BARCELONA – BALCONIES AND BLUE EYES

BALCONES DE BARCELONA EN TODAS PARTES

SAGRADA FAMILIA – GAUDÍ

SAGRADA FAMILIA EN BARCELONA

So many balconies and blue eyes in beautiful Barcelona.

We were there last week for only four days, but we able to see many wonderful things. The most dazzling and astonishing of all was Sagrada Familia, the unfinished church originally envisioned and designed by Gaudí.  Looking like an enormous, ornate sand castle from the outside, the interior was something I could never have imagined.  It is as if one is in a spiritual forest dappled in light, which is provided by small windows.  Fifty-six cement columns, whose bases resemble trunks of trees, reach up to the nave with knots, branches and leaves.  In this brilliant masterpiece of art and design, there is a sense of the divine and of being situated somewhere between heaven and earth.

“Nothing is invented.  It´s written in nature.”   Antoni Gaudí

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13NscHPJi6Y

To see one-minute video of projected construction:   https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/152993ab8815e541?projector=1

Next to las Ramblas, a popular strolling street for mostly tourists and lined with flower stalls,  is the famous Boquería  market.

EL FAMOSO GRAN MERCADO DE BOQUERÍA EN BARCELONA

Entering beneath the ornate wrought iron arch is a panorama of flowers, fruit juice and lunch counters, fish and meat shops,  chocolates and other sweets, and stacks of fabulous fruit.

An hour´s drive northeast of Barcelona and high up above the valley floor is Montserrat (“serrated mountain”), which is said to have inspired some of Gaudí´s architecture.  The Montserrat monastery,  in existence in some kind of form since the 9th century, is Catalonia´s most important religious retreat and an important part of the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia. During the Spanish Civil War, twenty-two of the monks of the Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat were murdered by Republican forces. During the Franco era, Santa María de Monserrat was a sanctuary for scholars, students, politicians and artists hiding from Franco´s forces. 

MONTSERRAT, SPAIN – MONASTERIO ABAJO

Walking up a steep path to a cross overlooking the monastery, one a has a dramatic view of the snow-crowned Pryenees and the silvery ribbon of the river below.  On a very clear day, the Mediterranean is visible.

MONTSERRAT, ESPAÑA

STERILIZATIONS January 20-23-  Jarretaderas, Nayarit  (As I was away, photos supplied by clinic organizer, Jesus Villavicencio.

CLÍNICA EN JARRETADERAS, NAYARIT

Male dogs – 23; Female dogs – 39; Male cats – 10; Female cats – 25
TOTAL:  97 

JARRETADERAS, NAYARIT

JARRETADERAS, NAYARIT

Plus:  Terminated pregnancies for the following:

2 dogs with 8 fetuses each; 1 dog with 7 fetuses; 1 dog with 6 fetuses;  1 cat with 5 fetuses 

DONATIONS:  620 pesos

THE CLINIC IN JARRETADERAS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RICHARD R. REED FOUNDATION.

The location in colonia Aralias in the bodega of Sofi Gonzalez is one PEACEAnimals has been able to visit several times.  This is always a very busy clinic and there was a long line of pet owners with their cats and dogs waiting when I arrived on Thursday morning.  Not wanting to turn anyone away,  Dr. Poli accepted 51 animals for surgery that day.  People not only brought in their pets, but also rescued dogs and puppies they hope to find home for, and feral cats they had trapped that will be released where found.  One well-dressed young couple brought in two sweet  three-month old brown and white puppies – a brother and a sister – that they had found discarded in Tepic.  As they are trying to find homes for the puppies, they were simply registered as “Tepic One” and “Tepic Two.”  The couple had been caring enough to have had the brother and sister vaccinated against parvo and distemper before having them sterilized.

RESCATADOS EN TEPIC – HERMANO Y HERMANA DE TRES MESES DE EDAD – YA VACUNADOS POR PARVO Y MOQUILLO, ESTERILIZADOS Y LISTOS PARA ADOPCIÓN

ESPERANDO SU TORNO EN  LAS ARALIAS

STERILIZATIONS January 27-30 –  colonia las aralias – Puerto Vallarta 

Male dogs: 18; Female dogs: 54
Male cats:  38; Female cats: 41
TOTAL:  151!!!

DONATIONS:  las aralias – 
3,420 PESOS

plus one lunch for the team from Sofi Gonzalez

THIS CLINIC WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE
RICHARD R. REED FOUNDATION.

LAS ARALIAS

CLÍNICA EN JARRETADERAS

CLÍNICA EN JARRETADERAS SCHEDULE:  HORARIO: FEBRUARY 3-6 -colonia Emiliano Zapata – calle V. Carranza 491 at the location of Colina clinic.  (Centro de Cultura double booked the art center, so no space was available when the vet team arrived on February 3). FEBRUARY 10-13 – colonia López Mateos – Puerto Vallarta February 17-20 – la Cruz, Nayarit (Pets for Life) FEBRUARY 24-27 – Valle Dorado, Nayarit MARCH 2-5 – Puerto Vallarta – location TBA MARCH 9-12 – Puerto Vallarta – location TBA MARCH 16-19 – el Porvenir MARCH 23-26 – EASTER VACATION  MARCH 30 – APRIL 2 – Puerto Vallarta – location TBA April 6-9 – La Peñita, Nayarit – PETS FOR LIFE CLINIC April 13-16 – el Tuito- From Puerto Vallarta south on carretera 200 – one hour driving time.  After passing through el Columpio, you will soon you will see a sign saying “La Hermosa.” Look for the next right, which is a wide road that veers off to the right. There is a large, blue sign that says “Cabo Corrientes” right before you veer off to the right. (There are a bunch of tow trucks parked on the right side.) Take that road. Proceed on that road. Soon you will cross a little bridge. Continue straight for approx.1 block. Turn right at the stop sign. Go approx. 2-3 blocks, (you will pass the supermarket on the right). When you see the church, on your left, go to the end of that block. Turn right onto Calle Jalisco. (there is a vacant lot on the corner with a cyclone fence & a “Se Vende” sign).  The clinic will be held in the first house on the left, recognizable by a cement bottle wall. APRIL 20-23 – San Vicente, Nayarit APRIL 27-30 – Puerto Vallarta – location TBA  MAY 4-7 – Bucerias, Nayarit  JULY 6-9 – Isla Cuale in the cultural center CALENDAR FOR SPECIAL SUNDAY ONE-DAY CLINICS ON THE ISLA CUALE, WHERE SO MANY CATS AND KITTENS ARE ABANDONED.  PURO GATO WILL HOLD ADOPTIONS ON THE ISLA FROM 11-2 ON THESE SAME DATES. Marzo 6 – domingo –  COLINA Abril 3 – domingo –  PURR PROJECT Mayo 8 – domingo –  PV ANIMAL Junio 5 -domingo –  SHANNON BESTON Agosto 7 – domingo –  SPCA Septiembre 4 – domingo – ANGELICAT Octubre 2  – domingo – PURR PROJECT Noviembre 6 – domingo –  PV ANIMAL            Diciembre 4- domingo – PURO GATO THE ABOVE GROUPS HAVE HIRED AND WILL PAY PETS FOR LIFE 4,500 PESOS FOR THE STERILIZATION OF 30 ANIMALS.  IF NUMBERS ARE GREATER,  THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS WILL REQUEST DONATIONS FROM THEIR SUPPORTERS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

Please “like” PEACEAnimals and Calle Cero  on FaceBook.

LINEA DESIGNADA PARA DIRECIÓNES Y COMO LLEGAR (EN ESPAÑOL) A LAS CLÍNICAS CADA SEMANA:   (322) 113 3955