Onboard Montjuic Cable Cars: A Privileged Panoramic View of Barcelona

A polarized panoramic view of Barcelona city from behind the protective cover of the new cable cars or teleferic cabins in Montjuic mountain, Barcelona. As you know this service has been available for years but old semi covered scary cabins have been replaced by the ones in the image. Now we have a whole brand new non-stop chain of cable cars conditioned for all kinds of weather, with all guarantees of security and more freedom of movement with a little less visibility. It's a pity that pictures aren't as perfect as could be considering the fair skies and the altitude but I think the polarized methacrylate cover is just a minor annoyance for photographers or tourists. The city in all its splendor lies at our feet and we suddenly seem to be flying as in some sort of amusement park attraction or soaring with a delta wing, hmm...more or less. Price is higher now so that keeps us locals away for the moment. I think the ride is worth trying though, at least once. Check Montjuic cable car fares here. A panoramic picture of cable cars in Montjuic before renewal. A second opinion here. The place on a map. And finally a Google Earth satellite view of Montjuic Castle with cable car route and Barcelona port.

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Picasso and Flamenco Dancer in Paper Mache

This is the entrance to a small shop at carrer Montcada in El Raval quarter not very far from Picasso Museum, that's the reason why these paper mache figures are sitting out on those chairs taking some fresh air in the most traditional Spanish way. 

It is a well known fact that Pablo Picasso loved everything related to flamenco, remember he was from Málaga although you don't need to be from Andalusia to love flamenco.

Young Girl Climbing on Rocks at Park Guell [Barcelona, Spain]

I was lucky to capture this young girl the other day at Park Guell while she was climbing on the rocks of the arcade. I certify she was not my model and that this is a spur of the moment picture although the pose is so perfect that it seems prearranged. Fortunately enough, she was wearing a nice color dress, a hat and a handbag which made the picture even more interesting from the point of view of kids photography. With her natural pose and the texture of the rocky background it was pretty easy to compose in this case. I like the fact that she is staring vacantly into space in the middle of a silent game perhaps. I admire the ability of kids to find happiness in the most boring things: for example, climbing on a rock.

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Vandalized Door Knocker or Modern Art

In a narrow alley there was this big door knocker with human face which probably has silently witnessed some important episodes of Catalan history or at least has adorned the lives of many passerbies with its beautiful design. Nevertheless, some bastard decided to leave his hoofprints on it just to satisfy his ego. Now from the distance it looks like some old African shield or a voodoo symbol, but on a second glance it only provokes sadness.

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Knocker on Chocolate Color Door at El Raval Quarter, Barcelona

Door knockers may adopt different shapes like hands, animals, flowers, weapons, etc. Imagination has been particularly rich in the creation of these simple artifacts that prevent people from breaking their knuckles when slamming on a big door. I wanted to show you this hand I found at El Raval quarter covered in thick chocolate color paint. I liked the light on the smooth surface so I thought you might like it as well. Here is a good link to more images of knockers I found at a stock photography site (I am trying hard not to play on words, believe me :)

Ska-mania: The Third Wave

"Skamania an Indian word meaning "swift river" and refers to the swift currents of the Columbia River"...hmmm nope. Not this meaning, what is it then? I am getting too old for this. Oh, here it is, "Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae." I don't get it why is she wearing that T-shirt then. Well I read that there was a second wave in the UK in the 80s. But she looks too young for that...oh yes there is a Third wave Ska and even Ska punk, that must be it. She looks punk alright, not the dirty kind though. Maybe I have been listening to Ska bands without me knowing it. Should I ask her? No, let her alone in her sweet teens waiting for her date, who cares how they call music nowadays.

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Nativity Portal at Sagrada Familia: Equilibrium and Chaos

I will be brief cause I am behind schedule in my daily posting. This is a detail of the Nativity Portal at Sagrada Familia. The façade as you know is full of sculptoric groups such as the one in the picture. Each of these groups is well balanced in composition and proportions but when you take some steps back and take a look at the whole building you face up with an authentic chaos of animals, saints and mythological beings. Maybe there is harmony in this chaos but if there isn't you never really care. The work of a genius sometimes is whimsical and hard to understand that's why we consider them unique.

Heads of State Caught in Barcelona Shop During Solemn Act

Heads of state are human after all. They have to look elegant, sound clever, have good manners and an impeccable resumé perhaps, all of that creates a sort of idyllic aura that makes us forget about who they really are. We say, hey look, the president, it's the president himself, oh my God. But then come to think of it they are made of flesh and bones like you and me, and though they represent us nothing can stop them from being common mortals with disgusting needs. It is at that very moment that politics becomes just that...shit and men remain equal.

These small figures are called caganers which means someone that is in the act of, you know. It is traditional in Catalan popular culture where it is common to mock local personalities in a funny and naive way. This shop is located at carrer LLibreteria in Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter). I almost forget to mention the characters: from left to right, Fidel Castro Ruz, commander in chief; the honorable, Mr. Artur Mas i Gavarró, Catalan politician and Mr. George Walker Bush, the 43rd and current President of the United States of America.

Flower Digital Photography: Light Purple

Another assignment for flower enthusiasts: I came across these beautiful purple flowers at Park Guell gardens. Due to the long stem and leaves I suppose it is a bulb flower very common in public places but I must have missed that botany lesson so I need your help one more time.

