussion it is impressive how easily Guardiola slips between languages but I have just read that Morinho too speaks English, Italian, Spanish, French as well as Portuguese. Guardiola speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and Catalan so in this match there is a draw!
Three Golden Balls
Congratulations to Lionel Messi for winning his third Balon D’Or which names him the top footballer of the year. True to character he said in his acceptance speech that he would like to share it with Xavi, his team mate from Barcelona FC.
He’s not only the best but the most easy to like footballer that I know. Watch him speak and see him smile and you know he is intelligent as well as funny and charming. He’s only 24!
If you are like me and don’t know what the Balon D’Or is then here is the explanation.
If you’d just like to see him in action then try here. I love watching him run with the ball – and look at his long hair!