My Visual Travel Experience: Barcelona

I've had the good fortune of visiting Barcelona on three occasions. In 1988, my parents took us there when I was just 15. In 2004, I went there again when I traveled around France and Spain. Then in 2014, my wife, Reshmi, was pregnant and the doctor had advised her to avoid flying; I was in a bit of a predicament, because many years ago, I had promised myself that "I'll do at least one international trip every year"; it seemed hard to manage one that year, without causing a major ruffling of feathers; then as it happened, my wife's 12 year old talented nephew, Romir, got an opportunity to go to Barcelona to play a football tournament at FCB, and his mother, Laily, was very nervous about his travelling alone; she voiced her concern, and I grabbed the opportunity and said "For the little fellow's sake, I'll go along", and that's how I managed my international trip in 2014 without ruffling feathers, because I was, after all, going ONLY because of my wife's nephew!!

Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona, a city of 1.6 million inhabitants and the capital of the state of Catalonia in Spain, is a fascinating sea-side town. It is vibrant (particularly along Las Ramblas, one of the liveliest streets anywhere!), it has beautiful architecture (the work of the renowned architect Antonio Gaudi can be seen all over the city), it has a lot of history, it is an art lover's paradise, and it is practically a pilgrimage site for sports lovers (with the FCB, and with the Olympic Stadium dating back to the 1992 Summer Olympics). One thing that one has to be wary about though, are crooks who are eager to con tourists and take off with their valuables - unfortunately, that's something common to otherwise amazing cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Rome.

Sagrada Familia is a church that is Barcelona's most iconic landmark. The work was given to Gaudi in the late 19th century. He didn't finish it in his lifetime, and even a century later, the church isn't fully complete. The church has some beautiful bas-reliefs along its exterior, depicting scenes from the life of Christ.

The Nativity Facade along the
exterior of Sagrada Familia

The interior of Sagrada Familia

Crypt Ceiling, Sagrada Familia

Barcelona Cathedral was completed in the 19th century. It is a Gothic cathedral, with a large central steeple. It has a large cloister and an open courtyard. The cathedral has a beautiful alabaster sarcophagus of St Eulalia from the 14th century in its crypt.

Sarcophagus of St Eulalia at the
crypt of Barcelona Cathedral

Ceiling, Barcelona Cathedral

Las Ramblas is an avenue that starts from Place de Catalunya and ends at the Christopher Columbus Monument near the sea (the monument was erected at the spot where Columbus arrived in 1493 after discovering America). The avenue is full of souvenir stalls, restaurants, cafes, and designer stores. The central part of the avenue is pedestrianized. Las Ramblas has well known city landmarks like the Bouqueria (a well known food market, covered with a wrought iron and glass structure), the Erotic Museum (with its numerous exhibits of eroticism through the ages), and Museu Cera (a wax museum with figures of Spanish personalities as well as international celebrities).

Chunks of meat displayed at
La Bouqueria on Las Ramblas

Plaza Reial (a beautiful city
square) off Las Ramblas

Christopher Columbus Monument, Las Ramblas

Kamasutra Painting at Museu Erotica,
Las Ramblas

Alonso V at Meseu Cera,
Las Ramblas

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya lies within a beautiful domed building on Montjuic Hill. The building was built for the 1929 International Exhibition. The museum's main highlights are the beautiful sculptures and church murals from the 11th to 16th centuries. There are also paintings by masters like El Greco and Rubens. Other notable museums in Barcelona include the Museu Picasso (famous for Picasso's numerous modern renditions of Velazquez's masterpiece "Las Meninas") and Fundacio Juan Miro.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

A 12th century crucifixion statue at
Museu Nacional d'Art de Calunya

El Greco's Christ Carrying the Cross, 
Museu Nacional d'Art de Calunya

Rubens' The Virgin, St Isabel and St John the Baptist, 
Museu Nacional d'Art de Calunya

Forment's Apostles Group

Some notable buildings completed by Gaudi across the city include Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. There's also his Parc Guell, an innovative creation commissioned by Count Guell in the 1890s. Parc Guell has iconic structures like a long snaking balcony with colourful murals, the Warden's House and the Porter's Lodge. Gaudi's House can also be visited at Parc Guell. He lived there from 1906 to 1926 - he died in 1926 after being hit by a tram!

The Warden's House and the Porter's Lodge at Parc Guell

Gaudi's House, Parc Guell

Lizard Sculpture at Parc Guell

Gaudi's Casa Batllo

Parc de la Ciutadella is a popular park which was the venue of the 1888 Universal Exhibition. The park's most notable site is a fountain with a triumphal arch. The Arc de Triumf and Barcelona Zoo (ranked very high among zoos across the world) also lie around Parc de la Cuitadella.

The fountain at Parc de la Ciutadella

Cascade Sculpture, Parc de la Ciutadella

Arc de Triumf

Llamas at Barcelona Zoo

Zebra at Barcelona Zoo

Byson at Barcelona Zoo

Camp Nou Stadium is the home of FC Barcelona, one of the world's best football clubs. The large stadium has a capacity of almost 100,000 and it was built in 1957. It has hosted a number of important football matches in some of the world's most prestigious tournaments.

