Blood Sausage: Botifarra Negra

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More on Catalan sausages. The most common products are the white sausage (botifarra blanca) which requires only meager meat, the blood sausage (botifarra negra) with fat and blood and fuet, a thin, cured dry sausage. Blood botifarras are later boiled, fried or grilled and served for lunch accompanied by salad, pork meat and red wine. I have to thank people from Vallverd d'Urgell, Lleida who gently allowed me to take pictures, witness the poor pig slaughter or matanza and invited me for a succulent lunch.

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Catalan Sausage or Botifarra: The Slaughter

Here is a picture of a Catalan sausage or botifarra. The typical Catalan sausage is made of pork and spices. Botifarra is also a game of cards and what you do with your finger or arm to other drivers when they suddenly get in you way. 

Today I will show you some pictures of the procedure followed to elaborate a sausage. Good traditional products are hand made in small towns the old way. Many times inhabitants celebrate special occasions killing an animal following more or less the same ritual: a skilled neighbor is called to take charge of the slaughter or matanza which starts early in the morning. Once the pig is killed, women pick up the blood and innards while the same butcher takes care of the meat. The ladies mince the meat, saltpepper it and stuff it in the bowels' skin previously cleaned. More of this process tomorrow. 

The butifarra in the picture is a raw blood sausage which looked great for my food set on Flickr over the wood of the table.

Human Statues in La Rambla de Barcelona: Biker

Human Statues in La Rambla de Barcelona really have an astonishing imagination. How do you dig a bearded man in a thick suit looking like Uncle Sam or ZZ Top, escorted by two skinny companions (two skeletons) that pedal along with him in unison?. 

A lot has been said in Barcelona Photoblog about street artists, statues in La Rambla de Barcelona and their predominant role in broadcasting a good image of the city. I suggest you use the Google label below to search for more. Of course you can always visit my Street Artists photoset at Flickr. Better than that? Come to Barcelona for Easter and watch them live!