Columbus Monument at Las Ramblas, Barcelona

I am finding it really hard to post today, as Barcelona FC has won the Champions League (Soccer Final Cup) against Arsenal, and I can only hear horns blowing in the street and people shouting...God, I wish I had a picture of Ronaldinho, Eto or Belletti to show you. I know that for most of you who may not be soccer fans this doesn´t really mean much but at least you would have had a great time watching.

I couldn´t find anything more appropiate than the statue of Columbus a notable symbol of Barcelona, showing the way with pride. (My admiration goes to Arsenal FC, a powerful and elegant opponent). Once it is all said, we shouldn´t forget Columbus Monument: A 60m high column designed by Gaietà Buigas i Monravà for the Universal exhibition of 1888 located at Plaça de la Porta de Pau facing Port Vell. In case you decide to take the lift, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Barcelona Port and Las Ramblas in the back. Wow, now they start with fire crackers! It is going to be a long night.

See Columbus Monument Picture on a Google Earth Map

World Trade Center Barcelona: A Close Look

This is a close look on World Trade Center Barcelona (WTCB) at the end of Moll de Barcelona (moll means "wharf"). Built by Henry N. Coob of Pei, Coob, Freed & Partners, also known by his Hancock tower in Boston, WTCB is an eight storey complex divided in four buildings. Three of them, WTC North, WTC South and WTC East hold offices and the fourth is the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel. Grand Marina with its 273 rooms is a 5 star GL hotel. I got this picture from the deck of a sightseeing boat. If you use the cable car or teleferic which happens to have one of his towers (Torre de Jaume I, the intermediate station which is 158m/519ft) in front of the hotel you will have a privileged aerial view of WTCB and the cruiser terminals on the same wharf. Zurbaran is one of the ships that belong to Acciona Trasmediterranea, a company sailing to the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. There are international cruises in Barcelona port too departing from Adossat Wharf nearby but that is part of another story.

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.

Maori Warrior at Port Aventura Amusement Park, Salou, Spain

You know what maybe the tourist in last post was lucky after all. Maybe if you didn't dance dressed like that for the crowd you would receive severe punishment for such great dishonor and you would have to face this. The scary look and the menacing gestures of a maori warrior. Man, imagine landing on the beautiful island a long time ago and being approached by a group of such warriors performing the famous dance. Wow, now I know how it must feel before the rugby match.

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Port Vell, Barcelona: Ictineu II Submarine

At the harbor of Barcelona, in front of the Imax Port Vell cinema and near Maremagnum shopping center  there is a reproduction of The Ictineu II, the first combustion driven submarine and anaerobic engine, invented by Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol who was born in Figueres, Catalonia (Spain) in 1819.

The first successful combustion powered submarine was launched the 2nd of October 1864.

Monturiol died tragically and impoverished in Barcelona in 1885.

Check Ictineu II Submarine on a Google Earth Map

Miramar Hotel at Montjuic Mountain, Barcelona

Miramar-Barcelona Hotel in particular being on Montjuic mountain, on Miramar road to be more precise, is a little out of the way. It is not inaccesible, but it is a mountain after all. Of course you have the best views of Barcelona port, Maremagnum and some other areas of the city from up there. There is a beautiful park nearby and an important botanical garden devoted exclusively to cacti thanks to the special microclimate along the wall of the mountain. This is a luxury hotel designed by Oscar Tusquet. Miró Foundation Museum is very near and MNAC National Art Museum not so near as they suggest but you won't get a heart attack before you reach the place. Of course the 15 minutes walk to get to Las Ramblas is feasible although that means you have to descend towards the city. Hey, if you have money for luxury hotels don't complain about transportation anyways.

Mermaid Human Statue in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Once upon a time there was a little mermaid, a sad and lonely little mermaid, working nine to five out of the water to make ends meet in Las Ramblas, Barcelona. She only wanted to go with her father in the deep blue sea some miles away from Barcelona port but human money was better than devaluated seashells in her underwater world. Tough life indeed, so much makeup, scales getting dry in the sun and those stingy strange creatures with no tail staring at her like a school of fish. Yeah, it sounds like a tale but human statues in Las Ramblas are real people, they need the money so let's give them some coins to take back home cause they really deserve it.

