Did you make sandcastles in your childhood? Let’s remember. You dig a hole not far from the water, a deep hole, take a handful of wet sand “gruel,” and raise your hand. Drops slide out of your fingers, fall down on their brothers, settle in bizarre fluid forms, and your small miracle castle begins to grow right in front of your eyes. Turrets, walls, passages, loopholes, stairs…
I am seven years old. Black Sea. My small sandcastle.
Perhaps, the great architect, Antoni Gaudi, remembered sandcastles. When he grew up, he built his childish castle out of concrete; however, he did not succeed in finishing it.
Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona, Spain
Who ever would have thought to portray Christ like THIS?! We can only wonder if it is a revolutionary attitude of the Pope.
Sagrada Familia “flows down.” Figures of people, animals, birds, plants, fruits, snakes, helices—the whole world lives here. This is the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my life, and the most unusual.
I am standing nearby.
You have grown, my little childish sandcastle.
Now you will not be washed away by naughty waves.
You will not be destroyed by envy.
You will stand here hundreds of years after my death.
Bravo, Master! You paid a very high price for this miracle, but I hope you are not sorry where you are now.
They are beginning to cover Sagrada Familia with colorful ceramic tiles.
I am afraid the “sandy” look of the building will be harmed.
More about Spain:
A Dreamboat of Photographers—Alcazar of Segovia
Watch Your Step! You are in Madrid!
Spanish Segovia: Five World Famous Sites in One Place
December 20, 2011 at 11:29 am
Beautiful; how unique! Thank you for posting!
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October 23, 2014 at 6:47 am
Thank you for reading.
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December 20, 2011 at 11:59 am
Sadly, I can’t see just one of the photos 😦 I love the Sagrada Familia and hope I can visit it one day 🙂
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December 20, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Try to refresh the page. All the photos are on the places.
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December 20, 2011 at 12:16 pm
That has to be the most unique piece of architecture I have ever seen. The detail is incredible. Thank you for sharing.
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February 8, 2013 at 9:39 pm
The same with me. Thank you.
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December 20, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Great pictures that reminded me of my visit there – Thanks!
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December 20, 2011 at 11:54 pm
These architectural buildings are absolutely wonderful.. and I love your sand castle structure in the top photos as well. Amazing post
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October 23, 2014 at 6:50 am
Thank you very much. It is obvious that you remember your sandcastles.
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December 21, 2011 at 2:35 am
I had the thought about the sand-castle, too. Looks like I need to visit again to get a better look … we were rather pushed for time in 2009. Ant, the cranes were still there; it looks much better without them! http://travelrat.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/geese-at-the-cathedral/
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December 21, 2011 at 2:52 am
Yes, yes… PhotoShop can do miracles 🙂
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December 21, 2011 at 6:59 am
This is great! I saw it in 2009 and loved it. Loved your sand castle connection!
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October 23, 2014 at 6:51 am
That was my first impression.
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December 21, 2011 at 5:47 pm
It is an amazing structure… I love Antonio Gaudi’s architectural feats. Happy Holidays! 🙂
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December 21, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Thank You, Elizabeth. Merry Christmas!
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December 22, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I love Gaudi’s work. Barcelona is such a great place to be! Have you been to Parc Guell? I love that!
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December 22, 2011 at 9:08 pm
No, we have not seen the Park, but I am sure we’ll do it next time.
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December 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm
this is probably the most complex yet beautifil building thay i have ever seen. me and my friends joked a bit that “gaudi must be really crazy to come up with such a piece of art”. he has made a lot of buildings in barcelona and yes they are such a masterpiece. i look forward to the day til i come back there.
great pictures! ypu captured then wonderfully.
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December 22, 2011 at 9:05 pm
All geniuses are a little crazy. But other question is: how the Pope adopted it?
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December 23, 2011 at 1:42 am
HI Victor – I love your posting on Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia – the sandcastle analogy is just perfect! Thanks for liking my Austria post – I wonder if you read my one on Barcelona a couple of weeks ago – it was all about Gaudi and the Sagarada Familia! http://wp.me/p1xyHR-4U – this is the short link to it. Gaudi obviously has a very profound impact on many people. Keep up the wonderful posts. Julie
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December 23, 2011 at 3:09 am
Very shortly. And where are photos?
Your posts have no photos.
Is this your principle to tell people about countries?
