Walking the Roman Wall in Girona

Part of the tour we took to Figueres (Dali) and Girona, included a walk on an ancient Roman wall surrounding the the city of Girona. The Iberian - Roman wall of the old town originated in the1st century BC. It has had many additions and reconstructions since that time, but small portions of the original wall are still visible.
                                            

 Window in the wall. We saw these at ever site we visited and they still seem for the most part illogical to me. They were for defense, and I guess they would protect from spears and arrows, but the visibility is so limited. They are almost always over 3 feet deep.

 

Newer section

Older section

 

View of the Cathedral on a newer portion of the reconstructed wall.

                                                         View of Girona from the wall.

 

Beautiful house as seen from the wall. Part of the Modernista Era? Very French looking.

An individual playing, what I learned later, is called a 'Hang'. It was invented in Switzerland and has a beautiful sound.

 

This man obviously has the newer version. It looks like an inverted steel drum, but with a top and bottom, like a flying saucer.

 I am leaving Girona with a kiss. As a visitor, a kiss on the behind of this 'witch turned cat', or monkey, not sure - guarantees that you will return to Girona one day.

 There is a way, this photo doesn't show it, but you can climb up and kiss the behind of this figure. This one is a reproduction (the original is in the museum), but it is well worn and smoothly polished from all the activity!

I will have one more posting of my favorite images from the trip, then I'm done...

...just until my next excursion!

Hahaha! 

...not finished yet (:~o)

I just have a couple more things I want to share with you. If you're still with me, I hope you find them interesting too.
Girona and The Museum of Jewish History. The Jewish Museum, The Centre Bonastruc is the last known synagogue built in the middle of the 15^th Century in Spain. It is located in the historic Jewish quarter of Girona. The museum itself stands on the site of the synagogue in the area called the Call.
This was a great experience, because it made me do research. It was a revelation. I had no idea of the significance of the Jews in Spanish history. Ferdinand and Isabelle expelled them from Spain the same year that Columbus set sail for the "New World". At the time, it was the largest population of Jewish people in Europe, over 200,000, maybe as many as 800,000.
1492 was an important year. (The Moors/Muslims were also expelled from Granada in 1492). The Jewish people had 3 months to leave. The majority moved to Portugal, some settled in Naples and Turkey and other places. What's interesting is that new research suggests that Columbus himself was secretly a Jew, hiding that fact to survive The Spanish Inquisition. Jews who lived this lie were called 'Marranos', and feigned conversion to Catholicism to survive. It is believed his real motivation for seeking the 'New World' was to find a place for the Jewish people to settle. If you want to read more here is a link: http://us.cnn.com/2012/05/20/opinion/garcia-columbus-jewish/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

This is a sculpture in the courtyard of the museum. It did not have any explanation with it, but I believe it must tell the true story of Columbus and his voyage. Including the idea that Columbus was actually funded by wealthy Jewish merchants.

Revise those history books Estados Unidos de Americas! It wouldn't be the first time.

There were many headstones on display that had been excavated from the nearby ancient Jewish cemetery of Montjuic, which translates to 'Jew Mountain' in Catalan.

This one reads: "The gravestone of Josef, a young child who was a lover of joy, the son of Rabbi Jacob. May he be present in Glory, protected by his Rock and his Redeemer."

The seal bears the inscription in Hebrew: "Mossé, son of Rabbi Nahman, of Girona, have courage!"

A tomb excavated from Montjuic. The museum itself is housed in the ancient synagogue of Girona.

 

Excavation is still taking place. This is a relatively new museum, established by Spain in an effort to rehabilitate their historic, horrific treatment of the Jewish people

 

The Catholic population of Girona, during the Black Death (1348), blamed the Jews for their deaths. Due to their clean (kosher) practices of food preparation, the Jewish people of Girona were relatively unaffected. The Jewish people were rounded up and kept in a tower supposedly for their own protection. The Christians of Girona, incited by the clergy, removed Jewish corpses from their graves and burned them together with the bodies of the Jews whom they had killed.

 

Vestments and artifacts

The Shofar is a polished ram's horn used in Jewish services at certain times of the year like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It was supposed to have helped Joshua capture Jericho and was used in ancient times to announce the start of battle.

