Barcelona Green Tomatoes

If you liked the previous flower maybe you like the green color of these tomatoes picked up at some friends' vegetable garden in Bellaterra, just outside the city of Barcelona. Tomorrow I finally start my summer holidays, but I promise I will do all I can to post at least once a week, or even more. Maybe I publish two or three pictures the same day. This situation will last till September when I will be here strictly "daily". Have a nice summer and run away from the heat! It is so hot in Barcelona I should have called the post Fried Green Tomatoes.

Orange

I guess this is some kind of daisy, but as I am not good at flower names I leave it up to you. I prefer to call it Orange. I know this has nothing to do with Barcelona, except for the garden which is located at Bellaterra, a neighboring town. I have taken less pictures downtown lately but I always carry my camera just in case. As the purpose of this blog is both photography and Barcelona, I think I can alternate my modest piece of work and photo journalism. Don't worry there is Barcelona for long. Yes, I know, another silly flower.-)

PS: For those who liked the flower, don't miss next post...

Metal Art at La Rambla, Barcelona

Wandering along Las Ramblas I found these rusty metallic objects obviously piled up there to be used by one of the many human statues, though this time I couldn't spot the artist. I particularly like this sort of metal Chucky with trumpet.

Satellite View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain.

Columbus and La Rambla in Barcelona

As you know I already published a post about Chris Columbus, and many about La Rambla and its magnificent street artists. You should basically know that such beautiful walk was once a torrent along the city walls, pretty muddy when it rained. By the end of the XVIII century the torrent became a promenade and was adorned with trees. In the XIX century wealthy families built their houses along the already famous patch of land. Walls had been demolished after 1860 and the Eixample was being born thanks to Ildefons Cerdà's urban plan out of the old city limits. According to Wikipedia: "The name La Rambla means, in Spanish and Catalan, an intermitent water flow, and is derived from the Arabic 'Ramla' which means 'sandy underground'". La Rambla is divided into 5 parts: Rambla de Canaletes, Rambla del Estudis, Rambla de les Flors, Rambla dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Mónica.

Ferris Wheel at Tibidabo Amusement Park in Barcelona

This is another shot of the ferris wheel at Tibidabo Amusement Park. I like it because you can see Collserola Tower in the background. If you want to know more about ferris wheels check this link. Do you feel like enjoying another panoramic view of the city where you can see Barcelona's Fabra Astronomical Observatory, watch this one. 

PS: I will be on the air till Monday and then will start summer holidays, for more details read previous post. (I have published plenty of images with maps of Tibidabo, so please search site for previous posts).

Sagrada Familia: Portal of Nativity

After examining the opposite façade in detail in previous posts, I select this picture of the Nativity Portal taken from behind the gates late in the afternoon, once the place was not flooded with tourists.

PS: Next Tuesday I start my summer holidays (full August). I will post when I am back from Paris and Disney Land Paris around August 8th. I want you all to understand that this is just a break along the way and not a farewell. When I am back I will be travelling around Spain so I will be able to use my archives at least twice a week. The intention is not to give up and return with more energy in September. This is a fascinating hobby, as fascinating as time consuming but what the heck, as long as there is somehing to shoot at!.

Satellite View of Sagrada Familia on Google Maps.

Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, Spain

After showing you part of the History Museum of Catalonia at Palau de Mar building, here is a picture of the view from the roof and restaurant terrace of the museum. You can admire part of the Moll del Dipòsit in which Marina Port Vell is located. The Marina is surrounded by Barceloneta's restaurants and "tapas" bars and is 10 minutes away from the center. The place appeared recently in the news because of the many people living in boats and not sailing alleging that it's cheaper to dwell in a small vessel than buying or renting an apartment in the city. Notice the white building there in the background, it is the Imax Port Vell cinema, a little bit to its left you find Maremagnum Shopping Center and farther back you see Barcelona World Trade Center building. On the horizon the almost new highway bridge near the entrance to the port. Check this other photo where you have a wider view.

Satellite Image of Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, Spain.

