Human Statue Lady at Las Ramblas de Barcelona

A Moment of Fragile Beauty

This is yet another human statue at Las Ramblas, but she feels different from the rest. While some performers go for shock value or comedy, she projects a sense of beautiful, fragile delicacy. She stood there on this incredibly populated street, completely still, looking almost like a porcelain doll amidst the stampede of tourists.

Painted in Light and Glitter

I was immediately attracted by the details of her face. The makeup is stunning—those swirling green glitter patterns against the purple eyeshadow and the bold teal lips really pop. But it’s not just the paint; it’s the atmosphere.

The background is a soft, blurred wash of cyan and purple light coming from the nearby store signs, and it frames her profile perfectly. She looks "hieratic"—like a sacred statue from an ancient temple—dignified and lost in her own world. Don't forget to check the labels below if you want to see more living statues, and definitely click the image to view the big format so you can appreciate the texture of the glitter.

Autumn Leaves

First of all let me tell you that this image was taken by my 12-year-old daughter, Sara. The day we visited Vallgorgina and while my wife, some friends and I were having a chat after lunch, I left her the camera and she pointed towards the nearby trees. The leaves of this platanero (Hybrid plane or London plane tree) looked gorgeous under the afternoon sun but I confess I underestimated my daughter's eye. Beauty comes from within and you always get surprised at how different people can produce astonishing results at a given situation that you would regard as too obvious.

The Hanging Gardens of Barcelona Balconies

Not one of the seven wonders of the world but balconies with exuberant plants are not rare in Barcelona. This succulent specimen in particular is some sort of Graptopetalum or ghost plant according to my opinion. Maybe our botanic friends can help. What I was most interested in was the balcony anyway. The decay textures, the folded canopy, the historic architecture of the old part of town which I never get tired of admiring.