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December 23, 2011 at 11:48 am
Nice comparison:) Though it took Gaudi more effort to create Sograda Familia than for us to make a sand castle:) That is why he’s a genius:)
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January 29, 2013 at 3:51 am
Yes. So much efforts that Sagrada is not finished until this time.
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December 24, 2011 at 8:57 am
I went to Barcelona and had great expectations concerning the Sagrada Familla. The weather was very bad when I went there and the church looked very ugly from a distance. I was really dissapointed. Now that I see your close-up pictures I realize the idea behind all the work and the beauty that is hidding in the details.
Thanks a lot.
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December 24, 2011 at 10:09 am
Barselona is not so far from Madrid, and you have the oppoftunity to see Sagrada in the best weather.
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January 7, 2012 at 2:20 am
The sandcastle is delightful. I was entranced by the different styles within Gaudi’s building when I visited it. Your photos show the detail well.
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October 23, 2014 at 7:00 am
It was the main work of his life.
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January 7, 2012 at 4:25 am
I have seen the Gaudi’s interiors too and I will show it here soon.
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January 7, 2012 at 5:18 am
I will be interested in seeing them … the guide told us there ‘wasn’t much to see’, but, since then, several people have contradicted that.
There’s a slight possibility we may be visiting Barcelona in 2013 … that’s high on the list if we do go.
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January 7, 2012 at 6:10 am
Frankly speaking Gaudi’s exteriors I like more than his interiors.
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January 8, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Brilliant sandcastle. Just love it!
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October 23, 2014 at 7:01 am
Thank you, Marion.
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January 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I grew up in Florida making drippy sand castles. Great shots of both the sand and “real life” castles.
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October 23, 2014 at 7:02 am
It means, you must see this enormous sandcastle.
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October 23, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I have seen it – It’s amazing. I love the Gaudi park as well. What is it throw back Thursday? This comment is from two years ago:-) But I’m still here… and so are you! Cheers… wendy
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October 23, 2014 at 11:34 pm
I just reread the post and rewrote some of the comments. 🙂
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January 9, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Thought I would check out your blog since you were kind enough to “like” today’s offering on mine. Saw your photos here of the Sagrada Familia and reminded me that I will be traveling to Barcelona shortly and will no doubt spend a couple of hours circulating this incredible edifice. Thanks for sharing. I’m looking forward to my trip even more now …
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October 23, 2014 at 7:03 am
I hope you will like this city. Thank you.
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January 10, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I love the sandcastle version of the Sagrada Familia! A different view of a very familiar building.
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October 23, 2014 at 7:04 am
Maybe I am first who saw it? 🙂
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January 15, 2012 at 10:27 am
It is certainly a beautiful building, as are your sandcastles and photos.
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October 23, 2014 at 7:04 am
Thanks a lot.
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January 21, 2013 at 10:51 am
Very good! When we were in Barcelona and of course visited Sagrada Familia, we didn’t think of it in sand-castle terms — but that is the perfect analogy. It captures the child-like exuberance of the forms, as well as something of the texture.
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January 21, 2013 at 11:42 am
I was just trying to convey my feelings, standing next to this cathedral.
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January 27, 2013 at 11:26 am
This is one of my most favorite buildings in the world and one of my favorite architects too-lovely, lovely photographs.
And thank you too for stopping by to visit my blog-I do appreciate it-
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January 27, 2013 at 12:28 pm
The same with me. Thank you too.
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January 28, 2013 at 7:39 am
WOW! A very beautiful place. The detail is amazing.
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. May your day be filled with joy and peace.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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January 28, 2013 at 8:09 am
Thank you. Be happy and healthy too!
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January 28, 2013 at 11:43 pm
Such a great shot of you making a sand castle — perfect image to pair with La Sagrada Familia! I fondly remember making “drip castles” when I grew up during part of my childhood in Southern California. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Steph
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January 29, 2013 at 6:12 am
This is the happiness to spend childhood by the sea.
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February 8, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I love photographing Sagrada Familia — done so on at least two visits to Barcelona. Alas, I’ve yet to be there under anything but overcast skies. You’ve obviously had much better luck in Barcelona than have I.
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February 8, 2013 at 9:41 pm
I think Sagrada will be unusual even in cloudy sky.
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March 11, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Unbelievable, isn’t it, Victor? Your photos are fabulous.
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March 12, 2013 at 5:32 am
Thank you. The Sagrada is a very grateful object.
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