Straunge Strondes

Sagrada Familia

"Of the gladdest moments in human life, me thinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands.  Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Civilization, man feels once more happy." - Sir Richard Francis Burton

Dirt Life implies adventure and Sir Richard Francis Burton said it best.  Unearthing the time to travel becomes increasingly difficult with every passing sun so when the wind blows the dust off that world map, often hidden under an itinerary of daily routines, it's best to ride that sweet breath of Zephyrus.

Last week my sister and I embarked on a one-week adventure of two countries and three cities; Barcelona, Florence and Rome.  Our journey began from two different parts of the country with a rendezvous in Newark NJ before departing for Spain.  We passed the night 30,000 feet above sea level jetting towards the rising sun at 600 miles an hour. Filled with anticipation it was tough to get a wink of sleep, minds racing as our internal clocks had us arriving in the middle of the night.

Neither one of us had been to Spain but we did share one common characteristic to this unknown land; its language, which made our time here somewhat familiar.  Like two adventurers setting out on their next journey we shared the duties of navigation however it soon became clear who possessed a command for direction, thanks to that familiar Newtonian gadget.

Barcelona is a city rich in culture with the perfect balance between modern style and classic design and La Rambla is the perfect example with an abundance of riches.  Walk these narrow city streets at night and you're taken away on an incredible journey of sights, sounds and tastes.  The lighting, bouncing off the walls with nowhere to go, creates an ambiance one can only dream of.  With the subtle tones of Spanish guitar emanating through the corridors, imagine your hands around a chilled glass of Sangria, silently gazing into the eyes of your bella Simonetta and you will have found the most romantic place on earth.

El Raval Neighborhood

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

No conversation about Barcelona is complete without mentioning the extraordinary talents of Antoni Gaudi.  Inspired by nature, the Sagrada Familia is a sight to behold.  At first glance at the Nativity facade you could swear you're witnessing a mudslide in pause.  Step closer and you'll see that the Nativity facade includes many sculptures depicting scenes of Christ's birth.  Step inside and you're treated to a sensation of light, you simply won't believe your eyes.  Stained glass strategically placed illuminates the cavernous space with a kaleidoscope of light and columns as if growing from the marble floor into a canopy of tree branches are quite spectacular.  His genius is further exemplified in the Casa Mila and Casa Batllo located in the heart of Barcelona with highlights too numerous to mention.

Piazza del Duomo

After 2 days in Spain we hopped a plane to Rome where we boarded a train for Florence.  We arrived under a cloudy moon which cast an enchanting light over the Piazza del Duomo.  After checking into the Hotel Botticelli we set out for a brief stroll around the city, walking the same streets as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael had done over 500 years before.  Florence, known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a beautiful city which carries with it the spirit of the artists of the time.  An absolute jewel of Italy, you'll lose yourself in the art and architecture that defined the early modern age.

It's impossible to visit Florence without a trip to the Galleria dell'Accademia to view a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture.  You're greeted to the plaster cast model of The Rape of the Sabines by Jean de Boulogne.  Continue on to the main attraction; Michelangelo's David, placed exquisitely at the end of the Hall of the Prisoners, the unfinished project of Michelangelo for the tomb of Pope Julius II della Rovere.

The Colosseum

We capped our tour with a stop to the eternal city for 2 nights in a charming hotel; Hotel Caravaggio.  Rome, unlike Florence, is extremely busy.  Ancient relics such as the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon seem dwarfed by the activity of daily living but enter these attractions and you're taken back to the days of Julius Caesar and Imperial Rome.

Our last full day in Rome was spent wandering the halls of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica.  The audio tour was a bit hard to follow so if your knowledge of art is lacking you could find yourself staring at a fresco by Michelangelo by Raphael, if that makes any sense.  Of course no one can mistake the artist responsible for the spectacular display in the Sistine Chapel.  Recently restored, the colors are as brilliant as the day they were painted.  It's remarkable to see how little attention is paid to The Last Judgment on the altar wall.  Painted 25 years after the ceiling, The Last Judgment represents a much older and more thoughtful Michelangelo, much to the chagrin of critics within the Catholic Church at the time.

It's impossible to absorb fully the beauty and significance of Barcelona, Florence and Rome in a couple of days and even more difficult in our busy lives to carve out the time to such an endeavor but with a little preparation and a positive attitude, you too will find straunge strondes.

Dirt Life