March 2018

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1. Gaudí wasn’t the first choice for the project lead architect

Sagrada wouldn’t be the same without the mad genius of Antoni Gaudí. Therefore, it’s hard to imagine he wasn’t the first architect asked to supervise the project. Initially, the official architect of the diocese, Don Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano took charge of the construction. He came up with his neo-gothic plans and the works began in 1882. Gaudí formerly joined the team in 1883 as Villar’s junior assistant. However, Villar barely managed to finish the crypt before he left the project because of disagreements with the Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph who commissioned it. Gaudí became the lead architect of the Sagrada Familia project in 1884.

2. Gaudí knew he won’t live to see the church complet

Since taking on the project, Gaudí was aware he will never be able to see Sagrada Família stand in all its glory. Therefore, he created impeccably detailed plans to make sure the construction could go on without him. To honor the fact that he was a small part of something greater than himself, he made it possible for the facades to be constructed individually. Hence, every new generation of architects could give the church a touch of their own style that reflects the era.

3. Sagrada Família is a basilica, not a cathedral

Many people refer to Sagrada Família as a cathedral. However, that is not true. It’s easy to make a mistake since its size and decor equals or surpasses to one of a cathedral. The real cathedral in Barcelona is The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia on the gothic city center.

Sagrada Família was intended to be just a neighborhood church devoted to worship the holy family. It’s Antoni Gaudí’s vision that turned it into a unique piece of art. Thanks to its grandeur and popularity, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church to be a minor basilica in 2010.

4. Every Facade Narrates a Story

The Nativity Facade tells the story of Jesus’ birth. It’s the only one of three Gaudí finished himself. The eclectic elements and sculptures of this facade not only describe the early years of Jesus’ life, they also depict many references to nature.

The Passion Facade is notably simpler in design and features the stages of Christ’s crucifixion. Multiple architects worked on it respecting Gaudí’s structural designs while giving it their own artistic touch.

The third one is the Glory Facade which is still in its early stages. Once completed, it will be the largest and most important of the three since it will give way to the Sagrada’s central nave. Its construction only kicked off in 2002, so it’s truly not very far along. This facade is devoted to the glory of Jesus and his rise to heavens. Gaudí’s rough sketches of the facade feature a few general representations of death, final judgment, glory, and hell (warning for those that lose their path).

5. The Angles are Shaped by Gravity

Sagrada Família’s column and tower angles were defined by nature. How? Gaudí constructed a model of the church using strings and weights. He outlined the foundations of the church on a wooden board, hung it on the ceiling and attached strings to the points where the columns should stand. Then, he weighed them down with small sacs of weight, attaching them strategically to the gravity-created arches created by the strings. Taking photographs of this model, Gaudí could calculate the nature-given angles of every column and arch. A copy of the string model hangs in the museum below the church.

6. Every Tower has its Meaning

Gaudí thought every aspect of the church through and through. Hence, the towers, too, serve as symbols. When completed, Sagrada Familia will pride itself on 18 towers in total; 12 represent the 12 apostles, 4 represent the Evangelists, one for the Virgin Mary and, the tallest one in the middle, will represent Jesus. Nonetheless, so far there are only 8 towers standing

7. Gaudí gave it all!

The Basilica of Sagrada Família was Gaudí’s life’s work. It isn’t so just because he spent a year building it, but also because he gave this project absolutely everything physically, mentally, as well as financially.

What’s interesting, Gaudí wasn’t at all a very religious man when he got started with the church. His faith grew deeper the more he studied the liturgy. When the construction run out of funding, Gaudi proposed to work without pay provided he had a complete artistic freedom. According to a rumor, he often tried to raise the funds himself in the streets of Barcelona. In the end, his professional, as well as a spiritual obsession with the church, overtook his everyday life. He slept in his workshop, barely showered, shaved or ate. His appearance was so neglected that it took people three days to realize that the “homeless man” killed by a tram was the great Antoni Gaudí himself.

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XS Monday Night – Las Vegas Nightlife King

This is the top-most rated club in Las Vegas and a definite to-go-to place for a fabulous Monday night in the Sin City. This sophisticated club features most of the world’s famous EDM talents. You need to get on the XS Las Vegas guest list to listen to great music from DJ Snake, The Chainsmokers, Diplo, Marshmello, David Guetta, Major Lazer and many more. The club is intricately designed with an elegant ambiance and a luxury environment surrounding Encore’s dazzling pool. XS features a massive dancing floor with dazzling bright lights that light up the night. XS is the hottest nightclub on a Monday night. You can take a break from the dancing and grab a bite from Jardin. The restaurant offers delightful meals and panoramic views of shimmering pools and manicured gardens.

