SPAIN

Barcelona --> Sevilla --> Granada>

There are lots of impressive modernist architects works in Barcelona. One of the most outstanding architects is Gaudi and Temple of Sagrada Familia is his most important work.  Besides Gaudi, other modernist architects like Montaner and Cadafalch are also excellent.  In any event, if you are not afraid of theft or robbery, wandering in Barcelona can be an interesting thing to do.

Sevilla and Granada had been occupied by Islamic rulers.  Therefore some beautiful Islamic buildings can be found in Sevilla and Granada.

PHOTO GALLERY :

  Barcelona

      Sagrada Familia: Death Facade, Cubic statue, "Thinker", Birth Facade, "Tree" columns

       Architecture :  Amtiler, Batllo, Morera, Pedrera, Roof, Palau Guell (chimney), Punxes, Tapies

      Various aspects: Lobster, Plaza Reial, Boat

  Sevilla

　    Toro (bull fight) House, "Eyes"

            Plaza de Espagne (Spanish Plaza), Tower, Bridge

            Cathedral, Giralda (Minaret of Mosque)

            Building, Mozart with his "Fanda"

 Granada

        Alhambra: Courtyard, Palace, Garden, Lotus

           "Lego" Houses

MOROCCO 

Rabat --> Marrakech --> Fes --> Casabblanca

My experience in Morocco was disappointing.  The harassments including the sexual one were unbearable to me.

Although once ruled by France, I did not feel the atmosphere of French legacy in the cities except for the cafes all around where men sitting outside the cafes and watching over to the streets. 

The irony in this Islamic country is that there is a large area of red light district in the town centre in the biggest city in Morocco - Casablanca.  I also encountered open belly dancers in the Jamaah Square in Marrakech.  The women belly dancers moved their bellies hard but they always have black handkerchieves covered over their faces.

Like many undeveloped countries, Morocco is also facing the problem of poor economy and high unemployment. Consequently, on one hand, many men sitting at the cafes all day, doing nothing but just sitting!  On the other hand, chaos may happen...

Once while I was walking on the street, I suddenly heard loud noises.  I found at the road junction, some youths occupied a bus yelling and put their hands out of the bus windows striking the two sides of the bus, one youth even standing on the top of the bus. A policeman saw this, ran to the bus, wanted to stop the youths, but he seemed helpless (he had no radio to call for help).  The bus carrying the youths went away immediately.

While I was in Morocco, an election of parliament was about to be held. There were commercials on TV which taught people how to make selection of candidate on the ballot paper.  I found there were many pictures of different kinds of fruit, like apple, pear, banana on the ballot paper and the voter was taught to select a candidate by making a tick on the fruit which represented a certain candidate.  Very interesting!  But one can also think of how serious the problem of illiteracy is in Morocco.

PHOTO GALLERY:  Morocco

        Carpets, Ceramics, Lamps, The Woman

　Back to Home Page