Travel for Life: June 2020

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

36 Activities Ranked by Coronavirus Risk Level

Revised and Extended Version

Four Michigan public health experts assess the risk various activities pose to spreading coronavirus. Dr. Matthew Sims, Beaumont Health director of infectious disease research, Dr., Dennis Cunningham, McLaren Health Care medical director for infectious disease research, Dr. Mimi Emig, retired infectious disease specialist with Spectrum Health, Dr. Nasir Husain, Henry Ford Macomb medical director for infection prevention.

The list, below assigns a score for activities from 1 to 10, with a 10 being the riskiest and a 1 being the least risky. The score is an average of scores given by the health experts, rounded to the nearest whole number.

Original List

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Barcelona's Open-Air Museum: A Journey Through Spain's Architectural Treasures at Poble Espanyol

The Poble Espanyol (literally, Spanish town) is an open-air architectural museum in Barcelona. Built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, the museum consists of 117 full-scale buildings representing fifteen autonomous communities of Spain.

It is set out like a life-size small town and includes many of the features and infrastructures you would expect to find in a town of its size. It is home to:

A number of artisans who work to manufacture blown glass, leather goods, wooden carvings, Spanish guitars, ceramics, jewelers, and other traditional goods.
A number of cultural activities throughout the year; ranging from theatrical performance to electronic music festivals.

Photo Gallery

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, I embarked on a cultural adventure in Barcelona, visiting three iconic landmarks: the captivating Poble Espanyol, the renowned National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), and the mesmerizing Magic Fountain Show. To escape the chilly winter air, I strategically planned my visit to Poble Espanyol just before the enchanting evening fountain spectacle, arriving at 8:30 pm.

As I strolled through the picturesque streets of Poble Espanyol, a Spanish guitar shop named Guitarras Santiago de Cecilia caught my eye. Drawn to the captivating display of guitars and the artisan's meticulous attention to detail, I stepped inside the shop. The aroma of freshly polished wood and the gentle strumming of a guitar filled the air, creating an ambiance that was both soothing and inviting.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a friendly Japanese artisan, whose passion for his craft was evident in his every word and movement. He graciously paused his work to engage in conversation, sharing his experiences as a Japanese expatriate living in Spain for the past decade. Despite the distance from his family, his love for Spain was palpable, and his stories painted a vivid picture of his adopted home.

As I expressed my interest in Spanish music, the artisan eagerly recommended two guitar CDs, providing insightful commentary on each artist and their unique style. His enthusiasm proved irresistible, and I wholeheartedly embraced his suggestions, adding the CDs to my collection. These musical gems have since enriched my YouTube videos dedicated to my 2019 Spanish adventure, adding a touch of authentic Spanish flair to my storytelling.

Guitarras Santiago de Cecilia

References

Barcelona Travel―Visiting National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

Placa d'Espanya is one of Barcelona's most important squares, built on the occasion of the 1929 International Exhibition, held at the foot of Montjuïc and leads to the Palau Nacional through Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, which houses one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). It was designed by Josep Amargós.^[1]

Night view from Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina towards Placa d'Espanya

National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is the national museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Spain. Situated on Montjuïc hill, the museum is especially notable for its outstanding collection of romanesque church paintings, and for Catalan art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the winter of 2019, I've visited MNAC twice on different days. For the entrance, I need to pay on the first day (12/17/2019). But, on the 2nd visit, it's a Saturday (12/21/2019) and was free.

Visiting MNAC starting from Placa d'Espanya

View of Magic Mountain towards Placa d'Espanya

View of MNAC from Majic Mountain

View of Placa d'Espanya from the entrance of MNAC

References

A Day Trip to Pals from Barcelona: A Charming Medieval Village on the Costa Brava

Perched on a hilltop, Pals ⭐was built around a fortress and has kept its medieval look so well that a visit to Pals is like travelling back in time. Its surroundings include unspoiled beaches, dunes, wetlands and rice fields―all part of a natural park. It may worth a visit on your next Costa Brava holiday.

The Gothic Quarter of the town has been substantially restored and there are cobbled streets interrupted by semicircular arches, façades with pointed arched windows and stone balconies.^[3] The town wall contains four square towers which date from the 4th century. The Mirador d'en Josep Pla viewpoint, the Plaça Major, the tombs in the Carrer Major and the Romanesque church of Sant Pere are other features of the town.^[2]

Strong wind blew flags into irregular shapes

Weather

In Pals, the summers are short, warm, humid, dry, and mostly clear and the winters are long, cold, windy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 38°F to 83°F and is rarely below 31°F or above 89°F.

On the day (12/20/2019) of our visit, it was cloudy and very windy (see Figure 2). Our tour guide told us that the strong wind could be up to 100 km/h which makes local residents really crazy.