Jewel nightclub at Aria Hotel

Jewel is a fantastic creation of the Hakkasan Group that took over the former space of Haze nightclub. The space measuring more than 24,000 square feet hold the main club and the mezzanine level. Jewel offers luxury entertainment that features a DJ booth and dual-sided LED video screens with special lighting effects that is out-of-this-world. Besides the impressive looks, Jewel nightclub Guest list offers the coolest EDM and hip-hop artists and DJs in the world. Expect performances from the hottest superstars like DJ Credible, Scooter, DJ Turbulence, Kid Conrad, DJ shift, DJ Five and many others.

Marquee Nightclub at Cosmopolitan Hotel

Marquee is the liveliest clubs in Vegas but even more so on Mondays. Spanning an amazing 60,000 square feet, the club boasts three different rooms with different musical experiences. The main room plays electronic music and it is the most dazzling one with a LED lit DJ booth. It has a massive dance floor surrounded by multi-million dollars sound features. The BoomBox is the hip-hop room while The Library is a chilled sitting area offering music like hip hop or deep house. Getting on the Marquee Las Vegas Guest list is a place where you can see top performances from your favorite DJs such as DJ Vice, Andrew Rayel, DJ Ruckus, Fedde Le Grand and many others.

There’s no doubt that club Marquee is a great option for a Monday night Las Vegas. If you are hungry, you can pop into the STK classic American Steakhouse with live DJs and a bustling bar scene.

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Lloret De Mar, situated in the region of Catalonia, Spain, is famous for its warm weather and sun all through the year. It is blessed with a Mediterranean climate which has warm summers and cool winter. It is the perfect summer party destination for young tourists who like to party all night and then head to beach the next morning to calm their minds. There is no dearth of sunshine in Lloret De Mar that makes it a perfect place to get tanned and sip your cocktail by the beach, just make sure you have plenty of sunscreen on because it can get really warm.

What temperature you may expect in Lloret De Mar

It really depends which time of the year you choose to go. The month of July and August are the hottest months with cold evenings, temperature being as low as 17 degrees Celsius. Mid-Autumn can see temperatures soaring as high as 33 degrees. The strong summer sun lasts from June to September; which makes it a favourable holiday time for tourists. 27th July is the warmest day of the year.

With all its beaches in Costa Brava, LLoret De Mar is at the centre. It receives about 13 hours of sunshine in summer which allows tourists to enjoy the beaches more than the cool winter months. Winter sees an average of 7 hours of daylight. The cold water makes it difficult to swim and spend time at the beach, definitely not the right time to visit if you’re going just for sunshine and warmth. The best time to visit Lloret De Mar is from June to August. However, from September, the sun is not as harsh; expect rain but still a decent time for tourists.

Things to do in Lloret De Mar during a summer holiday

• Summer time is all about beaches. PPlatja deLloret, its main beach, is about half a kilometre long with sandy blue coarse sand. Enjoy the water-sports such as jet-ski, kayaking, parasailing and water skiing during your summer holiday.

• The capital of nightlife in Costa Brava is Lloret De Mar. As the sun sets, the streets are flooded with party lovers. There are so many pubs and bars that have queues of people standing out to get in. Make sure you’re dressed well to get inside some of the best clubs.

• Water World Sensation: Enjoy your summer holidays by getting in the two water parks with exciting water rides, wave pool and fun water rides for children. You would make many unforgettable memories with your family and friends, truly a holiday well spent.

• Since summer is the best time to visit, the weather allows you to hike beautiful mountains and enjoy the beauty of wild flowers at the coastal cliff.

• Santa Clotilde Garden, a breathtaking garden on a cliff, is one of the best tourist attractions during summer and spring time, with blooming flowers making it an absolute delight to y our eyes.

Lloret De Mar is rich in history. Its natural heritage, picturesque sunset points, walking trails and cultural events can be enjoyed to the fullest if you visit from mid-June to September.

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Steve Jobs once said: “Live each day as if it was your last.”

I remember reading this quote for the very first time. Even though it felt very inspiring and powerful, I could never fully understand what he was really trying to say.

