Modernist stroll

Admiring not just the buildings but the ground beneath your feet as you stroll down the Paseo towards the Gran Vía, the thought might occur that Modernista architecture, a blend of solid geometrical principles with artistic flourishes that do no more nor less than celebrate life, offers a window into a characteristically Catalan habit of mind. Sound, practical people conscious of the importance of efficiency and hard work Catalans are imbued also with a keen understanding that life is short and to be enjoyed. Which very likely defines the philosophy of the anthropomorphic creature who inhabits the pleasant spot where our stroll begins and ends, our endlessly meditative bull.