Sunset Farewell at Barcelona Port

To kiss goodbye 2007 I should have published this image in due time. As it is written somewhere in the stars that my daily posting mission is too heavy a cross to carry sometimes, I come to you from the future to talk about the end of the year. I had chosen this elder couple looking far away in the distance, perhaps taking their last pictures of Barcelona before turning back home, to make some kind of allegory about time, age, hope and whatever good thoughts this image may inspire. I let you with them watching the sun slowly set over Montjuic mountain. Tomorrow it will be just another day on earth, let's take the most out of it.

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Guardia Civil Patrol Boat at Barcelona Port

A sunset image taken at Barcelona Port with a close look on a Guardia Civil patrol boat. Besides the Spanish police boat, the World Trade Center building in the background and the Jaume I cable car tower are also worth mentioning.

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Ecuadorian Dancers Wearing Traditional Costumes

These dancers wearing traditional costumes of Ecuador were part of an event organized in Nou Barris quarter some months ago. The picture I recovered from my archives since I forgot to show you in this previous post called Bolivian dancers.

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Sarcophagus in Pedralbes Monastery

Although part of the tomb of Queen Elisenda de Montcada which you can see in the Pedralbes Monastery Museum site, this one is a small sarcophagus where the Queen is represented as an abbess and not wearing the crown as the sculpture on the main tomb.

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Violin Player or Fiddler

This man was playing the violin in a clear country music style. I think the beard totally characterizes this fiddler in his role so I decided to post it for you.

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Musician Playing Celtic Melodies

This woman was playing celtic tunes with this beautiful anglo concertina in Sant Iscle de Vallalta near Barcelona.

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Portrait of Miguel by Lourdes Martin, A Powerful Image I liked in 2007

Miguel by Lourdes Martin Cabrero was the portrait I liked the most in 2007. Lourdes Martin was awarded the Silver Lux Award in the Portrait category by AFP (Pro Photographers Association). Lux are one of the most prestigious photography awards in Spain. The ceremony was held during past Sonimagfoto 2007 event at Fira de Barcelona, Montjuic. This image belongs to Lourdes Martin. I just wanted to express my admiration for her portrait and in a way promote the most recent work of Spanish photographers. Check the AFP site and specially 'Miguel'. See other posts about Sonimagfoto 2007.

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Branch Fantasy

In this one, I just liked the way these branches hung, the overlapping of the many flowers, and the happy mood they created in my soul some time last autumn under the bright morning sun. I believe these are bougainvilleas although they look wilder than the garden vine.

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Australopithecus Afarensis: Lucy at Cosmocaixa Science Museum

Australopithecus Afarensis, in this case the female called Lucy as part of the Civilized Matter exhibition in Cosmocaixa Science Museum, in other words, a narration about the evolution of man in the last 100.000 years (more at the official Cosmocaixa site, although not in English). Perhaps you want to know about australopithecus or even the story of Lucy itself so I recommend this site where you can admire another reproduction of the famous afarensis that goes by the name of Lucy.

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Fallen Leaves

Just some fallen leaves on someone's swimming pool. Nothing more to say today. My thoughts went blank on this one. I like the red leaves though.

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Lepiota Procera or Parasol Mushroom, Sant Iscle Mushroom Fair, Barcelona, Spain

This species of mushroom or bolet known as the Parasol Mushroom (lepiota procera) I photographed at Sant Iscle de Vallalta Mushroom Fair near Barcelona. Remember to check my previous post about this fair called Gathering Wild Mushrooms or Bolets in Catalonia.

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Holy Scene: Prayer

To follow with my holy scenes series I will let you alone with this intimate moment of reflection and prayers. No matter what your religion is or even in case you don't have any, I think it is easy to admire revolutionary men like this, call him with whatever name you choose, that someday, somewhere in time, decided to sacrifice for the sake of his fellowmen.

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Priest Sculpture in Pedralbes Monastery

To complete the scene here is the other religious icon located to the right of the sculpture in my previous post: Religious Sculpture in Pedralbes Monastery

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Religious Sculpture in Pedralbes Monastery

This small figure is located in a small crypt located upon entering Pedralbes Monastery cloister, following the right wing corridor. I can't tell you who this is, shame on me, I know. To highlight the mystery and solemnity of the icon I have burnt the borders of the image and rendered a lightning effect on the face with CS2. One thing I am sure of, the figure is related to Queen Elisenda de Montcada who secluded herself in the Monastery of Poor Clares in Pedralbes as a nun after the death of her husband, King James II of Aragon, also known as James II of Barcelona, called The Just. She died there on June 19, 1364 and the tomb can be visited.

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Barcelona Coat of Arms

Barcelona coat of arms can be appreciated on this lamp post located in Passeig de Lluis Companys near Arc de Triomf. The city coat of arms is a blend of the arms of the counts of Barcelona and the arms of Aragon. It was conceded to the city on July 4th 1345. The cross is that of St. George who is the patron saint of the city. In case you wonder what the lines mean (red on yellow in the flag and original coat of arms) you should know that the red ones stand for the blood that the French emperor Charles the Bald drew with the blood of the Count of Barcelona, Guifré el Pilós on the golden shield of the Count.

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Fountain in Pedralbes Monastery, Barcelona, Spain

This is the Pedralbes Monastery cloister fountain in the light of the morning sun. I like two things about the scene, first, the light on the water and second, the face of that small girl almost hidden behind the fountain.
Suggestion: I created a list with voting system where you can add your city daily photoblog. Other lists created in the past have worked for my ranking in search engines but of course this is completely optional and it is meant to promote the group.