Today I am in a state of mind where I see what “the last day of life” means. Every day is the last day of your life. How?

We are all unable to know if we are going to be alive next minute or even next second. A lot of people argue asking, “Does it mean we will die next instant?” or “Does it mean we must fear death all the time?”

The answer is simple: we don’t know if we will die next moment but there is no guarantee if we will live. It definitely does not mean we have the only future, which is full of fear. There is absolutely nothing to fear.

Life was given to you without you making a choice to enter this World; it can be also taken without your choice. The only decision you make is how to live between the entry gate called birth and the exit gate called death. But there is an interesting catch: nobody knows how much time there is between the entry and the exit. This unknown causes life and all the fun and fear we experience living it.

Let’s pretend for a second that we are aware of how many years or days we are going to live. The matter of fact, that’s how we live every day.

To help you understand what I mean, l will use my conversation with my friend Tim as an ultimate example of life.

Tim is 32 years old and he works as a Project Manager in San Francisco based software company. Tim is married and has a beautiful, sweet and very loving daughter Alya. I asked Tim a few questions. Here is a part of my conversation with him:

Me: Tim, do you know how long are you going to live?

Tim: No, I don’t. No one knows.

Me: What if you knew the exact duration of your life? Have you ever thought about that?

Tim: No, I’ve never thought about that. But it would be very interesting to know.

Me: When was the last time you were unhappy with your wife about something? If you tell me, I’m able to tell you how long you will live.

Tim: There is no way you can tell me that, but I will answer your question. Last week when I shared with my wife my plans to quit my job and start working on my product idea, we had a long argument. She thinks I don’t care about my family’s financial stability. I only want to make myself happy even if my family will be in trouble with my decision.

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If you’re an unconventional traveller, having a heart for all things charming and sophisticated, then Costa Brava is the place to be. Situated in the north-eastern Spain, it overlooks the magnificent Mediterranean Sea; Costa Brava is a holiday destination that you can visit any time of the year offering warm summers and mild winters. Also known as the “Brave Coast”, it is strewn with hidden coves and fascinating ports for fishing.

One such enthralment in Costa Brava is Begur, a town situated an hour away from north of Barcelona, not too far from the coves of Aiguablava, Aiguafreda and Tamariu, is a perfect concoction of traditional culture weaved perfectly with a modern vibe. Talk to any Barcelonan about a weekend getaway and you would hear Begur, being one of their finest holiday spot to unwind from their busy lives.

Begur gives its travellers, a mystic walk on its narrow cobbled streets beautifully landscaped with colourful buildings; most of them exhibit Moorish architecture with patterns and repeated motifs. The locals in Begur are very passionate about food they eat; hence you’d be on a delectable ride to choose amongst the invigorating eateries that offer quality meals to keep that stomach happy. The menu at any restaurant comprises majorly of Catalan dishes, seafood, especially fish, which to your amazement, has been caught the same day.

Enough said about the food, Begur beaches are world-class with its smooth Mediterranean waters melodiously playing its tune while hitting the pebbles; very calming experience that rejuvenates one’s senses. A survey conducted by Skyscanner reveals that Begur is no. 3 in the world’s best beaches, tempting enough to book your flight right away! Enjoy the water sports such as kayaking and snorkelling in the coves around the Medes Island, a perfect summer holiday itinerary that includes sun, sand and beaches.

For a history and cultural enthusiast, Begur has a daunting medieval castle sitting pompously on top of a hillside, overlooking the Old Town, another popular tourist attraction in Begur. Standing at the top of the castle would give you bird’s-eye view of the coastline spreading across in miles. Most of the old mansions, now converted into hotels and holiday homes, have a rich history of being built by the local merchants when they returned from Cuba in the 19th century.

The Old Town, boasts of many high-end bars, restaurants, unconventional boutiques and eye-catching architecture. Old Quarter in Begur is famous to host many cultural events, festivals and fiestas that take place in this coastal part of Spain.

Begur is a hidden treasure of Spain, and has beautifully evolved itself over the years, offering boutique hotels, lip-smacking food and an exuberant vibe. It brings a refreshing twist from wild parties and all-day breakfasts. This town grows on you with its perfect mix of modern splendour and wealthy Catalonian culture that has remained the same for decades. Enjoy the town on foot and lose yourself to its magic. Begur must be on everyone’s “to-travel” list.