Last week’s post dealt with the rich history and independent spirit of Cataluña, and this week I want to continue on the topic by talking about one of the most famous people to hail from the region and who is still an indelible presence in Barcelona to this day: Antoni Gaudí.

Gaudí wasn’t a native Barcelonan but rather was born in 1852 in Tarragona, a town a bit farther South in Cataluña. He suffered from poor health as a child, and was therefore often confined to sedentary activities, such as observing nature and drawing in his sketchbook. He also was raised to be deeply religious, and this clearly influenced his work.

In 1868 he moved to Barcelona and began to study architecture at Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura. Gaudí was by no means an extraordinary student; he often skipped class to attend lecture in other fields, as he believe that architectural styles were not a product of aesthetic ideas, but rather the social and political climate. Regardless, he eventually got his diploma and set up his own firm.

A few months later, Gaudí met who would turn out to be a lifelong friend and invaluable supporter of his career: industrialist Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi. Here are a few of his most salient works, many of which were sponsored by Güell.

Gaudí designed Parc Güell’s physical structures, including these two houses. He also designed a Palacio Güell, again sponsored by his friend and partner.

The design of Casa Batlló was inspired by the legend of St. George fighting a dragon. The columns and balconies are supposed to resemble a skeleton.

Gaudí deeply upset his neighbors by building Casa Milá. They thought it was hideous and called it “La Pedrera,” or “stone quarry.”

As Gaudí developed as an artist, he began to withdraw from people and become even more religious. As he approached the end of his life, he devoted all of his time to La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family), a gargantuan cathedral and his obra maestra. Even though he was well-aware that he would not live to see it finished, Gaudí left highly detailed plans. He was only ever able to see one tower built, as he died in 1926 from injuries sustained in a tram accident. Currently there are eight towers completed, and Gaudí’s plan calls for 18 (and the tallest has yet to be built.)

This picture was taken in June 2012. It only shows one of the three intricate faces of the church, all of which depict a different phase in the life of Jesus. As you can see, La Sagrada Familia is still under construction. Gaudí was actually buried inside the cathedral partway through its construction, which began in 1882. The city of Barcelona hopes to finish it by 2026, commemorating 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí. Remarkably, the construction is funded entirely by private donors and the millions of people who visit every year. After seeing it in partial splendor, it’s not hard to understand the motivation to see it completed.

If you would like to see some better photos, look here.

Hi, blog group. I decided to keep my blog topic the same as last semester. One of my passions is the Spanish language, so my blog deals with all sorts of topics regarding Hispanic cultures throughout the world.

My visit to Spain coincided with the 2012 UEFA Euro Cup Championship. Though the event was hosted by Poland and Ukraine, on my first day in Madrid the game-day atmosphere was palpable. People were dragging television sets out into the street and adorning themselves in the spirit of La Roja (a nickname for the Spanish national fútbol team, based on their signature color.) One could not find a building without several Spanish flags hanging from balconies. Everyone felt a deep pride in their country that had produced the best team in the world.

A few days later on our last day in Barcelona, things were… different. That evening, Spain was playing a rival, Portugal, in the semifinals. Even though every bar and restaurant in the city was broadcasting the match, the people were not nearly as decked out in the characteristic red and yellow; when the people of Barcelona cheered, the people of Madrid rioted in the streets (in case you didn’t know, Spain beat Portugal 4-2 on penalty kicks. It was truly thrilling.)

The discrepancy lies not in love of fútbol; if FC Barcelona had been playing, the atmosphere would have been like Madrid, but rather the support of Spain. Barcelona is the capitol city of Cataluña, one of the seventeen “autonomous communities” of Spain. However, many of the inhabitants of Cataluña do not feel they are autonomous enough.

The region’s autonomous spirit is deeply embedded in the history of Spain. They developed separately, and only after a series of wars in the early 18^th century did Cataluña finally come under Spain’s military rule. Its independence was gained and lost by varying degrees throughout the early 20^th century, as at that point it had, as a coastal region, become the most industrialized part of Spain. However, Cataluña was absolutely crushed during the Spanish Civil War and under the rule of General Francisco Franco. Even the public use of its language, catalán, was banned, as Franco ruthlessly attempted to obliterate regional culture. After Franco, Cataluña’s economy was able to rebound due to its heavy industrialization, and the Spanish Constitution recognized Cataluña as a “nationality.” It has its own language and president, but must follow Spanish laws concerning justice and order (History of Catalonia).

Why is this relevant? This December, Cataluña’s parliament decided to conduct an independence referendum, acting against the Spanish Constitution’s policy on matters concerning sovereignty. The vote is to take place on November 9, 2014. Polls suggest that 52.3% want complete independence from Spain, and 47.4% would still take that at the price of exclusion from the European Union (EurActiv). This could lead to complications as the United Nations and EU must address this potential new member and countries must establish new economic and diplomatic relations with the budding nation. But perhaps the most important question of all: WHAT does this mean for the future of Spanish fútbol?!?!

“History of Catalonia.” Princeton University, 2013. Web. 29 January 2014

“Scotland and Catalonia gear up for independence votes.” EurActiv.com, 28 January 2014. Web. 29 January 2014.

Smaller than the state of West Virginia and lacking its own military, Costa Rica is a country that attracts very little of the world’s attention. However, this Central American gem has an ambiance as rich as its coasts. I was fortunate enough to spend a week there in June, and I would encourage you all to visit as well if the opportunity arises. And when you do visit, keep these points in mind:

1) Do not let the weather ruin your fun. It rains daily in Costa Rica from May- mid November and the hiking, rafting, and ziplining go on undisturbed.

2) The best part of Costa Rica is its natural beauty. I recommend seeing a few different climates; a beach and a rainforest area near one of CR’s many volcanoes are must-dos. Costa Ricans care deeply about the health of their country, so pay attention to their recycling/waste management practices.

3) Trust the locals, especially applicable the drivers. Most roads in Costa Rica have no painted lines and there is much swerving for bikes, dogs, etc.  Almost everyone I encountered was very friendly really seemed to want to help, even if there was a bit of a language barrier.

4) If you stay in a wildlife-heavy area, the howler monkeys will inevitably wake you up around 5:30. I suggest you roll with it, and go for a walk as monkeys are most active in the morning. And if you find a sloth, you can probably visit it everyday until you leave (they do no move much.)

5) Never forget: Pura Vida. This is a ubiquitous phrase in Costa Rica that can be used as a greeting, salutation, or general exclamation. It simply means ‘pure life’, which the Costa Ricans embody. So in the midst of the adventure and excitement, remember to take some time to relax and take it all in with some arroz con pollo.