Barcelona Photoblog

August 31, 2008

August 30, 2008

Barcelona Retirees and Pensioners

Barcelona Retirees and Pensioners

Walking slowly they come usually in pairs, observing, judging, supervising, peeking through fences to keep daily control over construction sites in the city on their way to the elderly home or the park. They have their own weapons that they can point at you in a menacing way. Notice one of them hidden rather clumsily behind his back. They fear nothing and know about everything. They've got plenty of time. As part of their code of honor they can wear whatever they want to. Fashion is for the weak. Tough guys indeed with the experience of a lifetime. They are the retirees! Do you remember the post "Home Bad Home" published a couple of days ago. They were the ones and this was the fence. Check it. All my due respect to pensioners in Barcelona and the world.

August 29, 2008

Street Lamp Crown Detail in Barri Gotic, Barcelona

Street Lamp Crown Detail in Barri Gotic, Barcelona [enlarge]

This kind of lamp is the most abundant along the streets in the old part of the city. You can appreciate on the ironwork a detail of Barcelona coat of arms.

August 28, 2008

Home Bad Home

Homeless people in Barcelona

In plain daylight and quite near La Boqueria market in Barcelona there was this young couple sound asleep alien to passersby peeking up through the chain link fence. Two old guys stood right next two us, you know, retirees of those that approve or disapprove things up, nodding disdainfully.

August 27, 2008

Flag Waving Free

Catalonia's Flag Waving in the Wind[enlarge]

Arguments, disputes, quarrels and battles apart, I am going to concentrate on the abstract beauty of a flag waving in the wind, freely, against the sky. I can almost feel the battering of the cloth now and hear the murmur of a thousand causes and hundreds of deaths in the name of a land and those who on her, dwell. This is La Senyera, the flag of Catalonia. 

August 26, 2008

Dali Standing on Barcelona Balcony

Dali Standing on Barcelona Balcony [enlarge]

On the balcony of the Reial Circle Artistic de Barcelona there is this cardboard image of Salvador DalĂ­. This cultural institution is located at Carrer dels Arcs 5. Follow link above for a previous post.

August 25, 2008

Via Laietana in Barcelona, Spain

Woman in white crossing Via Layetana street in BArcelona
Crossing Via Laietana Street in Barcelona

Via Laietana, is normally a very busy street in Barcelona but not much if you go early on weekends.

Via Laietana was first projected in 1879 and started in 1907, with the aim of communicating Eixample with the waterfront, amid much controversy. The demolition of a large number of houses and the removal of the streets in the area was required to do so. As some of the traditional guilds of the city, some dating back to the Middle Ages, were located there, they had to be relocated in different parts of Barri Gòtic, notably Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.

The first section to be built was named Carrer de Bilbao, which nowadays is a separate, shorter street that stems from the larger Via Laietana. The avenue was finished in 1926.

Francesc CambĂł, a prominent politician of the time, built his personal residence in the avenue. During the years of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) it was renamed Via Durruti.

Check this interesting movie walk related to Via Laietana where they also show a map of Erasmus students in Barcelona in the vicinity of the famous street.

August 24, 2008

Cornice Mask at Barri Gotic, Barcelona

Cornice Mask at Barri Gotic, Barcelona[enlarge]

When you visit Barri Gotic in Barcelona don't forget to look up to the skies. You'll see balconies full of interesting things, people leaning out of the window and staring at you, colorful towels drying up on improvised clothes lines. But wait, don't stop gazing. Keep searching near the roof. A universe of the most beautiful architectural elements will open before your eyes. This is a modest example: a sort of theatrical mask that stood out thanks to the morning light.

August 23, 2008

Candy Mix

Colorful Sweets - Mix Candy [enlarge]

In my spare time I am beginning to take the first steps on the world of small things. I neither master the technique nor have the adequate gear so you may call this a house experiment. I set eyes on a bag of sweets at random. This is not publicity. I don't sell candy. But the brand name was there and it came handy for choosing the title of the post.

