JP visits barcelona jan 19, 2014

Jerome P. Hoban turned 40 years old December 21, 2014.  His wife Lisa’s birthday present was a trip to visit the Barcelona Hobans.  A fab gift for JP and even more fab for CB, corri and myself.  Thank you Lisa.  It was nice to have someone from home and a good time was had by all.   It was pre-arranged that after meeting us in Barcelona for a few days he would travel with me to Rome.  Main reason for visiting Rome was to take a pizza course given by a famous roman pizza maker, Gabriele Bonci.  Relax,  I am well aware that there are a few other reasons to visit Rome.  we will get to them too.

Corrinne fixed up her room for him with all the hotel conveniences, soaps, shampoo, and a paper electronic key that needed to be swiped across a paper reader to gain access to his room. If you did not make beeping noises as you swiped, it did not work.             

When traveling east to Spain from California  you get a bit jetlagged. Add to that,  a multi hour flight delay = one tired JP.  He slept pretty late the first few days.  Pretty easy guest as far as we were concerned.   When he was up and around we showed him some of Barcelona.  We walked around the oldest area of barcelona and ran into a bubble artist at catalunya square. 

JP contemplating bubble formation

Corrinne in the middle of it all

Catalunya square

 Jerome is a do-it-yourselfer, fixer, builder.  Like many of my sibs, he can build just about anything.  So interesting/unusual architecture  would be of interest to him.

ENTER, Barcelona’s own:  Atoni Gaudi.  Famous, early 20^th century, naturalist architect   who put his stamp and personality all over Barcelona. Gaudi designed structures using the natural forms he found in nature.  Many of his homes looked like something you would find in a Dr. Seuss children’s book.  Seriously,  Horton the elephant would not be out of place in Güell park.  

A quick park Güell history: Señor Güell was a wealthy industrialist that hired Gaudi to design and build many structures in Barcelona.  In 1910 the two of them set out to build a new home development  in the suburbs of Barcelona.  Gaudi completed several homes and outdoor spaces before the development lost steam.  Gaudi lived out the rest of his life (1927) in one of these homes.  After his death the development was abandoned and went into dis-repair.  In the 1970’s the buildings and market were renovated and the development was made a historical site/park named Güell park.  Barcelona has grown and Güell Park is no longer in the suburbs, but part of Barcelona proper.

One of the completed houses @ park Guëll

entry to the outdoor market Gaudi built in Guëll park

 

famous salamander

house

another house

under the canopy of the market.  each ceramic designs on the ceiling are unique 

We have seen many Gaudi buildings around Barcelona, but have not gone inside. We were waiting to go with out-of-town guests who might be interested in touring them. 

I was a fan of Gaudi’s work for its art value, but did not think I would enjoy living in one of his creations.  I thought it might get tiring, living in a comic book.  Not so. Not so.  
With Jerome we toured the Batlló family home on Gracia ave. Gaudì’s inspiration for this home was the “ocean.”  And everything in it took on a nautical theme.  it was awesome.  Everything he builds took on a naturalist form without sacrificing function.  He thought about every detail of the residence, windows were facing a strategic direction, they opened in strange ways (but easily), even the window latches were custom carved to fit a persons fingers.  He designed unique arches to support the building, custom woodwork to fit each room, custom tiles, and paint through-out. He even designed the furniture for each room.  I stood corrected.  I could live in this house, but it looked looked like a carnival from the outside

Casa Batlló,  behind my head is the window that corrinne is looking out in the next photo.

I wish I could find the daddy,  i'm a little afraid of being alone in this Dr. Seuss house!

fire place sitting area in living room

back patio

CB calling her friend to come check out this cool door.

one of severel chimneys on the roof

attic

we also visited the Gaudi designed, Sagrada Famìlia Basilica (Holy Family ).  Close to 100 years of construction and still not completed.  This cathedral with its garish, busy exterior is Gaudi’s interior masterpiece of light.   Here he reaches his goal of lifting the human spirit to the heavens.  A conversation with this man would have been interesting.

the cathedral is huge, so this is just one section of the outside.

Now for the inside.  night vs. day.  light and spectacular inside

taking a break

Istanbul, december 26, 2014

welcome to Istanbul, Turkey.  One of my new favorite cities.  I can't put my finger on the exact reason I like it so much.  I just do.
Istanbul has been the seat of government for several empires, Islamic, as well as Christian.  it is hard to walk more than a block without running into a mosque or Christian church, and it is not always easy to tell them apart because as new empires moved in, they changed the faith practiced in the structure, not the structure to the faith.

