Julià Bretos: Following Gaudí's erratic trail

"God brought me to earth with a single purpose: to spread the word about Gaudí. Unfortunately, it took me 50 years to discover him, and I've been dedicated to it for six. The previous half-century I wasted studying a computer science degree, a master's, setting up a company, and discovering the pleasure of being self-employed. Especially, every quarter." Leaning on the bar, Julià Bretos sips his gin and tonic "with a hint of cinnamon," while smiling broadly, happy to have discovered secrets and to be able to reveal a few.

"I still work to subsist, the minimum, but now I dedicate a very important part of my time to researching Gaudí and sharing what I discover. I have chosen novels as a way to disseminate what I know, one more method, but one that today reaches more people," explains the person who has just published Sapos y culebras (Círculo Rojo), a volume that addresses unknown or even unpublished vicissitudes about how the Sagrada Familia was born, shedding new light on some of its mysteries, such as the role played by the Diocese of Barcelona ---not always favorable to the construction of the temple---, or the identity of the woman who, by anonymously bequeathing her fortune to Gaudí, made it possible to radically change the project and turn the Sagrada Familia into what it ended up being.

--- And who was that woman, or rather, who was she?

--- Her name was Doña Isabel and I have a novel dedicated to her in the pipeline, La dama sin rostro (The Faceless Lady), which Almuzara publishing house will publish at the end of the year. There I explain the life of this woman, and I will reveal a secret that no one can imagine.

In addition to finalizing the details of this book, the author and researcher ---also a computer science professor--- assures that he is already working on the continuation of that novel. "Think that the arrival of the money given by Doña Isabel caused unexpected interest from the Diocese, leading to a pitched battle to gain control of the works. A struggle that continues to this day."

To his credit, the author already has several titles dedicated to the figure of the brilliant Barcelona architect, such as Las entrañas del templo (The Temple's Entrails) or Diario de Gaudí (Gaudí's Diary).

The ethics of work

A few years ago, "a bad friend kicked me out of my job. She needed to prove that a woman was capable of reaching where men don't, sending an old friend to the street. What should have been a misfortune became an opportunity to be reborn, to reinvent myself at 50 and find the emotional balance I lacked. Now I am happy with who I am and what I have," explains Julià Bretos, who, nowadays, lacks time to fulfill all his research, writing, and teaching work.

"Look, I feel like a Patriot, with a capital P, but not one of those who wave a flag, but one of those who work and work. Going to work every day, at the Institute, with disadvantaged students, and doing everything in my power to help them improve, this is the best demonstration of love for my country. I am proud of my drive, of my initiative, I work tirelessly and mine is a perfectionism that often becomes obsessive. Nothing comes suddenly, it is the result of an effort that, nowadays, is not in fashion."

--- Hey, and when do you get exhausted?

The parishioner smiles: "When I get exhausted, I dedicate my energies to other passions: Barça, playing billiards, and routine self-love practices. In some of these activities, I am a true expert."

A city that had everything to lose

"I arrived in Barcelona at nineteen. Undoubtedly my city, the best there is and which also has a long way to improve so as not to lose my trust," explains the parishioner, about to finish his drink, before continuing: "Despite this city having losing cards, with the powers intent on impoverishing it every day that passes, it remains the best-regarded city in the State abroad. We must have something!"

--- Something else we don't have and could have!

--- Indeed, I don't like that political opportunism that wasted the possibilities the pandemic gave us to redirect a thousand things in the city that could be improved.

And after uttering these words, the author falls into a brief silence that is in tune with the one surrounding him. An absence of sound and noise that often accompanies him in domestic peace.

--- What is no longer improvable is our lavish gastronomic offer based on tapas, portions, combo dishes, or sandwiches. Everything exquisite!

Julià Bretos reviews the offer with a certain gleam of culinary lust, before uttering:

---I'm a snacker ---and adds, with a mischievous smile---, that, in fact, justifies some small sub-abdominal excess.