                                                   The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona. 
We did not get to go into the church because we were on a tour (our only one) and we had chosen to see The Museum of Jewish History...it was one, or the other. I read that the priests, during holy week (Easter), would throw rocks down from the tower onto the synagogue buildings. Mean!
Originally it was supposed to have had 2 towers, but I guess they decided they only needed the one to be able to hit the Jewish quarter with their rocks...that was a joke and I'm entitled to make it, because I was raised a Catholic. FYI...the synagogue is on that side...just sayin'.
I wish we could have seen both both places and not just chose one. The cloister's galleries are home to numerous tombs of rich members of the monastery, dating to the 14th-18th centuries and also houses the Tapestry of Creation, or Girona Tapestry. It is a panel of  needlework from the 11th century.

Follow to the next entry please...

Girona

We move on to Girona, a city established in 79 BC, ruled by Visigoths, Moors, Romans, French and Spanish. Girona is in a region of Spain called Catalonia. Catalonia is still fiercely trying to gain their independence from Spain and the Catalan flag can be seen flying from almost every balcony throughout the region. Barcelona is also a Catalan city and the region has it's own language, a combination of Latin, French with a tiny bit of Spanish, which is still spoken, along with traditional Spanish.

The city is also known for it's ancient Jewish Quarter called the "Call" and the site of one of the most important Kabballistic schools preserved in Europe. Girona is also referred to as the Venice of Spain, referencing the convergence of the four rivers that flow through the center of the city.

Of the several bridges that span the river, one was designed by the same individual who designed the Eiffel Tower.

Before we see any more sites we stop for lunch.

This is where I eat "Thumper"...yummy!

 ...our wonderful tour guide, Saskia, giving me the bunny ears.

She is brilliant as well as gorgeous!

(Writing this blog is so much easier on my PC. The phone sometimes had a mind of it's own. We are pretending I'm still in Spain, just in case you were confused).

...more Dali day

I was never a big Dali admirer until today. Not only was he prolific,  but he was also an excellent draftsman and a creative genius...crazy perhaps, but genius. He planned the museum and is buried, or entomb in a wall without any adornment, surrounded by his work. This is where Dali is today watching over his creation and all who come to view his genius. Side note; he wanted the museum to be free and without descriptions or meanings assigned to his pieces. You know those lengthy postings next to art in shows that tell you what "it's all about". He felt the work should speak for itself...I love this philosophy.

Wow, a gigantic hood ornament!

This vintage Cadillac belonged to Dali and Gala, his wife. As much as I wish to share everything with you , there are limits. But, if you are interested, research Gala Dali. It was a unique arrangement ...supposedly an unconsumated marriage. However, that doesn't nearly explain their life together.

A large mural with shadow from domed skylight.

This is a ceiling in one of the rooms. Dali had a thing for drawers.

My friends who will be traveling to Europe soon, and seeing art, always look up...sometimes the best work is literally over your head!

A series of mirror dual image paintings; this one of Gala and Dali.

He was reported to have had a thing for twins...do research.

Sadly, we must leave Dali now. I have 100 pics I wish I could share;  one of the few museums to allow photos. Onward to Girona, lunch, the Jewish Museum and a walk on a Roman wall.

...Dali, Dali

Dali Museum...It's an enormous body of work which is suprisingly diversified. Etchings, drawings, paintings, furniture, sculpture, and the most amazing of all; his jewelry designs...and we are allowed to take pictures!

The ruby encrusted heart actually beats. I tried to load a video I took, but no luck.

The museum, it'self is a work of art.

Follow to the next posting.

It's a Dali day!

Cal and I got early (for Spain), took the Metro to Barceloneta to meet up with a tour we scheduled to visit the Dali Museum in Figueres, very close to the Spanish - French border. It was an hours ride in a van and we could see the snow covered Pyrenees from the highway.

When we arrived we were greeted by another fantastic collection of work by an iconic artist; Salvador Dali.

This is the outside and it's fantastic. Dali was repoted to have said the blobs were poop inspired forms...we already knew he was "unusual".

...more, more Park Guell

...more...it's too beautiful...have to share it!

From the top of the park, you can see La Segrada Familia and the ocean beyond

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