The Blue Mosque

Hague Sophia.  originally a Mosque,  changed to a Christian church,  now a museum

another view of the Blue Mosque

Hague Sophia at night

turkey is currently dealing with some political fallout.  I do not know the small details but apparently a percentage of the population feel that the current government is stealing money and abusing its power.  lately student have been holding demonstrations against the current president and his team.  on our second night there was a very large demonstration that became uncomfortable close to rioting.  we were in a restaurant not far from a large square that was a main gathering point for students.  we saw a lot of people running back and forth down the street. lots of yelling.  lots of chanting.   the restaurant proprietor insisted all was safe as they moved all their plants and advertisements from sidewalk into the restaurant.  other patrons where curious, but not concerned.  At that point I was not that concerned either.  I did get up and check the restaurant for a back exit for an escape plan if needed.  we continued with our dinner as things got more hectic.  I was facing the front window, so watched as people started dragging wooden desks and other stuff up the street.  a few minutes later there was a large bonfire blazing.  we finished dinner asap, paid, and left the scene.  outside was crowded but calm.  no one threatening anyone.  just a bunch of slogan chanting  down with the establishment kind of stuff.  a lot of people on the sidelines just watching.  we returned to our hotel on a side street a few blocks from the main road.  the noise and crowd continued late into the night, and eventually reached the area of our hotel.  at one point a tear-gas bomb was thrown down our street, and all the students took off running.  we were on the second floor just watching the drama.  interesting evening.  next day all was back to normal.  life as usual for the locals.

students getting some angst out

don't worry, I'm getting her out of there.  jeez, can't even enjoy a good bon-fire any more.

 Istanbul is where the the asian continent meets the european continent.  Not sure if that is a literal or traditional description,  but the west side of the Bosporus waterway (large river) is called "the european side," and a ferry ride across the Bosporus to the east you stand on "the asian side." we spent the majority of time on the european side, but enjoyed  a few ferry rides to asia and back.  the skyline of the city is dotted with large islamic mosques, and other centuries old structures.  it's ancient, and mysterious in the morning mist. I kept expecting james bond to go speeding by chased by the bad guys.

on the way back from Asia

 Istanbul is also home to the "grand bazaar,"  the largest market I have ever visited.  this market was a very cool,  but no longer authentic.  it was clean and well organized, and busy, but catered more to tourists and what they might want to bring home vs.  the locals and their everyday needs.

Corrinne had a sign made for her room

The Whirling Dervishes are a sect of Muslims that believe their dance ( and I am sure other practices that I am unaware of) helps them  become closer to God.  we watched a version of their practice, which consisted of about 45 minutes of whirling around in a circle.  I am uneducated on this spiritual practice. I assume it works for them,  they keep doing it,  and non of them threw-up.

Istanbul is foodie heaven. lots of great restaurants with prices comparable the the US.  A nice change from the frustrating lack of value found in Spain.   We stayed in Istanbul for a week, over the new year and returned to Spain on Jan 3.

Corrinne with her new-years eve shake

News years dinner

Happy 2014,  Corrinne after a few new years eve shakes.  party girl.

Christmas in germany 2013

We flew in to Frankfurt, Germany Monday morning Dec 23, 2014.   At the airport we met up with Cindy's sister Christy, her husband Andrew,  and son & daughter,  Brooks and Alison.  They were coming to Germany to spend two weeks with Andrew's brother John, an Army Sargent stationed in Germany.  What a trooper John was (a pun without trying).  he rented a large van to accommodate all of us,   drove three hours to pick us up at the airport,  then drove us all back (three hours) to the beautiful German town of Rothenburg.  then he stayed up to show us the town.   Rothenburg is a fantastic, preserved, walled (with moat), midieval city.  a fantastic place to be for Christmas.  the whole town was decorated for Christmas, and the first night we joined in the town's christmas market.  then we returned to the B&B where corrinnes cousins introduced her to poker.  she may have been the big winner that night.
we woke Christmas eve and John drove us all to the base he is stationed at, where he is in charge of the team that maintains apache helicopters.  we got an up-close look at these muscle copters.  very interesting, very high tech.
The next day was Christmas,  cold and beautiful in the town of Rothenburg.  we were all hoping to see the town covered in snow, but did not happen.  John made reservations months earlier at a very nice restaurant where we had a four hour lunch and Brooks ended up playing piano in the piano bar while the hired pianist was on his break.  it was a very relaxing day in a beautiful place.
next morning,  up and out, back to frankfurt to catch a flight to Istanbul, turkey.  Huge thank-you to Sargent John Macdonald for handling all the logistics of this visit.  he made the whole thing very easy.

one of the entrances to the old town

another entrance

Brooks & Allie on up, me, Christy, Andrew, John (in green), & CB

Brooks was piloting, Corrinne co-pilot for this flight

They asked my advice about a rotor problem  

CB decided to pilot the next flight.  wicked trigger thumb

Corrinne Marion 10 years old still loves hanging out with the daddy