Think Twice: Poverty in Barcelona

Coincidence or not, the cardboard boxes promoting IBM think centre series, grabbed my attention after I took this snapshot next to a bus stop in front of Plaça Catalunya in the very centre of Barcelona. This homeless guy is sleeping but on seeing the sign I can't help imagining that he is thinking, thinking hard, thinking twice about his non-existent future while the rest of the world is thinking about consumer products like the ones that used to be in that box for example. Maybe you would like to see the image in black and white.

Recommended: Now that I raised the issue of homeless people, I suggest you don't miss wonderful Stoneth's photos at Flickr.

Trencadis Lizard by Gaudi at Park Guell, Barcelona

Famous lizard by Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1926) using mosaic technique called trencadis. 

According to Wikipedia "Trencadís (Catalan pronunciation: [tɾəŋkəˈðis]) is a type of mosaic used in Catalan modernism, created from broken tile shards. The technique is also called pique assiette. This mosaic is done using broken pieces of ceramic, like tiles and dinnerware" 

So many times photographed, in so many angles, with so many different exposures and cameras. 

This is another must see, so I don't know how you are going to combine Park Güell with Palau de la Música, the tour on the bus, the museums, the restaurants, Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas (missing something here? I bet I am!). 

If you want to know more about mosaic and particularly Gaudi's or Jujol's work (his collaborator) visit The Joy of Shards.

Catalan Modernisme: Stained Glass Ceiling at Palau de la Música

If you think you have seen it all regarding art nouveau stained glass windows or ceilings then you have not visited Palau de la Música, the outstanding representative of Catalan modernisme built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1908.

As many of you already know this is a must see when visiting Barcelona.

There are guided tours so save a little time for admiring it but don't worry if you can't make it to Barcelona,  you can go on an incredible 360 virtual tour inside Palau de la Música Catalana for starters.

Taking pictures is not allowed so I don't know how this snap got into my camera anyway. Check the full view here.