Lately, I've been extrememly busy with things and I apologize for not reading more posts because it's one of my favorite things to do.  I keep documenting and reporting during this busy "spring" season because there is a lot to report.  Unfortuneatly, I have also had to deal with the recent death of a former student. The funeral is tomorrow and I have a very sad heart. It's also my 7 year anniversary and we're going to Cafe Poca Cosa(my favorite Mexican restaurant! in Tucson).  Can tomorrow be any more conflicting in the emotion department? Things also have been busy with other matters related to school, family, and visits. If it's one thing I don't have a lack of, it's the work! Taking a break from projects and plant series, I thought I'd share with you a beautiful garden place in the metropolitan city of Madrid, Spain.

I took this from a second story balcony

On one of my adventures to Spain, I remembered stopping at a subway station known as the Atocha Station.  A lot of metro stations can be humdrum when it comes to design, but this place did not disappoint!  It's a major hub in Madrid for intercity travel, dining, and now a place to go dancing.  But who cares about all of that!!  What's cool about this place is that there is a huge tropical garden containing such plants as Jacaranda, large Birds of Paradise, and oh so much more inside the station..

We were on our way to a peace demonstration after the bombing at the Atocha station in 2004.  Over 150 people were killed and thousands came from all over Madrid where they held a peace rally. Below is a pic at the station with red candles symbolizing the color of Spain and the lost lives.

Meanwhile above ground, the tropical garden held a calmness and stability. It was a whole other world from the sadness outside the station.

I love it when you accidentally stumble upon a place and discover something beautiful. Next time I go, I want to eat at one of the local restaurants below.

May you find magic and form in your own landscapes.

Labels: atocha station, bombing of 2004, jardin tropical en la estacion Atocha España, Madrid, Spain, tropical garden Atocha Station

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La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

At Parque

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Beyond Tomorrow

Parque Guell

While in Spain, you will have the opportunity to explore this country's many facets.  The gardens here are unique and special.  I got a lot of ideas from my travels here.  One of those places is Parque Guell.  So while it's storming outside during this monsoon evening,  I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts about what I saw and how I'll use the ideas in my garden.


This place is truly magical...I felt like I was in Alice In Wonderland!!!


Here is some basic info on Parque Guell located in Barcelona, Spain.  If you're visiting the park by metro be prepared for at least a 20 min walk. The last 200 m walk is up a steep hill. If you have difficulties going up steep steps then a taxi or bus may be a better means of transport. You'll find bus information at the tourist information office at Placa de Catalunya.

Park Guell was commissioned by Eusebi Güell who wanted to create a stylish park for Barcelona aristocracy. Park Güell is skillfully designed and composed to bring the peace and calm that one would expect from a park. The buildings flanking the entrance, though very original and remarkable with fantastically shaped roofs with unusual pinnacles, fit in well with the use of the park as pleasure gardens and seem relatively inconspicuous in the landscape when one considers the flamboyance of other buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Gaudi enjoyed creating shapes that were natural to the environment.  It's a must see landmark in Barcelona!! In several other pictures above, you'll see the color contrast between the nature like buildings, some shaped like a bird's nest, along with plants like the palms and agaves. The plants used were very much of the Mediterranean variety.  His use of mosaic tile is breathtaking as the colors make everything POP!!!

Other areas in Spain that we visited were the famous Atocha station in Madrid.  Inside you'll  discover a tropical rain forest before you get on that subway ride.  They have little restaurants inside for you to sit down and enjoy this inside garden.  Around the center of town, you'll see formal garden surrounding water fountains using the traditional reds and yellows that make up Spain's colors.  The tulips are placed in mass plantings of red and yellow around their parks.

Finally, you can see the old.  Toledo, Spain is located about an hour from Madrid.  Here you can see great paintings done by the famous Greco.  You will also see some really cool older gardens mixed in around the plaza and on the outside of the city near the river.  My recommendation is to see Barcelona first before you see Madrid or Sevilla as the parks and the city themselves are much more fantastical like something you would see in a dream.  Don't forget to check out the tapas bars there!!

Labels: Barcelona, Madrid, Parque Guell, Spain, Toledo

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