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.

Ronaldinho Gaucho in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

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Don't you leave Barcelona without posing next to Ronaldinho Gaucho, winner of so many awards with FC Barcelona, Brazilian soccer virtuoso, featured in so many TV spots, video games, and even in cartoons. Look at this lucky tourist side by side with her idol, isn't she plethoric?...Yes, I know, shame on me. How do I dare! Don't tell me there is no resemblance though. Sorry Ronnie, just joking. Care for a link, here it is Ronaldinho Gaucho Official Web Site. See this other picture of the artist impersonating Ronaldinho. It took him a lot to smile, wearing such big false teeth, but he was funny saluting the surfer's way.

Recomended: Search for Ronaldinho's Bio or anything related to him and Barcelona FC in my FCBarcelona swicki.

Now a different suggestion: Visit Digital Photography School, for tips and lessons.

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Barcelona Living Statues: Scary Embrace

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I know many people will take pictures similar to mine in Las Ramblas but I do not collect images of Barcelona street artists or living statues for the sake of art, but to share them with those of you who have not visited our city. I was lucky this time to be on the right spot for a fortunate combination: a beautiful girl in the hands of evil. By the way, is he some sort of Star Wars' Darth Maul in black and white sent by Sith forces. Wasn't he red?. Any help here? I chose another one, closer, so you could better appreciate the artist and the improvised model.

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Street Artist at Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Equilibrium

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Barcelona street artists are experts in disguising and improvisation. They will do just about anything, including levitation to squeeze a couple of bucks out of your pockets. The trick is self evident here but you have to accept that we wouldn't have thought of doing that. I like the expression of surprise in the face of that boy, tiptoeing backstage to determine whether the yogi is really floating on thin air or not.

To be examined: JPG Magazine- you post your best pictures there and in case you are published in the print edition, you win a yearly subscription and 100$. Important, you hold the copyright. Worth trying? Maybe I check that.

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Weekend, Barcelona: Turistic Bus Stop in Plaza Catalunya

On any Saturday or Sunday morning in the neuralgic spots of the city you see this image which is becoming more and more frequent as the flow of tourists grow beyond expectations. A huge number of people standing in line waiting for the Bus Turistic to come. I was waiting in front of the Triangle for my wife, and took my camera and shot at the innocent victims (not mine) suffocating under the morning sun.

Google Maps Aerial Image of Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona

Nativity Portal at Sagrada Familia: Three Wise Men

Gold, Incense and Myrrh in the Hands of Gaudi's Three Wise Men. 

A magic moment immortalized by the craftsmanship of this master of architecture. Notice how the figures seem to be carved out of the very stone and the capricious pleiade of ribbon-like protuberances or adornments on the cathedral's walls. 

The Nativity Façade or Nativity Portal has been covered in previous posts, so feel free to browse or search for Sagrada Familia or Gaudi in my photoblog. I have used Photoshop in this picture, specifically Fred Miranda's fantastic BW Workflow Pro plugin.

Pottery at Mercat de les Flors Wall in Barcelona

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This pottery exhibition mounted on a wall at Mercat de les Flors just in front of Institut del Teatre always calls my attention. It is a good wall to play with perspective but little illuminated as it is in a sort of corridor between the two buildings. It was midday, bad time for pictures, but there was no choice. Watch detail on the corner of the building.

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Modernist Ceiling at C&A Pelayo in Barcelona

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You all know C&A: A department store with good prices and some nice stuff to buy (unless it has not been ransacked by clearance sales-o-holics). What nobody had told me was that I was going to come across with this beautiful modernista ceiling in white crowning what seems to be the attic or some upper gallery. The only thing I know is that the shop is located in carrer Pelayo, 54 and that it must have been an old modernist house like many in this area. If anyone can provide some more information I could post it somewhere. Here is another view of the ceiling.

Recommended:
As you can see I have implemented some new stuff, like the Diggit! and Del.icio.us links embedded in the 'post footer' section of my template. Thanks to Techwrap for code and instructions.

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Catalan Modernisme: Antigua Casa Figueras in Barcelona

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Antiga Casa Figueras at Rambla, 83 ("antiga" meaning "former") is a patisserie built in 1820 and decorated by Antoni Ros i Güell in 1902. If you visit this small exponent of Catalan Modernisme you will be able to admire a widespread selection of mosaics, wrought iron, stained glass,stucco and furniture (see detail here). The shop is currently Pastisseria Escribà, a delicatessen and pastry shop in the hands of Christian Escriba, son of Antonio Escriba, the "Chocolate Magician". Christian Escriba is a renown artist who blends pastry with design and fashion. His works have been sold or exposed in most famous shops in Europe.

Recommended: Now that we mention this exquisite pastry shop, I suggest you take a Barcelona: Chocolate Tour at this interesting blog called In Praise of Sardines.

Google Maps Image of Antigua Casa Figueras or Escriba Pastry Shop in Barcelona.

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Living Statue at Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Devil's Work

I have seen the Devil at Las Ramblas, Barcelona, he wasn't wearing Prada though. Who says the Devil does not rest. One of Barcelona's most famous living statues and mysteriously ignored by my camera until now, was taking a break after a hard day's work. There was no smell of sulfur, like Chávez said of Bush, but it was terribly hot that day. Damn it!