Camp Nou

Tibidabo lies up on a hill and is reached by the Blue Tram, followed by a funicular railway. It offers splendid views of the city. The Church of the Sacred Heart and a popular amusement park are the major attractions of Tibidabo.

Church of the Sacred Heart at Tibidabo

Amusement Park at Tibidabo

Upper Chapel at Church of the
Sacred Heart, Tibidabo

A little outside Barcelona, an hour's train ride away and barely 60 km northwest of the city, lies the Monastery of Montserrat, which was established in the 11th century and rebuilt in 1844. The monastery lies up on a hill. From the railway station, one can get to the top of the hill either by cable car or by funicular railway. The monastery houses the famous wooden statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, which according to legend, was brought by St Peter in 50 AD.

The Monastery of Montserrat

High Altar, Monastery of Montserrat

Facade, Monastery of Montserrat

Sculptures of the Apostles, Monastery of Montserrat

Cable Car Station, Montserrat

Two towns in Catalonia that are not far off and are well worth visiting are Figueres and Girona. Day long bus tours can take visitors to both towns for a charming visit.

Figueres lies about 140 km northeast Barcelona and has a population of about 45,000. It is famous for housing the Salvador Dali Museum. The museum has a huge collection of the eccentric artist's work. The town was heavily bombed in the Spanish Civil War in 1938, but was rebuilt.

The Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres

Dali's Venus Di Melo at Salvador Dali Museum,
Figueres

Dali's Palace of the Winds at Salvador Dali Museum, 
Figueres

Dali's Moses and an Octopus at
Salvador Dali Museum, Figueres

Dali's Abraham Lincoln at Salvador Dali Museum, Figueres

Girona is a city with a population of 100,000. It lies about 100 km northeast of Barcelona. It boasts of two famous churches - Girona Cathedral and the Church of St Felipe. Girona is a charming little town to walk around in. Girona Cathedral is approached by a flight of over 80 steps and lies at the spot of an ancient cathedral that was used by the Moors as a mosque and was rebuilt after their expulsion.. Church of St Felipe is a Gothic church with a facade dating to the 14th century. The church has the tomb of the valiant Alvares and a chapel dedicated to St Narsissus. 

A view of Girona with the Church of St Felipe 
and the Cathedral

Church of St Felipe, Girona

Altar of St Narcissus, Church of St Felipe, Girona

Cathedral, Girona

Interior of Cathedral, Girona

Barcelona is certainly one of the most interesting cities in the world. The city's architecture, inspired by Gaudi, is the icing on the cake, but other attractions like the vibrant Las Ramblas, the churches, the museums and the buzzing markets all contribute in making Barcelona the joy that it is!

My Visual Travel Experience: Vienna

I lived in Vienna for 4 years, from 1985 to 1989. My father served there as the Indian Ambassador, and I went to the Vienna International School, which was a truly international school and had kids from over 70 countries (thanks largely to the fact that Vienna is a truly international city, with the headquarters of organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency).

In 2001, when I started my international travels in a big way, Vienna was one of the first places I visited. I went back to our old house, met my old school friends, and absorbed the pretty sights of this magical city. I traveled there several times after that, most recently for the 20th anniversary of my class's graduation in 2011. During my last trip, my wife accompanied me, and I got to show her the beautiful city I grew up in!

Statue of Johann Strauss at Stadtpark

Vienna is a very historical city and was the capital of the Austro Hungarian Empire, ruled by the Habsburg Dynasty. Two prominent rulers from the Habsburg Empire were Empress Maria Theresia (who ruled in the middle of the 18th century) and Emperor Franz Josef (who ruled near the end of the 19th century, and who was responsible for a lot of the city's magnificent architecture).

Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) lies in the heart of the city. The Gothic cathedral dates back to the 15th century AD and is characterized by its tall steeple and its beautiful roof, which is covered by colourful glazed tiles that also depict the double eagle Imperial emblem of the Habsburgs. Its tower is 136 meters in height. The cathedral was badly damaged in World War II, but it was restored to its former glory within a few years.

Stephansdom

Screen at Stephansdom

Relief, Stephansdom

Stephansdom is at the northern end of Karntner Strasse, a fashionable pedestrian street full of shops, cafes and restaurants. Sacher Hotel, famous for it Sacher Torte (the delicious Austrian chocolate cake), is at the southern end of Karntner Strasse, close to the popular Opernhaus (the Opera House). The Sacher Torte has been around since 1832, and though it is public knowledge that it is a chocolate cake coated with apricot jam, the exact recipe is a well kept secret of the hotel!

Sacher Torte at Hotel Sacher

Karntner Strasse

The Graben is a short pedestrian street close to Stephansdom, and it has the Pestsaule, the victory column built to commemorate the end of the feared 16th century plague that killed scores of people.

