This is Karen Lile with a Sports Travel Spotlight. I just returned from Barcelona as accredited media for the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup and the first ever PUIG Women’s America’s Cup. One of the great things about being on location for a sports event is the awesome International Cities you are traveling to. Turisme de Barcelona was one of our sponsors, and not only did they give accredited media free access to transportation, museums and events of our choice, but Laura Aparicio organized a perfectly beautiful day in Barcelona. I want to share this day with you, because it is a recipe for fun and inspiration that you can share with your family and friends on your next trip to Barcelona.
9:00 AM
We began the morning with a tour of the Casa Vincens Gaudi. This was a private home and Gaudi’s first commission, hidden in the Gracia district of the city, and added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It was only recently renovated and opened to the public for tours. Here we toured from room to room, seeing a combination of influences from Islaam, Japan, Africa and Europe that made each room perfect for its purpose. Seeing the Japanese influence, I am inspired to share a form of Japanese poetry called Haiku that I wrote about my first experience visiting Casa Vincens:
Casa Vincens Gaudi
Evidence of Life
Gaudi, joining motifs
To make private joys.
11:30 AM
The next was a taxi ride and a tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana, also named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It is full of light, flower themes and an impressive pipe organ. The building is vibrating with creativity and visual expressions of music, in its architecture and stained glass windows . From its inauguration in 1908, the Palau de la Música, nestling right in the centre of the Ciutat Vella district, is home of its choirs, but also has been a center for politics and ideas. The floral patterns, light and sculptures have been the backdrop for many a world premiere. I find the creativity of others to be a great inspiration for my own creativity and this is my haiku that was inspired by the experience.
Palau de Musica Catalana
Art, Music, Power,
Sings forth from walls of beauty
Joining social life.
1:30 PM
We wound up the afternoon in the cellar of the Villa Viniteca, a broker of wines where Turisme de Barcelona booked a private wine and gourmet fish and cheese tasting for the eight of us. My delight at the flavors, textures and experience inspired my third haiku in this trilogy.
Villa Vinteca in Barcelona
Cheese, fish and friendship,
Wonder of life in 3 wines
Burst pleasure on the tongue.
I hope you will enjoy this experience as much as I did on your next visit to Barcelona! Special thanks to barcelonaturisme.com for a perfect day in Barcelona. ~ Karen Lile
Photography and Poetry by Karen Earle Lile on Oct 9, 2024 in Barcelona.
The audio podcast below was created after the live broadcast on October 21, 2024 to 100 million people in 168 countries on Sail Sport Talk in the Sports Byline Broadcast Network and on the American Forces Network 6 hours later. Platforms that carried the broadcast included 700 radio stations, Sports Byline Channel on iHeart Radio, Sports Byline Channel on TuneIn Radio, Sports Byline Channel on Stitcher.