Some other devils captured at Barcelona Photoblog:

Evil mask

Ramblas Devil: Dial 666

Bolivian Devil

Lucky Devil Indian Bobber Harley-Davidson

Le Diable Vert Absinthe

Barcelona Living Statues: Cowboy

 

Today I resume my Street Artist or Living Statues series, with an updated picture of the Ramblas Cowboy, as I call it. This time using a larger size photograph, which suits him very well. This time it is a closer take from a lower angle.

Google Maps view of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain

Eagles Peak or Cim d'Aligues near Barcelona

Back in May, in my post B from Barcelona, I explained what Cim d'Aligues natural reserve was (a "centre created for the study, breeding, exhibition and free-flight of birds of prey"), but I didn't get to publish any photo showing the birds, except for the ones you could see if visiting the official site link. Today I present you with two shots: one of the girls in charge of the animals holding an eagle and a vulture in this other photo.

Tibidabo Amusement Park, Barcelona: Airplane

Now that we are in Tibidabo (check last post) let's take a look at one of the most traditional attractions, the airplane. Located over the cafeteria, it goes round and round monotonously since 1928, stopping at night of course. One of the most boring of them all and yet surrounded by a halo of classic style, like a collector's toy. Here is a closer Tibidabo plane photograph against the sky. I thought a slight view of the balcony projecting over the city would make a better shot than just plain sky.

Barcelona Hotel nearby: Gran Hotel La Florida, (the picture I took)

Magic Mirrors at Tibidabo: Self Portrait

As I felt like posting people today, particularly kids, I decided to pick up this picture taken back in June and the sequel to a similar image published then: Tibidabo Park: Kids in the Magic Mirror. I think I invaded the scene enough this time, so why not call it "self portrait", me in the back and the kid we all have inside in front, or is it the other way around?. Trivia: These distorting mirrors are called literally "haha" mirror in Chinese (thanks Lisi).

Google Maps Barcelona, Spain: Tibidabo Amusement Park.

Santa Maria del Mar Church: Barrio Gotico, Barcelona

And now for a little change, we deviate our attention from concrete to marble and old mossy stones. Today I leave you with a front view of Santa Maria del Mar church in Barri Gotic. One of the most representative buildings of Catalan Gothic. Looted during Spanish Civil War, it features a sober but beautiful interior. This is a review by Fodor's Travel

Google Maps Barcelona: Santa Maria del Mar Church in Barri Gotic

The Three Chimneys in Sant Adria del Besos, Barcelona

During the first decades of the XXth century, Sant Adria del Besos in Barcelona, was populated with huge industries such as FECSA's thermoelectric plant. Its remains are known as the Three Chimneys, and they are a sad landmark, part of Barcelona's skyline.

Situated on the left bank of river Besos, facing the sea, they witness the fast growing buildings rising next to them, including a marina which is already built and there is a debate on whether to destroy this testimony from the past or to remodel them for sentimental reasons. At present they are in very bad state but make a splendid subject for some industrial pictures.

The three Fecsa chimneys can be seen from almost every elevated point in Barcelona and are quite near to the forum on one side or Badalona beaches on the other. Check this other image with only two of them but taller.

Romanic Hermitage at Sant Miquel del Fai, Barcelona

This is the Romanic hermitage of Sant Martí at Sant Miquel del Fai. It was not shown in my previous posts (Bell Detail, Priory House and Sant Miquel Del Fai Cliffs) about this fantastic natural park near Barcelona so I thought I might exhibit it in my photoblog along with this kid playing football. He got in the way and saved my boring picture about ancient religious buildings in Catalonia.

Theater Institute in Barcelona

The Theater Institute of Barcelona or Institut del Teatre, designed by architects Ramon Sanabria and Javier Comerón, is an eleven storey high building, four of which are underground and houses the four schools attached to the centre, the Dramatic Art College, the Professional Dancers' Training College, the College of Performing Arts Techniques, and the Secondary School for Dancers in Training plus a documentation centre and the Museum of Performing Arts. The Chinese dragon and musicians are part of the activities organized during last Asia Festival 2006.

Google Maps Picture of Theater Institute or Institut de Teatre in Barcelona

Theater City: Teatre Lliure, Mercat de les Flors, Institut del Teatre

Theatre City or La Ciutat del Teatre is a cultural space integrated by three buildings: Teatre Lliure (the one you see in the image), Mercat de les Flors and the modern Theater Institute. If you remember my post titled Fountains at Montjuic: Passeig de Les Cascades in Barcelona from Sept 19th, this complex is located at carrer Lleida, near Paralelo avenue. The three emblematic buildings face Margarita Xirgu square which you can see in the photograph above. 

As a result of the 1929 International Exhibition some buildings were built on the slope of Montjuic mountain, like the Palau de l’Agricultura, where Mercat de les Flors (see this other picture), and Teatre Lliure are. The Theater Institute is a relative new building dating from 2000, with a surface area of 20.000 sq. meters.

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