SPANISH CHURCH 144 YEARS IN THE MAKING

When members of Spain’s Spiritual Association of Devotees of St Joseph conceived the idea in his honour of a massive church whose tallest of eighteen spires would make it the highest religious building in Europe, they had little idea just how long their dream would take to fulfil.

For it was started 135 years ago, and it will be another nine before it is finally completed in 2026.

 

 

 

Still under construction 135 years on, and with nine still to go before it is officially completed, Barcelona’s basilica of La Sagrada Familia.  (Wikimedia)

 

The Basilica of La Sagrada Familia ("Holy Family") was begun in Barcelona in March of 1882 and by the time it is finished it will have taken longer to build than all of Egypt’s pyramids, and just 50 years less than the 8,852km Great Wall of China.

And will justify what its pious architect, Antoni Gaudi when asked why it was taking so long to complete, replied simply: “My client is not in a hurry.”  His ‘client,’  of course, being God.

Gaudi died at 74 years of age when hit by a tram in 1926, his Sagrada Familia far from completed. Many critics say builders have strayed widely from his original masterful concept, but as most of his plans were destroyed during the 1930s Spanish Civil War, today’s work relies largely on guesswork as to what Gaudi had in mind.

The huge centre-piece of the church will be eighteen massive spires: one for each evangelist, one for every apostle, and one each for The Virgin Mary and Jesus, His being the highest and central spire and 170m tall.

 Today 3,000,000 people a year visit Sagrada Familia as work goes on around them, contributing E25,000,000 in entrance fees towards its completion in 2026 – the centenary of architect Gaudi’s death.

Supplied by guest writer David Ellis.

 

                                                                 

 

Samoa soooo good

A short few days on an island that should be mandatory to be the place that you have a holiday after a holiday. Get me?
Most holidays include activities such as: going to museums, having adventures, taking long walks around cities, exploring temples, cathedrals, castles and grand homes. We have holidays that are busy, intense, full of meeting new people and generally enjoying time out from the 'normal' life.

The over water fales - that's my little house on the water in the foreground.

But when you need a holiday of the old-fashioned sort - one where you sleep when the urge comes on, eat whenever you feel like it and swim because there's a perfect beach underfoot.
That's Samoa. I headed there for a few days and suddenly became a vegetable. I arrived at 6am after the overnight flight from Sydney. Checked in to Coconuts Resort
http://www.samoa.travel/accommodation/a2/Coconuts-Beach-Club--Resort-and-Spa
has an early breakfast and went to sleep for four hours. Woke in a daze, and went walking on a palm-tree fringed beach, then walked into the sea - perfect aquamarine colour and clear to the sandy bottom. Dinner, sleepy again and back to bed.
Next day drove the island to see the pretty villages that would put any "Tidy Town' show off to shame. Clipped gardens, tropical plants and colourful painted village meeting houses.
Back to Coconuts for an afternoon nap, swim and then dinner . . .

Last day - visit to Apia, the big smoke, and a meander through Robert Louis Stevenson's home.
A few snaps of the the crazily coloured buses - they are tops, and back to eat, sleep and swim.
It's all about having a holiday after a holiday.

Spring fever

It's all happening – the new travel brochures are being launched for 2010. Yesterday I joined the Insight Vacations people to have a lovely lunch at Pier Restaurant in Sydney's Rose Bay (divine seafood) and to hear what's on the menu for next year. Top news is the 'Select' program for independent minded travellers. Choose an orientation tour in each city or a range of 'Experience' packages. This is flexible and fun. More information from www.insightvacations.com

The picture here is of Brian and Wynne Eldridge, winners of the 2008 Get Up & Go award for most the adventurous traveller (60 years and over). Brian and Wynne are enjoying their prize trip to India. In the summer edition of the magazine (out end of December) we'll publish Brian's memories of this fantastic trip. What super troupers they are.

And something to ponder on this week: the Aussie dollar against the US$, buy a few bucks now - it's at an excellent rate. Buy while high, I say! And a trip to the US will be cheap, cheap, cheap.

This takes the cake!

I've been sorting through some photographs I've taken on my travels and came across his cake one. I have happy memories of these cakes. I was in Adelaide and had a day to spare before going off on a Captain Cook cruise on the Murray last November. I wandered around town to see what was new since my last visit. Saldechin is a splendid old bank building that has been converted into something special in the cafe/restaurant bar area. You can eat breakfast, lunch, cafe snacks, yum cha and an Asian Cajun dinner here. And in the afternoon enjoy these splendid little morsels with a choice of a sophisticated selection of tea available.

Adelaide is a foodie kind of town isn't it.

Saldechin is at 21 King William Street and you can see what's on offer at www.saldechin.com – and did I mention the martini bar there?

To the back of beyond

Just flown up from Sydney and at Brisbane airport waiting for a connection to Charleville. Heading for the Qld gateway to the outback for a couple of days and so looking forward to it. It's great to get out of the city and be in the middle of all that space.
I was watching as I went through security, second time today, as a fellow traveller was down on his knees, undoing his shoes, and stuck down there. Then he had to take off his belt - all par for the course I know but how about a couple of chairs for the older folk airports? Then again, how about remembering to wear slip-on shoes travellers ? You have been warned.
Looking out on the tarmac now and see a very small plane getting baggage loaded on to it - I think that's my transport! Off I go.

Dry July

Just had an excellent weekend at Coffs Coast on the north coast of NSW. Only 45 minutes by plane and you are in the lovely region of mountains, national parks, brilliant coastal beaches, charming hinterland towns and the main event is Coffs Harbour a burgeoning country coastal town. Good restaurants and cafes spread the love and coffee mets high expectations.

Sawtell was the location doe Saturday's Chilli Festival - al things hot and heavy. Lots of punters, and stalls selling the best of bottled heat.

This is the area to spend the winter holidays - not too hot, not too cold - just right!