Tag Archives: cruise ship

December 23, 2013 · 5:35 am

Meandering Around Málaga

Málaga Beach

The MS Ryndam left Barcelona (see: Barthelona ith in Thpain) and the magnificent Sagrada Familía (see: Sagrada Familía Exterior; Sagrada Familí Interior Part 1; and Sagrada Familía Interior Part 2) behind on November 2 and set sail for the Spanish coastal city of Málaga as a prelude to our passage through the Strait of Gibraltar (from a previous cruise see: Gibraltar — What an Englishman Calls a Rock). We arrived at Málaga on the morning of November 4.

Málaga Street Scene

Málaga was founded by the Phoenicians far back around 770 B.C. But don’t worry. The buildings are a bit more modern than that. One stunning example is the Málaga Cathedral of the Inception, on which construction began in A.D. 1528, and which took some 254 years to complete.

Málaga Cathedral of the Inception

Málaga Cathedral of the Inception — Bell Tower

Across the street from the Málaga Cathedral is the old Bishop’s residence (now a museum, among other things) at the Palacio Episcopal de Málaga (Episcopal Palace of Málaga).

Palacio Episcopal de Málaga

Built into the Palacio Episcopal façade is a niche holding a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Palacio Episcopal de Málaga

These are not the only sights in Málaga worth photographing, however. Here’s today’s photogallery:

Málaga Kiosk — A Fixture throughout Europe

Málaga Balcony

Málaga Cathedral of the Inception

Málaga Café Poster

Sculpture outside the Málaga Cathedral of the Inception

Málaga Café

Málaga Cathedral of the Inception

Málaga Cathedral of the Inception — Bell Tower

Málaga Entryway

Málaga Square

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Tagged as cruise ship, Holland America, Malaga, MS Ryndam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Spain, travel

December 11, 2013 · 5:35 am

Sagrada Familía — Interior Part 2

Sagrada Familía

Antoni Gaudí’s creation gets more impressive the closer you look. As if the cubist-style statuary adorning the exterior and the forest of columns dominating the interior weren’t already enough, other details start jumping out at you as you redirect your attention from the macro to the micro.

Sagrada Familía

For instance the organ boasts an astounding 1,492 pipes spread out of 26 stops (groups).

Organ Pipes

Cast into the bronze door you’ll find a massive array of biblical words and names in several languages. Two items however stick out as gold accents in a sea of darkened bronze — Jesus and a Magic Square. The number ruling the Magic Square of the Sagrada Familía is 33, the age at which Jesus was crucified:

1	14	14	4
11	7	6	9
8	10	10	5
13	2	3	15

Doorway in the Passion Façade with Magic Square

And as I mentioned in the last installment, there are those incredible staircases:

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway

Don’t forget to look for the view of the apse crypt deep beneath the main structure:

Apse Crypt

Another surprising touch is a massive rendition of The Lord’s Prayer in over 50 languages:

Lord’s Prayer in 50+ Languages

Then there’s that fantastic play of colored light from the stained glass washing across the pillars:

Columns Awash in Color

Stained Glass Playing More Light Tricks

And finally there’s that incredible modernist interpretation above the altar of the crucified Jesus ascending into Heaven beneath a golden parachute-like structure:

Ascension of Christ

But enough on the details. Here is today’s photo gallery of the interior of the Sagrada Familía:

A Forest of “Trees” and “Branches”

Sagrada Familía

Stained Glass

Sagrada Familía

Stained Glass

Sagrada Familía

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Tagged as Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona, cruise ship, Holland America, MS Ryndam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Sagrada Familía, Spain, travel

December 9, 2013 · 5:35 am

Sagrada Familia — Interior Part 1

Sagrada Familía Columns Colored by Light

Antoni Gaudí died in 1926 just fifteen days shy of what would have been his 74^th birthday. What is arguably his greatest design may finally be completed on the 100^th anniversary of his passing, and some 144 years after construction began. A completion date of 2026 is the hope, anyway, but that may unfortunately slip by as much as two years.

Sagrada Familía “Trees”

Stepping into the Sagrada Familía is a bit like walking through a forest. This is not by chance, as the columns reaching high overhead were specifically designed as a modernist interpretation of trees with outstretched branches.

Sagrada Familía Vaulted Ceiling

Even the stained glass serve multiple purposes. Not only do these magnificent windows let in light, they also splash a cacophony of color against the otherwise monotone “trees” supporting the vaulted ceiling above. Joan Vila-Grau has been designing, piecing together, and installing windows for the Sagrada Familía since 1999, and some fourteen years later he still has quite a ways to go before completing this project.

Sagrada Familía Stained Glass

Stained Glass Light Playing on Column

In fact, there is absolutely nothing about this structure that fails to impress. Even the stairways are remarkable in both their design and aesthetics.

Sagrada Familía Staircase

We’ll continue our tour of this incredible design in Part 2 on Wednesday Meanwhile, here is today’s photo gallery of the interior of the Sagrada Familía: