Barcelona from mid-November through early January is ablaze with holiday lights.
On my recent trip I could have concentrated on the golden glow of Antoni Gaudi's astonishing Sagrada Familia cathedral.
a section of the still unfinished cathedral, started in 1882, a masterpiece of Gaudi surrealism, glowing golden at night
But of all the glistening lights that transform Barcelona into a magical city, the blue lights were what captured my attention a couple of weeks ago. Many thousands of them overhang streets, dripping and draping from one side of the road to the other, sparkling in every shape and size.
Neighborhoods add lights every year, and the newest lights, even the blue ones, are green, energy saving LEDs.
Come along with me on a magical December evening stroll in Barcelona, and enjoy the blues of the Christmas season in Spain.
strings of lights overhang most Barcelona streets, many for miles
lights seem to string into infinity along the main shopping street, Paseo Gracia
bedecked Barcelona streets and buildings
blue stars and swirls, and a red-hot hotel sign
starry, starry night
rows and rows of those same lights, along a narrow Barcelona street, as holiday strollers take the traditional evening paseo
Plaza Cataluna, Barcelona's center, draped in glittering lights
lights on the pedestrian street, La Rambla
palm trees and a creche by the Mediterranean harbor
and a more traditional, blazing blue Barcelona tree
Except for the lights, I hope it's not a blue Christmas for you.
May your new year be filled with color.
Happy Holidays and much love!
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
David Kinne
Sean Murphy
Marcie J
Kathy Peacock
Christine Macdonald
Brian Carter
Salon.com
Comments
Rated.
And Cat, what a great idea.
Thank you Lea for sharing, and Merry Christmas. R
The lights are my favorite part of this season and I've never been to Spain.
I want to go NOW!
Happy Holidays to you!
:-)
Thanks (yet again) for taking me somewhere I'll never go, Lea. What amazing photos.
Happy Holidays Lea.
Thanks for taking me along to see the pretty here.
I some times think you have been every where on the earth dear!
Happy Holidays! RRR
Eerily beautiful Gaudi cathedral. I just can't stop looking at it.
Love the palm trees and the plaza cataluna!
Thank you so much!
Hope your holiday is the best!
Stunning Lea...thank you for the journey through azul and beyond...
R~~
What a beautiful canvas on which to paint the Blue.......
A few answers/comments:
Owl, I was there in the summer of '89 as well. Was mugged badly, alas, outside the Picasso museum. Maybe we passed each other. I was the one with the dazed look.
Harry, I didn't have time to go to museums this time, but Picasso and Miro lived here and their museums are especially fine.
Steve, I'm fast. Comes with writing lots about travel over the years on deadline. And I was planning to write something about Barcelona lights anyway. And Cat's color call was ideal.
Patrick, I came close in Egypt and Israel, but Petra is still on my short list. Would love to see it.
Karen, lucky you to have been there. It should be high on bucket lists. It is most beautiful in the winter, I do think.
scanner, the cathedral and started in 1882, and Gaudi was killed by a streetcar in 1926 . Since then the cathedral has been slowly developing, more or less along his surreal design. It is gigantic and some say it will not be finished until 80 more years. My photo is only a section of it.
Gary, that sounds pretty delicious.
Rated for love of place and people.
Hope you're there surrounded by love.
Nikki, how about half Paris, half Barcelona. Ah, dreams.
Owl, I was mugged midday, right in front of the museum. I didn't get to your area, so maybe we didn't pass each other. One downside of this beautiful city: lots of pickpocketing.
Feliç Nadal! ¡Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!
life, see above comments for answers to your questions.
Sally, the lights are reused, and new ones are LED. I guess beauty is a priority, and one of the reasons I love the lifestyle there. And taxes are high. Maybe revenues come out of that.
Gaudi and Barcelona have been obsessions of mine for many years too, Stellaa. I'm a huge fan of early 20th-century architecture, what we call arts nouveau, but what is called by other names as well, depending on the region. Gaudi is one of many masters who was designing this city at that time, and many houses, zoos, parks and concert halls are truly amazing, and can be visited.
Your post made me very happy for you to be able enjoy the beauty you described so well.
Rated and appreciated
Happy Holidays to you, my friend. Wishing you a season full of love, joy, peace and beauty.
I remember going to London for the first time and being wowed by the traditions there...ours pale in comparison nowadays.
Happy Holidays Lea!
Rated and Feliz Navidad!
Have a happy!
Merry Xmas Lea.
Wonderful post.
When asked when the cathedral would be finished, Gaudi joked "My client is not in a hurry." Not in a hurry - just promenading on the ramblas under blue lights.