Completion of my collection - Day 8

October 6, 2018

Up until 2am and then falling asleep with my glasses on again, lol.

Interrupted sleep ( it is a hostel ) kept me in bad until 10:30. Around 11am, I did prepare for the day.

I had breakfast nearby at Cafe Alsúr. I had scrambled eggs and toast, Along with a huge jar of mixed fruit of the most tasty varieties and Greek yogurt. It’s probably the most tasty yogurt and fruit I have never had and I have had a lot of yogurt and fruit across the world. I will be returning for breakfast tomorrow morning.

I had the pleasure of the company of 4 Dutch ladies as there were few tables and there was only me. They all played cards together and decided to take a holiday together. They were all very friendly and were excited to learn of my time in their country.

Well fed and ready to go, I headed out to the base of Montjuïc in the Jardin de Jaribal. I would finally visit the museum of another of my favorite Spanish artists. I am a big fan of Picasso, El Greco, Velasquez, Goya, Dali and Miro.

I’ve seen many of the works of all of the rest but Miro has remained elusive...until today. It’s not in the central area so it takes some effort to get to. I took two mattress and a long walk up hill and into a very hilly part also. I have no complaints with making such an effort but anyone going should know that this is the effort that you will be making. It was quite hot and the sun was intense - I was a ball of sweat.

Fundacion de Joan Miro tells the great story of the progression of his work, like the Picasso Museum.

He has always been drawn to strength of color and his own style of expressionism. It has its tribal elements but different than Picasso. Some works speak to what might be an ancient discovery on a cave wall.

Joan Miró was born in Barcelona in 1893, but the emotional landscapes that shaped him as a person and an artist were principally those of Mont-roig, Paris, and Majorca, and later those of New York and Japan. The small town of Mont-roig in the Baix Camp region of Catalonia was a counterpoint to the intellectual ferment of his life with the surrealist poets in 1920s Paris, and to the stimulus of discovering Abstract Expressionism in New York in the forties. Some time later, in the midst of World War II, Joan Miró returned from exile in France and settled in Palma de Mallorca, which became his refuge and workplace and where his friend Josep Lluís Sert designed the studio of his dreams.

Miró’s attachment to the landscape of Mont-roig first and then Majorca was crucial in his work. His connection to the land and his interest in everyday objects and in the natural environment formed the backdrop to some of his technical and formal research.

Miró avoided academicism in his constant quest for a pure, global art that could not be classified under any specific movement. Self-contained in his manners and public expressions, it is through art that Joan Miró showed his rebelliousness and a strong sensitivity to the political and social events around him.

These conflicting forces led him to create a unique and extremely personal language that makes him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

I was in awe seeing his work and all of the layers of meaning within. They look so random and senseless but that’s the farthest the truth. As it’s written, he had his own language of expression. Any fan must visit and be grateful transported.

The hike down was a bit easier as I knew the way and downhill does help. I did get myself a bit confused on the metro as I needed to make two changes and I caused myself to overshoot my intended change but I did find my cafe Bornet. I enjoyed my time there and wanted more.

Carrot cake and the drink made with gin, bitters, lemon, and mint was a must also. If this, or something like it, was near my home, I’d be there very often. It is a quintessential European cafe. I miss this so much.

It was time to go so I gathered my things and paid my bill. I last walk-through the Gothic quarter and then took my metro back to Girona.

My feet were tired and I was sweaty so I got out of my clothes took my socks off and rest on the bed. I had a message from Judith and we were going to meet up at 7:30 for the last get together.

I had it out about 7:20 PM and had my route, four minutes. Somehow the GPS had me going the wrong way as it was so close I just don’t understand how that happened but it did.I recalculated and it was nine minutes away now?

I met Judith at the café from the first night. It was good to see her again I feel so lucky that we been able to get together for times during my stay in Barcelona.

We had great conversation about life, politics, and being our best self also we talked about respect from others and being protective of our time and who we spend it with as they should appreciate the time we spend with them. There was a lot of deep thinking. I like that. Set our goodbyes and hug the couple of times i’m so thankful that after all these years that she took time to visit with me. She’s a very special person.

I returned to pack and prepare myself for the morning. I had one more important thing to do before leaving Barcelona, the great Park Guell. I am so excited to go there again.