Plague Column at Graben

Close by, there's Peterskirche (St Peter's Church), with its large green dome and rich baroque interior. The church dates back to the early 18th century AD. The extent of detailed paintings on the ceiling and along the walls is truly remarkable.

Exterior of Peterskirche

Peterskirche, with its 
baroque interior

Dome of Peterskirche

The Ringstrasse is a road that encircles the city centre. It has some of Vienna's best known landmarks along it. There's the famous Fine Arts Museum, one of the world's best known art museums, with masterpieces by artists like Titian, Brueghel, Vermeer, Raphael and Canova.

Arcimboldo's Summer 
at Fine Arts Museum

Brueghel's Peasant Wedding 
at Fine Arts Museum

Brueghel's Peasant Dance, Fine Arts Museum

Vermeer's Artist's Studio 
at Fine Arts Museum

Raphael's Madonna of the Meadow 
at Fine Arts Museum

Titian's Violeta 
at Fine Arts Museum

Other landmarks along the Ringstrasse include the Opernhaus, the Parliament (with its classical Greek architecture, and large sculpture of Athena, the Greek goddess of Wisdom), the Natural History Museum, the Hofburg Palace (which boasts of the Royal Apartments where Emperor Franz Josef lived with his wife Elisabeth, the Treasury, and the Spanish Riding School that has performances by the world famous Lipizzaner horses) and the Rathaus (the town hall, with its Gothic tower). Two famous sculptures that lie along the Ringstrasse are those of classical musicians who brought international fame to the country - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss.

Parliament

Rathaus

Hofburg Palace

Bust of Christ, Schatzkammer, Hofburg Palace

Chinese Plates, Silberkammer, Hofburg Palace

Sculpture of Hercules at Michelsplatz,
Hofburg Palace

Augustinerkirche is a church that lies near Hofburg Palace. The church was originally built in the 14th century, but the gothic interior was added in the 18th century. The Loreto Chapel holds the silver urns with the hearts of the Habsburg rulers. Their bodies are kept in the Imperial Crypt. The church also has the Monument to Maria Christina, made by the famous sculptor Antonio Canova in 1805.

Augustiner Kirche

Canova's Monument to Maria Christina,
Augustiner Kirche

Just outside of the Ringstrasse lies the beautiful Karlskirche (St Charles Church), with its large green dome, Roman columns, and richly painted interior. The church was built by Emperor Karl IV to commemorate the end of the plague. The inside of the dome is intricately painted with Christian religious themes like the Holy Trinity.

Karlskirche

High Altar at Karlskirche

Painting on the Dome of Karlskirche

Close by, there's also the Belvedere Palace, which is in the midst of spacious, beautiful lawns. Inside, there's a fine collection of paintings, including those by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt (most notably his best known painting, "The Kiss"). The complex consists of the Lower Belvedere and the Upper Belvedere, and dates back to the 17th century AD. It was used as the summer palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy.

Belvedere Palace

Sphinx in the Garden, Belvedere Palace

Prater is a well known amusement park, that has a giant ferris wheel, known locally as the Riesenrad. In recent years, a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum was opened at the Prater. In addition to wax sculptures of international celebrities, there are also well known Austrian personalities featured, like Emperor Franz Josef, Empress Elisabeth, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Prater with the Riesenrad

Wax figure of Empress Elisabeth, wife of
Emperor Franz Josef, at Madame Tussauds

Wax figure of Emperor Franz Josef
at Madame Tussauds

Wax figure of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
at Madame Tussauds

One of Vienna's best known attractions is the grand Schonbrunn Palace, a little far from the city centre, but very well connected to it through the city's extensive underground metro network. It was the summer palace of the Habsburg Empire. The origins of the palace date back to the 16th century AD, but it attained its present grandeur during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia in the middle of the 18th century. Emperor Franz Josef spent many years there and died there in 1916. The palace is among Europe's finest. Visitors can visit the palace's various regal rooms, as well as attractions at the complex like the Gloriette archway, the Neptune Fountain, the Imperial Carriages Museum, the Privy Garden and the Vienna Zoo.

Schonbrunn Palace

Gloriette Triumphal Arch at Schonbrunn Palace

Privy Garden at Schonbrunn Palace

Imperial Carriage Museum at Schonbrunn Palace

Palm House at Schonbrunn Palaca

Lion at Schonbrunn Zoo

Visitors interested in local food can't leave without having the famous Sacher Torte, coffee at one of the numerous local cafes, the renowned Wiener Schnitzel, and wine in the city's Heurigen district. For music lovers, try and catch a classical music performance at the Opernhaus or the Musikverein. For nature lovers, go on a cruise along the beautiful River Danube, or go for a walk in the Vienna Woods!

Mozart statue at Burggarten

This city of about 1.7 million residents ranks among the world's best cities to live in, in survey after survey. For a visitor too, it offers more than most cities I have been to. Clearly a must for anyone interested in travel, whether it is for the city's architectural grandeur, its art, its music, its culture, or its food!