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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Big Brother in Las Ramblas: Crime Ridden Streets or Privacy Breach?

Anyone that has visited or lives in Barcelona is perfectly aware of the fact that Las Ramblas is not the safest place in the world. The more crowded it gets the more pickpockets per square meter there are. The situation was getting so bad that extra surveillance was imperative and there came the cameras. As a result of this, you see less suspicious faces (thieves have this peculiar look when they are just about to steal) that undoubtedly are neither tourists nor locals in their daily routine simply because they have been pushed to neighboring narrow alleys away from big brother's perimetral vision. Once again punishment prevails over prevention. The root of petty offenses and misdemeanors lies many times in poverty, precariousness and exclusion and that should be the target point of our authorities before metastasis arrives.

Rats at Exotic Animals Stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Some baby rats at exotic animal stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona. As I am no expert and I can't tell a rat from a mouse I leave you a link about these rodents' morphology: Rats and Mice: Differences. Of course the study of animals is not the purpose of this blog. The rats were in Barcelona and they happened to make a perfect pack.

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Tourists at Las Ramblas

FC Barcelona fan at Las Ramblas and some tourists watching.

Save the Earth: Portrait of Human Statue in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Again we rescue an old character from the archives in an unpublished shot. This time is Mother Nature's turn or at least that's his name the way I see it. It's some sort of tree holding a transparent sphere almost hidden in this picture but totally visible in my original post: Street Artists in Las Ramblas - Human Statue

PS: Remember these pictures look much better if enlarged.

Human Statue Lady at Las Ramblas de Barcelona

This is yet another human statue at Las Ramblas. A beautiful, fragile, delicate, hieratic woman standing on this populated street of Barcelona. I was attracted by her face, her makeup and the light coming from nearby stores in the background. Don't forget to check the labels below if you want to see more living statues. And always enlarge for the big format picture.

Human Statue's Boot Detail in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

This is just a pair of boots but boots can be interesting sometimes, especially those some of the human statues in Las Ramblas wear. An old pistol and a good coat of silver polish can give the character the final touch. Sometimes you can't tell whether they are impersonating a pirate, a hunter, a cowboy, a soldier or any other sort of scoundrel but believe me, it is fun to watch them perform. No need to say that bootlickers should avoid this area, there is a high risk of indigestion.

Fast Food in Barcelona: KFC at Las Ramblas

As if in some sort of trance or abduction, this man sits over his yummy KFC dinner while he enjoys the view over Las Ramblas, Barcelona. The ubiquitous, almost spooky light reminds me of some painting, you know that one at the late-night diner - Edward Hopper's Nighthawks - I know, it is a hideous comparison. I never was too fond of fast food not even for the Disney presents, that always seemed to me like a kind of blackmail.

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Seasoned Human Statue Sitting in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Yet another street artist or human statue I captured while walking down Las Ramblas towards the sea. The weathered man was sitting on this chair showing off his painted clothes and glasses while he read a book. I couldn't really tell if he was sleeping or watching you drop a coin on the can cause his eyes were hidden behind a thin orange coat of paint in the middle of the spectacles. The whole disguise made him look elegant, like some famous writer, maybe he was some sort of Kafka. He wouldn't say being a statue and all.

Angel or Devil, A Popular Living Statue in Las Ramblas

A very popular living statue in Las Ramblas. An angel, a golden angel showing off impressive wings that can be seen from the distance. This one is by far one of the most attractive human statues in this famous street of Barcelona. All in all the angel is sweet and gentle but if you take a close look you won't be so sure about which master this angel works for: God or the Devil. Click on the image for the big format and let me know what you see, good or evil? Maybe it represents some mythological being I am not aware of.

Font de Canaletes in Las Ramblas: FC Barcelona's Totem

I don't know in your city, but some Spanish soccer teams have this special place to celebrate victories, or better said, a meeting point for their fans, usually in open spaces around a fountain or a roundabout. In our collective memories that special object or place becomes some sort of ancestral totem, an emblem to tell adversaries that we have won and everybody should show respect. Of course, this sounds pretty boastful, but you know what I am talking about, in 2010 we still use the language of the tribe, we have an area for our rituals and we dance around our totem, chanting menacingly to scare away evil spirits and daunt our foes. FC Barcelona enthusiasts concentrate around Font de Canaletes a small modest all-in-one water fountain and lamp post with a lot of history in Las Ramblas, maybe not as opulent as their main rival's favorite place, you know who I am talking about, but a totem that talks of brave people that deserve a lot of respect. Long live FC Barcelona!