La Guardia Civil: The Boogey Man

The Guardia Civil, the Spanish equivalent of Italian Carabinieri or French Gendarmerie, is sadly famous because of their cruel and repressive methods during Franco's dictatorship. As you see in this photograph taken at the Museum of History of Catalonia they used to patrol in pairs and wore the traditional tricorne. We have to say that modern Guardia Civil is far more gentle.

Satellite View and Closer Image of History Museum of Catalonia

Loom at Museum of History of Catalonia

Catalonia was one of the first regions in Spain and in western Europe to promote industrialization: the steam engine, introduced in 1830 and the first railway line in Spain set between Mataró and Barcelona in 1848 are good illustrative examples. Textile industry had a great boom in the XIX century due to the introduction of such technical developments and was favoured by the prosperous economy fomented by the Cuban trade. This picture of a Catalan loom was taken at the Museum of History of Catalonia, located at one side of the harbor inside a restored building full of restaurants and terraces which make the visit much more complete for the tourist. I recommend you visit the restaurant on top where you can enjoy a full view of Barcelona's marina.

Barceloneta Memories

I finally found the place. I had seen a similar photo published somewhere about this demolished building in La Barceloneta, a popular quarter in Barcelona and I wanted to take a couple of pictures myself to share them with you. As you see the façade appears to have been restored a little bit (notice the toilet seat has been secured with an iron support and the white wall is quite clean), maybe the sign you can see in the second picture belongs to the artist who decorated the place, I don't know. There is a chain-link fence surrounding the estate thus the shadow on the top left corner.

Satellite Image of La Barceloneta in Barcelona, Spain

Hibiscus: Red is the Color

It occurred to me that the striking red color of this Hibiscus I found in a garden somewhere in Les Corts, Barcelona (specifically Numancia and Travessera) would look nice against the blue skies of previous photograph, at least until it disappears swallowed by the bottom of the page. Another shot of Hibiscus flower. I found it hard to choose, but I preferred the shape of this one.

Sightseeing at Maremagnum

My daughter last spring at Maremagnum in Port Vell, Barcelona. She asks me for a coin and goes sightseeing, just like looking at myself in the mirror not so long ago...at least in my mind.

Satellite Image of Maremagnum, Barcelona on Google Maps.

Maremagnum Mare Nostrum Reflections

If you ever come to Barcelona, it is mandatory to go to Port Vell, specifically the Maremagnum area and walk along the planks of the stylish wharves where you can admire the reflections of the Mediterranean Sea, the Mare Nostrum, on the mirrors of the nearby shopping center (buying is optional).

Satellite Image of Maremagnum, Barcelona on Google Maps.

Shot of the Day

Escalators at Maremagnum in Barcelona Port

This is an afternoon shot at Maremagnum Shopping Center by Port Vell in Barcelona Port. I thought we could give our street artist some rest. I used sepia tones to emphasize light and strengthen the silhouette of people. Escalators coming down so near the waterfront are awkward enough to be portrayed here.

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.

Street Artist at Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Another picture of one of Las Ramblas street artists I showed you in a previous post, the angel, this time accompanied by two girls in pink.

Satellite View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain.

Climbing the Pedraforca Massiff in Catalonia, Spain

This is Pedraforca massif and the winding road to the summit. If you want to know more find out in previous posts (I think this is the fourth post about the same topic).

Being serious now, I would like to express my most sincere and deep thoughts to the families of victims at train bombings in India. This world is going nuts and I can't help it, that generates nothing but frustration in me. I just hope our children are more clever than we are.

Rambla Catalunya: Bull by Josep Granyer

Bull by Josep Granyer located at Rambla Catalunya and Gran Via. Remember a previous post about a Giraffe called Coqueta by the same author at the upper end of Las Ramblas near Diagonal Avenue?. I took this photograph from below, against the sky. Check real position of the statue here. It seems that he is posing for the camera. It is rather small but I like the way it looks.

View Satellite Picture of Rambla Catalonia on Google Maps.

Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona, Spain

Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona as seen from El Corte Inglés in Plaza Cataluña.

Satellite Image of Paseo de Gracia on Google Maps