Contemplata aliis Tradere

A meagre contribution to the mission and work of the Order of Preachers: my reflections, thoughts, ideas and the occasional rant on matters mainly theological, philosophical and ecclesiastical, drawn primarily from my reading and experience of life and the world. Striving to be always Catholic, firmly Christian and essentially Dominican, flavoured with dashes of Von Balthasar.

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Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

A son of the English Province of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans); born in Malaysia but have lived in the USA, Singapore, the UK & the Philippines for varying durations. A pilgrim and way-farer, a searcher for Truth on the journey of Life... "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, There’s always laughter and good red wine. At least I’ve always found it so. Benedicamus Domino!" - Hilaire Belloc

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Canfranc International Railway Station

Years before the inception of the European Union, a dream to unite France and Spain across the Pyrenees was born and the railway station at Canfranc in northern Spain was built. It is the second largest station in Europe (after Leipzig), a beautiful complex of buildings in the French chateaux style with art nouveau interiors. Sadly, it fell into disuse when a bridge connection on the railway collapsed, isolating the station in its Aragonese valley.

Today, a project is underway to revive the station and there are lovely, haunting photos and more information at the Canfranc website. It stands as a monument to the collapse of grand visions and a latent potential for a renewed future... rather like the current state of the European Constitution, I think!

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

your boat inn tug blog is great thanks

12:46 am  
Blogger The Bones said...

Dear Brother Lawrence

Love your blog and especially your quotation on "laughter and red wine!" I was drinking my 3/4th glass of red wine of the evening and laughed so you've made me smile. Will say a prayer and ask for our patron's intercession for you Brother, tonight.

Check out my blog too but steer clear of Morrissey!

Laurence

3:04 am  

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