Picture I liked today from the City Daily Photo group: Free Parking by Hyderabad Daily Photo, India. I like the silhouette of the road and the incredible amount of cars in the huge traffic jam.

Panoramic View of Barcelona: World Trade Center

Today, I present you with another shot taken from Montjuic of one of the wharfs at Barcelona port. Notice this enormous and luxurious hotel, with an exquisite design at the very end of the pier: it is the Barcelona World Trade Center, on the right side of the picture next to the cable car tower. I would recommend it if it weren't for the fact that it is not made for the pocket of common mortals like us, are you?
Cruisers sailing the Mediterranean sea depart from the same wharf, what a coincidence!.

Sightseeing in Barcelona: Las Golondrinas

This is a picture I took at Barcelona Port just in front of Columbus Monument in which you can appreciate one of Las Golondrinas, sightseeing ships you can board to travel along the coast.

For more information check the for tourist boat company address:
"Las Golondrinas" - "Sirenas SA"
Pl. Portal de la Pau, 1
08002 - Barcelona
Tel. +34 93 442 31 06

A Day at the Races

If you've visited a local fair maybe you are familiar with the usual horse race to fight for a wonderful teddy bear. We went to Port Aventura and I prayed for my daughter not to win the first price. She had never played before so the odds were little. Bulls***, she won an enormous banana, taller than me and we had to hold it all along the park so imagine how funny it should be.

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Fast Ferry Barcelona - Balearic Islands at Barcelona Port

This is fast ferry Ramon Llull belonging to Balearia company. Barcelona Photoblog took the picture from the deck of a sightseeing boat. I am not pretty sure where it came from this time as they cover Majorca, Minorca, Formentera and Ibiza plus Valencia, Denia, Ceuta and Algeciras. The vessel can carry 479 passengers and a 100 cars, a big monster compared to our small Las Golondrinas boat. Far away on the horizon you can see the Jaume I cable car tower and almost touching the prow the blurry silhouette of Hotel Arts.

Capgros. La Merce Celebrations, Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain

One of the shots of Capgrossos I took during La Merce celebrations last September at Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain. Check my previous post: La Merce Celebrations 2007

Rambla de Mar Lightweight Bridge, Barcelona, Spain

Witnessed by the anxious crowd gathering on the Rambla de Mar lightweight bridge close to Maremagnum shopping center, gently sails this boat, stopping time for some minutes and forcing visitors to enjoy the view longer than expected, till the mechanism in the bridge extends the wooden platform towards the pier on the other side. The bridge by Viaplana and Pinion leads to Las Ramblas nearby and was featured in Barcelona Photoblog in the past: Waiting for the Bridge at Rambla de Mar and Maremagnum Wooden Bridge in Rush Hours.

And just in case you would like to enjoy the same view daily here is list of Barcelona hotels near the port:

• Grand Marina hotel
• H10 Port Vell hotel
• Serras hotel
• Hotel Duquesa de Cardona
• Hotel Jazz
• Axel hotel
• Hotel Brummell review by Conde Nast
• Hotel Miramar

Sunset over Port Vell, Barcelona

Today's picture was taken last Sunday after having lunch at one of the many restaurants in front of the marina in Port Vell (I know, I know, it was quite late for lunch!). It was a hot day, somewhat foggy and the sun was setting rapidly over Columbus column on the other side of the port, just in front of Las Ramblas. Notice that on top of the mountain in the distance you can also spot Calatrava's tower which I had photographed early in the afternoon.

