Temple of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, begun in 1882, still unfinished (see cranes). Antoni Gaudi's work was greatly influenced by forms of nature and this is reflected by the use of curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic-like forms which are traits of Gaudi's Barcelona architecture.

No wonder Steve was uncommonly speechless.

The media outlets are now reporting it's a done deal. Hillary is the new SOS with formal announcement due after Thanksgiving.

Nothing like this alit at night, except maybe the Gaudi building.

すっごい建物ですね。
感動です！

The Bashar thread downstairs is closed to comments.

Syria is the world's oldest Christian nation.
Syria was a foe of Saddam Hussein, he supplied groups in Lebanon with missiles to use against Syria.

The above fact(mentioned in Amb.Wilson's book) totally disarms the repeated lies of Cheney about the Iraq/Syria WMD connection.

On 9-11 Syria and Iran were the first countries to offer us help and intelligence against Al Qaeda.

Ties with Western intelligence would not be a shock in that regard. The extent to which they'd support a war that caused a massive refugee crisis on its border, that's another topic altogether.

Clearly Syria is the one country that can demand the most leverage regarding Turkey's introduction to the EU/NATO partnership. Turkey has the regional ability to hedge Putin with the employed American deterrent there. It is the doorway to the Middle East. As such Turkey can help with securing the pipeline caucus trail. Syria can help with security from Iraq's border to the Mediterranean as the trans Iraqi and trans Arabian pipelines connect. That single item will help secure greater access to capital for the wealthy Saud elements whose trans Arabian pipeline taps to ports in southern Lebanon.

Make no mistake, any talk of western intelligence means the participation of the House of Saud, Jordan, and Israel(follow the money). Syria has to position itself carefully. Siding with the west in the coming alliances Obama will partner upon gives them greater influence to the coming regional arrangements. To what extent does Syria try to be the bridge to Iran, as part of the effort to quell strife and abet Iraq's normalization?

I'm jealous...I wanna go there.

I've been.. I loved.. I miss. It's actually not taking that long relative to how long it traditionally takes to build a cathedral. Then again, you know how Spain is: one guy pours the concrete while the other holds his beer.

The opposite side and interior are in such contrast to the Gaudi originally intended, but still amazing.