I recently completed what I considered a research trip to Europe.

I brought a stack of quality paper and pencils and attempted to create as many souvenirs (aka postcards) as I could while engaged in the inevitable “hurry up and wait” parts of such travel.

Obviously Gaudi’s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia made a bit of an impression.  I knew the organic qualities of the basilica and the Park Güell would be very important to me, but that little outbuilding he made outside the basilica for the education of workers’ children deepened my admiration.  Yes, large projects for the inspiration and elevation of a city should address educational as well as spiritual needs.  Bravo.

Whereas the Picasso museum in Paris provides a fantastic peek into the many versions and iterations of his Demoiselles d’Avignon, his museum in Barcelona includes his series of paintings derived from Las Meninas by Velásquez.  (More on this later.)

Why is Holbein’s portrait (or a copy) of English King Henry VIII in Rome?

I had some monetary issues while abroad, which made traditional souvenir-acquisition nearly impossible.  One of the postcards uses embossing to whine about this directly.

I mailed the results today.