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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Marble Living Statue With Lady In Las Ramblas, Barcelona

As today's post will deal with awards and friendship, what better than a human statue, a living statue, one of those anonymous Barcelona street artists shaking hands with a tourist, a lovely lady wearing a smile, proud and happy like a child posing for a photograph with her "hero" at Las Ramblas. This funny guy pretending to be a marble statue was featured some months ago in my blog: A Marvel of Marble Statue

I have been granted an award by Beautiful Places. A wonderful site you should visit often. Thanks so much. It is wonderful that you chose me. That really means a lot to me.

Here are the 5 blogs that made my day

1. Secrets by Quintarantino
2. Com Imagens by Daniel and Carol
3. Nashville Daily Photo by Chris
4. Wailea Daily Photo by Kuanyin
5. Momentos by Dsole

A big thank for always being so supportive and friendly. It is a real pleasure to know them and I do recommend their creative work and their human quality.

Please don't worry if you break the chain, I won't consider it to be rude since I am not an enthusiast myself. Most of all I like that someone thinks of me, that is really flattering so I took my time to really think of people I care like you. Here are the rules I have been given:

1.Write a post with links to 5 blogs that you like.
2.Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3.Display the You Make My Day logo (in this case I put it on my sidebar)
4.Tell the award winner that they have won by commenting on their blogs or emailing them the news.

Bike Rack on Las Ramblas de Barcelona

About time I captured one of those images of mutilated bikes tied up somewhere for no apparent reason. Now that I finally made it (hooray!) I will try to forget it right away. Let's issue a formal complaint first: please, stop urinating on Las Ramblas! It smells and what's worse, it spoils my pictures. Yes, that blurry thing behind the bicycle fossil is nothing but a conspicuous stain left by humanoids on a booze spree. "Hey dude, enough moaning. Step out of the way. Can't you see that's my bike! And stop takin' pictures of my rack or I will get very pissed off".

The Artist and its Work, Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Here is a real artist contemplating his drawing at one of those spots specially assigned to painters and caricaturists along Las Ramblas, Barcelona. Nothing like the pleasure of staring at your work with the satisfaction of having created something you feel proud of. It happens with almost everything in life, and certainly, we are here because we like to create stuff and have goals that make us find a place as individuals in society. Of course you create for yourself but you need some recognition for your creation to be valuable. Being an artist many times depends on just that, good reviews. Although, then, there's the real artist, the one with the gift, like, Mozart for example, people that are great simply because they are, and the only thing you can do about it is bow and worship in awe. In other words, there are gifted souls and the rest of mortals. Within the latter, you've got, individuals that try real hard, and come out with a remarkable result and then there is the mediocre kind, divided into those who accept they are and those who regard themselves as artists. Do what you do, your work is of course respectable because is yours but don't expect everybody to like it. But beware of critics that may be part of that mediocre bunch and their snobbish ways, because sometimes genuine art is judged by shortsighted minds and they are really harmful.

Street Artists at Work in Las Ramblas: Cleopatra

With today's post I think my series about Las Ramblas street artists or living statues is over, at least for now. I leave you with these lovers from different epochs. The modern Romeo is a tourist of course and the queen is Cleopatra I suppose, judging by the scepter, bracelets or familiar tiara. For a small amount she would hold your hand and caress it with her cheeks, for quite a long time.

Barcelona Street Artist: Living Statue

This Barcelona street artist, posing as a living statue is not giving the serious, stern, hardened by a thousand battles kind of look, oh no, he was really fed up with my pictures.

Minutes later and without previous warning, he turned his back on me and sat down for his lunch break. The irascible mood perfectly matches the character though.

As you know there are many living statues like this along Las Ramblas, and some of them have been captured in my previous posts and pictures.

Here is my list of Barcelona Street Artists: Living Statues for you to browse

Caesar and Man in Flower Costume

Miner

Bicycle and Skeleton

Cowboy and Tourist

Winged Centaur

Winged Golden Man in Smoking

Chinese Warrior

Fat Woman

Paella

Man Holding Lamp Post

Caesar

Winged Man with Kids

Cowboy

Google Maps picture of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain

Street Artist XII at Las Ramblas Barcelona

This Barcelona street artist is number XII in my particular series. Although you can't tell much what was it he wanted to represent, there is something about the light and the use of the lamp post as a prop, that gives the picture some sort of old classic touch (this is my personal opinion, of course).

Satellite View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain.

Another Street Artist at Las Ramblas Barcelona

Today another street artist who was also featured in one of my previous posts. Caesar's living statue.

Satellite View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain.

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