August 22, 2008

Stray Cats Going Wrong Way

Wrong Way for Stray Cats

I have to admit the wall is not much clean. The wrong way sign was quite dirty too, believe me. But what the heck was the cat doing there? Maybe the neighbors were sick and tired of stray cats wandering down their alley? Perhaps it was a dog only way? Barcelona like many other cities is full of stickers, posters, graffiti, etc. Some with very good taste but the streets will look better if they were neat and polished.

August 21, 2008

Street Shave in Barcelona

Street Shave in Barcelona [enlarge]

You can walk along the streets of El Raval and discover many Barcelonas. One of them is the Barcelona of the homeless people. They gather sometimes near a church as La Mercé and help each other. This young man had been washing his body before in a water fountain nearby. Then he got ready for this special free service: street shaving.

August 20, 2008

Lion Head Door Knocker

Lion Head Door Knocker [enlarge]

This is a detail of a lion head door knocker on a building located at carrer de la Mercé 14, a small street paralel to La Mercé church, home of the Virgen de la Mercè, patron saint of Barcelona. To be more specific the knocker is located on the very corner of such street and carrer Boltres. According to historical records Boltres was a family that owned properties in the area in the XIV century. Check the place on my Google Map.

August 19, 2008

The Boy and the Fishing Net

The Boy and the Fishing Net [enlarge]

The boy and the f...ishing net. Yep, that intonation would suit the picture better. Gosh, wasn't the little guy crying like mad because mom wanted to leave and he was dragging behind to play a little longer. Kids! Aren't they lovely?

August 18, 2008

Beach Volley at Premiá de Mar, Maresme, Barcelona

Beach Volley at Premiá de Mar, Maresme, Barcelona [enlarge]

For sports fans, especially for beach volley enthusiasts I happened to take this picture recently while I was sitting in a bar terrace by the beach - Premiá de Mar, Maresme Coast near Barcelona. The color picture was fine but didn't convince me much so I used this sepia toned choice. I hope you like the moment. He smashed it if that's what you are wondering now.

August 17, 2008

Perspective, Premiá de Mar, Barcelona

Perspective, Premiá de Mar, Barcelona [enlarge]

The place is just a small park in Premiá de Mar, a town on the Maresme Coast near Barcelona city. Not much to say here, just that the columns and benches directed the eye towards that man in the background.

August 16, 2008

Balcony Drain Figure: Fish Head

Balcony Drain Figure: Fish Head [enlarge]

Sometimes the most horrible and old fashioned facade adornment can be perceived or might be considered as art. This fish head that acts as a balcony drain in one of the many buildings built during the 60s and 70s in Barcelona might be considered kitsch by some or a beautiful retro water drain by others in a couple of years. Who knows?

August 15, 2008

Cake Garnish

Cake Garnish

Obviously I forgot to mention this other stuff I found on top of my cake besides last post's strawberry. This garnish with leaves and fruit seems edible and I swear I've seen it lots of times but never gave it a try. Suggestions would be appreciated.

August 13, 2008

Catalan Embutidos

 [enlarge]

Catalan embutidos or sausages may look gross indeed but taste good, believe me. My wife has just advised me not to publish this picture. I laughed. I know it is disgusting but that's what makes it more interesting! By the way, those of you with linguistic habits should know that "embutir" means "to stuff", that's why they call it sausages in English. We use "salchicha" for hot-dog-like sausages and "embutidos" for all the products prepared in the same way, i.e. stuffing meat and fat, generally pork derived, into the clean bowels or guts of the animal.

August 12, 2008

Trixis in Barcelona

Trixis in Barcelona [enlarge]

Trixis are mixture of tricycles and taxis and are one of the main means of transportation for tourists in Barcelona, especially when moving around the narrow streets of the old part of town, that is, the part of the city which used to be surrounded by walls. For more details check previous posts: Touristic Transport in Barcelona and Trixi Taxi Service in Barcelona.

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