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The Triumph Arch or Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona, Spain

This is another picture of the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. As you noticed I have been enjoying a long deserved holidays but from this post on I have prepared a series of images in a row to compensate for all the sloth in the past. I suggest you check my previous post about Arc de Triomphe.

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Chocolate Fountain in Barcelona Chocolate Trade Show

This chocolate fountain or whatever the technical word is, I shot during the Chocolate trade show celebrated in Barcelona not long ago. When I see this I can't help thinking of Hamsel and Grettel story about a house of marsipan, chocolate and sweets of many a kind. Besides that reminiscence I also think of lyrics, and this is weird, like in the Lucy in the Sky song, when it says, "with tangerine trees and marmalade skies". You can call me paranoic! Hey, Merry Christmas everybody.

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My Christmas Picture of a Holy Scene in Barcelona, Spain

This could be my Christmas picture of the season, although some similar ones appeared in Barcelona Photoblog recently. Holy scenes captured in Pedralbes monastery that look more beautiful perhaps than the traditional miniature representations of Jesus in Bethlem that you can find on the streets these days. I mean, they look more solemn and inspiring but of course you may have your own opinion about this musing of mine.

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Gaudi Animals on Nativity Façade, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Weird creatures contemplate tourists from above while they visit Sagrada Familia cathedral. Animal sculptures, so common in Gaudi's art nouveau buildings, accentuate the mysterious halo around the temple mixing up Paganism and Christianity with unusual harmony according to my humble and lay appreciation of course.

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Detail of Faith Hallway or Entry in the Nativity Façade, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

This is a detail of the Faith hallway or entry located to the right of the Nativity façade in Sagrada Familia. It is an image of Jesus in his carpenter work bench. To get a better idea examine other sculptures from this façade featured in Barcelona Photoblog in the past: Turtle Holding Pillar, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and Adoration of the Magi

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Homemade Cookies Shop in Carrer Princesa, Barcelona

At carrer Princesa there is this wonderful shop called Demasié with an extra motto written on the window - galetes exageradament bones (something like: "exaggeratedly delicious cookies"). Demasié was founded by the Escursell brothers, who also run a famous chain of chocolate shops known as the Xocoa group. Demasié specializes in cookies, and the idea is to make emphasis in homemade products. Due to the good quality and presentation of the cookies the price may be sometimes set accordingly.

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Ferrets: Captive Animals in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Among the many captive animals you can buy in Las Ramblas stalls there are these ferrets. Apparently they are cute and make good pets but keeping them in a cage is not what nature had in mind. The noise, the lack of freedom to move in such a small space, the great amount of people coming and going or stopping by to watch like this girl provoke stress in many of these creatures. If you enlarge the picture you will notice how the ferret on the right is stubbornly biting on the bars of the cage.

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Carnation Fresco, Flower Stall, Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Of course this is no fresco, these are real carnations, as shot in a flower stall at Las Ramblas, Barcelona. I added a very subtle pastel effect and it is meant to draw your attention from the distance. It is a very common image, so I took the liberty of playing with it. Although it is almost imperceptible. Here are three pictures that appeared in Barcelona Photoblog in the past, taken in the same place: Flower Bouquets, Flower Stock Photography (notice the same carnations below) and Flower Bouquet at La Rambla dels Flors

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Exotic Animals? - A Gecko's Life

Exotic animals in Barcelona like this gecko I photographed on a marble slab are part of a big market in the city although some species of Geckos are common in the Mediterranean. As I am no expert I am going to recommend a good link about the world of geckos: Geckos Unlimited. I prefer to see them in the wild though!

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Crested Gecko or Rhacodactylus Ciliatus: Exotic Animals in Barcelona

Crested Gecko or Rhacodactylus Ciliatus is one of the exotic animals you can find in Barcelona, well at least it is an exotic animal for us. This is not the first time exotic animals appear in Barcelona Photoblog: Exotic Animals in Barcelona - Marsupials and Exotic Animals at Las Ramblas

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Modernist Window, Fundació Dr. Robert, Sant Pau Hospital

Not so spectacular as the stained glass windows in previous posts but attractive to the eye as well, this modernist window is overlooking the staircase inside Casa de Convalescencia (Fundació Dr. Robert) in Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona.

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Modernist Stained Glass Windows: Fundacio Dr. Robert, Barcelona

Inside Fundació Dr. Robert in Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona you can see these beautiful stained glass windows around the cupola of the aula magna building.

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Sagrada Familia Stained Glass

There is little margin sometimes to capture stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia due to lack of space and scaffolds that are in your way. This is the result of a very close take.

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Sagrada Familia Cathedral: Stained Glass Window

The following four posts in a row deal with stained glass. In this case we here a view of one the imponent windows inside Sagrada Familia cathedral. As I want to slowly catch up in my posting with today's correct date, I am going to be brief.

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Taking Photographs at Port Vell, Barcelona: Romantic Couple

This is a picture of another picture. A young man taking some photos of his girlfriend. I wouldn't dare say they are Japanese tourists but you know the cliche about who is more fond of shooting at everything that moves. She looks like some model to me. The light was great right before the sun went down over Montjuic mountain. The Port Vell area was crowded and lots of tourists were waiting to pass to the other side of Maremagnum bridge towards Las Ramblas. Some others were trying to capture a good sunset shot, me too! But I couldn't resist sneaking into this couple's private world and snatching a moment of intimacy.

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