Jerusalem, not really my favorite place I’ve visited… religion and its intensity on display at every corner. Trinkets for god. gods. saints. But the layers are fascinating. Stone on stone. A temple, a church, a mosque. This guy can go here, that woman can’t. That guy, but not that guy is welcome. Rules layered on rules. A place of complexity and hypocrisy.
I spy the Dome
Villa Savoye and when Harper learned to crawl. She just needed the Corbusier inspiration.
| City: | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 95°, sunny |
| Site: | 1st Arrondissement |
| Activity: | walking, Palais Garnier, Musee D’Orsay |
After landing from our overnight flight from NYC we rushed into that relentless Paris sunlight otherwise we may have slept the day away. Even with our baby missing half a nights sleep we saw a lot of Central Paris:
Galeries Lafayette Haussman
Palais Garnier
Amazing Sandwiches from Le Petit Vendôme
Eating in the Tuileries Garden
Monet Water Lillies at Musee L’Orangerie
Impressionism of Musee D’Orsay
Walk by the Louvre, Palais Royal
| City: | Madrid, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 65°, sunny |
| Site: | Caixa Forum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
| City: | Granada, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 63°, sunny |
| Site: | Alhambra, Generalife, and Nasrid Palace |
| Activity: | 4 hour tour |
We learned about the Alhambra in Architectural History and we’ve been really looking forward to getting over there since then. Problem was, I didn’t realize how many other people felt the same way. It was probably the most crowded architectural site I’ve ever been to. (more than the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, Statue of Liberty…) So actually touring the site wasn’t as enjoyable as I hoped, but it was beautiful. And HUGE. It’s a walled city on a hill with multiple palaces and gardens.
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | beach, Barcelona Pavillon, Contemporary Art Museum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
We did so much in our short 36 hours in Barcelona, mostly by hopping in and out of cabs which were really easy and cheap. Probably the best part of the day was Paella on the beach. I don’t take photos of food but I’m kind of regretting that decision this time. Our big plate of rice, muscles, scallops, shrimp, rabbit, and sausage… perfectly yellow with saffron. And a glass of white wine to wash it down with.
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Hospital de la Santa Creu |
| Activity: | colors |
This hospital was not designed by Gaudi, but it shares its whimsy and time period with many of Gaudi’s work. Also, Gaudi died here after getting hit by a tram. The Hospital de la Santa Creu is another example of Catalan civil-Gothic architecture
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Casa Batllo |
| Activity: | Dodging high school tour groups |
So many amazing details to comment on. See below. Every tiny bit of this home is thought out.
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Sagrada Familia |
| Activity: | Looking Up |
More of a collage, hodge podge, Disney castle than I expected but still had some really beautiful moments. Like those colors inside! Expected completion… 2028. Almost 150 years after it was started.
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Casa Mila |
| Activity: | Roof climbing |
Casa Mila was designed by Gaudi in 1906 and was full of textures, colors, curves. Loved it. Just wish we could live in an apartment where someone cared to design everything down to the window hardware.
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Park Guell |
| Activity: | climbing stairs, sitting on park benches |
When you go to Barcelona, even if you’re not looking for him, you will find Antonio Gaudi. Alex and I were very much in search of Gaudi’s famous works so we started the day early with his Park Guell.
| City: | Fez, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 80°, sunny |
| Site: | Nejjarine Museum of Wood Crafts |
| Activity: | climbing stairs, looking at wood artifacts |
| City: | Fez, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 80°, sunny |
| Site: | Jewish Cemetery, Royal Palace |
| Activity: | reading tombstones |
Day 2 in Fez, we visited a couple Jewish synagogues and their massive tomb site. The Royal Palace isn’t open for visitors but the entry gate is pretty impressive.
| City: | Fez, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 75°, sunny |
| Site: | The Medina & Tanneries |
| Activity: | getting yelled at by shop owners |
The stank of Fez Tanneries is worth enduring for a glimpse at the leather making process of Morocco. We were harassed by a few different guys trying to get money out of us just to see the tannery, but it was pretty amazing seeing the vats of dye, fresh hides, and over worked donkeys.
| City: | Fez, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 75°, sunny |
| Site: | The Medina |
| Activity: | photographing shops |
| City: | Marrakech, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 80°, sunny |
| Site: | The Medina |
| Activity: | attempting to barter |
Everything feels photogenic in Morocco. Bright colors and textures on all surfaces. And to be expected, aggressive bartering for anything you want to buy.
| City: | Marrakech, Morocco |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 75°, sunny |
| Site: | Jardin Majorelle or YSL Garden |
| Activity: | Museum of Marrakech, looking at Cacti |
This is a 12 acre garden originally designed by a French artist in the 1920s, YSL purchased in 1980 so you can also do some pricey shopping here now.