Barcelona's Twin Towers

Barcelona's Twin Towers, called 'Las Torres Gemelas' in Spanish, are tied for the tallest buildings in the city. At 154 metres tall, the Torre Mapfre (on the right) and the Hotel Arts (on the left) look over the Catalan capital from their location by the beach at Port Olímpic. The Torre Mapfre is owned by insurance company Mapfre and is home to their offices, as well as those of several other companies. Its sister, the Hotel Arts, is quite different as it is one of the city's most luxurious hotels. Many a celebrity has been known to stay in one of the Hotel Arts' 483 rooms that overlook Barcelona's beaches.

Photo is courtesy of Oh-Barcelona

Succulent Plants: Cactii Family and Friends

From the animal realm in last post into the succulent plants: the cactii. Not specially related to Barcelona unless you speak about Mossen Costa i LLobera Gardens, which contain one of the largest cactii collections in Europe, and what's best, out of a greenhouse, due to the peculiar microclimate next to the cliff wall of Montjuic mountain. The peaceful place is facing Barcelona port so you have a privileged view of the city and at the same time a comfortable blend of blue sea and green cactii to enjoy. As to the image, partipation to identify this particular cactus is open. I love succulent plants not just because you have Agave from where you get Tequila but because they make quite a good subject for a photograph, not only from the point of view of textures but of composition as well. Take this case, would you say I am crazy if I said I see a family here, a group of imaginary people whispering among themselves. As you see they have some hallucinogen effects too. Don't worry I'll call the shrink myself

Cogwheel at History Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona

As a reminder of Catalan industrial past, you can admire old machinery parts such as this cogwheel at the History Museum of Catalonia in front of Barcelona port.

Maremagnum: The Tourist Paradise

Today it was really warm (about 22 Cº) so we decided to take a walk and head for Maremagnum , a combination of shopping mall and leisure center including the aquarium, imax cinema, and lots of restaurants and disco bars on the very edge of Barcelona's Port Vell ("old harbor") waterfront. Standing on the planks of the wooden platforms by the sea you can take pictures like this. 

The word "maremagnum" is derived from Latin and can be translated as "great sea" or "large body of water." The name reflects its waterfront location, with views of the Mediterranean Sea. Maremagnum is a popular destination for both locals and tourists due to its convenient location near the city center and its wide range of offerings. 

The shopping center houses numerous stores selling fashion, accessories, electronics, books, and more. There are also several dining options, including restaurants, cafes, and fast-food outlets, catering to different tastes and budgets. 

In addition to shopping and dining, Maremagnum features a cinema complex, a bowling alley, and a variety of entertainment venues. It is known for its vibrant atmosphere, particularly during weekends and holidays when visitors can enjoy live performances, concerts, and cultural events. 

Maremagnum's waterfront location makes it an attractive spot to relax and enjoy views of the sea. It has outdoor terraces and seating areas where visitors can soak up the Mediterranean ambiance. Overall, Maremagnum offers a combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, and scenic surroundings, making it a popular destination for people looking for a diverse experience in the heart of Barcelona.

Reading on the Maremagnum Wooden Platform at Barcelona Harbor

The wooden platform along Maremagnum center is made in such a way that it is everything but a wharf. You can see people jogging, kissing, feeding the pigeons, taking pictures and many of them like this person, reading.

Gosh, I wish I had the patience to do that. Why is it that some of us find time and have the will to go to places and some others don't, I mean, the place is not exactly near any building, so you need to plan it, "today I am going to the port and read a book, no matter how cold it is, I will do it".

By the way, notice the buoy, pretending to look the other way not to disturb the reader or perhaps watching the seagulls fly!

Here are some other pictures of Maremagnum area I found interesting via Barcelona Yellow

Barcelona's National Theater of Catalonia

The National Theatre of Catalonia opened in the city in 1996. The building resembling a Greek temple was designed by Ricardo Bofill, the famous Catalan architect who projected Barcelona Airport or will build the hotel Vela in the new mouth of the port. With a capacity of 894 seats, the main auditorium has a classical amphitheater shape. If you want to know more about theater in Catalonia you can read this excellent article.

Aerial View of Barcelona's National Theater of Catalonia (Google Earth Image)