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Barcelona-Casa Batllo

Click on the link below for information about this building; One of Gaudi’s best.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Batlló

Lots of people
The building was remodeled by Gaudi. Here is the before and after models.

Neighboring building also designed by Gaudi.

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Barcelona-Gaudi-Casa Mila

the descriptions here indicate that this was Gaudi crowning achievement. This house was created for a wealthy family. You will notice his tendencies to reject straight lines, and his multiple references to different forms in nature.

Actually, this photo and the one below were taken in Portbou. This photo shows the rally for the socialist party leading up to the election a few days later.
This made me question where this games origins were
Even the ceiling corners are nonlinear
most old buildings of this era have many very small rooms, very compartmentalized. This was the dining room and the meeting room that Gaudi decided should become what we now call a “great room”.
This is casa Batlló before and after Gaudi’s remodeling
Chimneys designed as guards or warriors
Sagrada Familia in the distance
During the two hour lunch break at the train station there were only two windows open to serve over 50 people waiting to buy tickets
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Nimes (France) – Around Town

When Augustus Caesar finally took control of Egypt, Rome decided to use the Egyptian alligator and palm trees to represent the Roman empire. In the 1500s the mayor of Nimes requested from Rome permission to use the alligator and the palm trees as the symbol of the city.

Beef tartar with…
The bark of the trees around the city, just happen to have the same colors, all three, as the paint used on the wall of the hotel room. I’m sure this is not a coincidence. The French are very clever with art representations.
It wasn’t bad but it made me homesick for Chiba sushi
Both of the first two train stations we entered in France had pianos for people to play
Kids playing in the water
For my Japanese friends
This little guy rings the bell
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Cannes-Film at least

Cannes red carpet walk
Mandatory Dressing up to attend the Disney afternoon event at the film festival site
Tasty Rigatoni
Cannes beach
Film festival building
Food and drinks on the beach
Waiting in line to take a photo on the red carpet
See! The Disney event is today
Provably Nam is Vietnamese
Niece station was crazily crowded
Disney dress up
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Lake Garda with friends

I ordered the an unorderable, chocolate ice cream with lemon ice cream. Everyone cringed and laughed. I originally thought it was a crazy combination but it was actually a very nice derivation of my favorite orange sherbet and chocolate together.
There are a lot of campers at this lake. Some pay a whole year rent for the camping spot just so they can come here during the season. They might pay €5,000 for the whole year.
Nice snacks with friends and pirlo, a local drink of white wine and Campari
Having a light white wine with a little snack before the pre-dinner, snacks
Kids theater
It was very windy and not a good day to be on the lake.
A local wine
Aldo Fabrizi
Alberto Sordi
Totò
Alberto Sordi
Local olive oil
Part of our lunch
Homemade spaghetti with a nice sauce
This was a church related gathering Place
Pirlo. Very refreshing.
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Brescia-near Lake Garda

This is a nice small town. Where are you can stay if lake Garda is too expensive for your taste. It’s a short train ride from the lake and also not too far from Verona.

What time did you say it is?
This is an amazing clock based on the 24 hour dial but most of it I could not figure out.
This is the Duomo, the main cathedral, built in the middle ages and keeping its style. It is not the largest cathedral in the city, but it is one of the most interesting Duomo I’ve ever seen.