Last quiz answer was Lantanas. Thanks to those who gave me the correct name or enhanced the scarce information of the post.

Update: agapanthus was the name!

Ceiling Mosaic Inside The Chamber of the 100 Columns, Park Guell, Barcelona Spain

Trencadis ceiling at the 100 Columns Hall in Park Guell

Not the first time Barcelona Photoblog visits Park Guell in Barcelona to show you the impressive work of Gaudi.

We have dealt with mosaic work recently, we mentioned the trencadis technique but we needed some more examples where the degree of improvisation and nature leitmotifs were more evident. Such is the case of this ceiling mosaic inside The Chamber of the 100 Columns including not only tiles but fragments of cups and dishes among other materials to make up something that recalls a flower.

Please follow labels for previous posts.

Pure Classical Music at Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

Double-bass playing classical music and girl at Park Guell

A street musician playing for money at Park Guell in Barcelona.

The well tempered sound of the string instrument, a double bass I suppose, attracted a curious visitor who invaded the scene, something that I really, really appreciate. Classical music really touched the pure fibers of this baby cause she stood there like a grownup with a musical background.

Orange and Yellow Flowers at Sant Pau Hospital

Beautiful small orange and yellow flowers which I have seen many times before but I can't identify myself. I can tell you where I found them though: Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Of course they are quite common and grow in many more places. If you happen to know the name please let me know.

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Geometric Models by Gaudi: Polyhedron at Sagrada Familia Museum

Inside of Sagrada Familia Museum you can admire scale models which Gaudi used in the building of his cathedral. This polyhedron called my attention not only for the shape but for the small engravings, the texture and the pencil marks.

Mosaic Work Called Trencadis by Gaudi at Park Guell

A closeup of a serpentine bench adorned with mosaic work known as trencadis at Park Guell, Barcelona.

Trencadis, the technique that consists in breaking tiles of different patterns and different shapes to compose a single mosaic was constantly used by Antoni Gaudi and his followers. This particular shard with numbers on it reminds me of notations made by master masons or stone cutters on ancient walls.

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.

Guell Crypt: Caprice Supreme of Architecture

A supreme caprice of architecture: the art nouveau or modernist ceiling at the entrance to the crypt in Colonia Guell by Antoni Gaudi, who had been commissioned by Eusebi Güell the prosperous catalan businessman. Robert Hughes, art critic for Time, recently said he hates Sagrada Familia but loves Colonia Guell, the place where the crypt is. Of course we can object to that if we get carried out by the grandeur of the cathedral. Besides, experts see what we cannot see, no wonder they've been studying for years, although what we understand by art is a concept of man and not a law of nature so no one has the final truth. Anyway, it was about time someone cast a shadow of doubt over stereotypes concerning our city. I suggest you read the book by Robert Hughes: Barcelona. Here is a previous post about the Crypt at Guell Colony.

Curtain Call: A Backstage Insight

A backstage insight, this was what I wanted to portray when I captured these two artists before the curtain call. How does it feel when your work is rewarded with a big round of applause? How much time is there behind every performance? Rehearsals, blunders, stress and then the big day arrives. Nerves as usual make their best to ruin your act, your stomach becomes your worst enemy and you feel a sudden rush of fear but little by little your will overcomes your insecurity and you manage to seduce the audience with a great performance. And then you are there behind the curtain. You left the stage too fast maybe. Although it was not enough prize, you wait, still thinking things didn't turn out right, and then...they call you back, they ask for an encore with a standing ovation. How did our two artists feel at that very moment? Take a look at their faces, they speak for themselves.

Dizzy Flying Chairs Attraction at Tibidabo Amusement Park

Flying Chairs attraction at Tibidabo Amusement Park

Flying Chairs are common attractions in amusement parks or local fairs but I doubt they take you for a spin with such strength and so high as the Chairs at Tibidabo Amusement Park.

Imagine your feet dangerously approaching the surrounding trees and your body on the verge of slipping away headfirst towards Barcelona City at the end of the mountain slope.

More pictures of Tibidabo have been shown before in this photo blog but I don't remember any video: Watch Tibidabo Mix BkR Studio, a compilation of attractions among which you can see the Flying Chairs not only during the day but also at night.

Sant Joan's Eve Firecracker Armageddon

Sant Joan's Eve is not the best day for people with sleeping disorders. Unless you live far from civilization or up in the top floor of a tall building, you will find it hard to get a good sound sleep in Barcelona. As you know this celebration is about partaking with friends in the open at night fully armed with all the pyrotechnic gadgets you could afford to buy in the authorized stalls spread all over the city (they are on sale long before the day arrives). Firecrackers who had initially been heard during previous weeks, suddenly increase the number of decibels, dogs go mad, people get drunker than average, kids go to bed later than ever and the night becomes day, or better said hell on earth. The following morning as you can expect it is as quiet as a post nuclear scenario with just one exception, the constant swearing of the garbage men.

Lorenzo Quinn: Beer Pump Sculpture for Barcelona Auditorium

One of the most artistic and impressive beer pumps I have ever seen (I've seen many!) is this sculpture that Lorenzo Quinn dedicated to L'Auditori of Barcelona (Barcelona Auditorium).

The bronze sinewy arm holding a golden jar of San Miguel beer is just a tiny drop in the vast collection of the famous sculptor born in Rome in 1966, son of Anthony Quinn and Jolanda Addolori and brother of four.

At present he lives in Barcelona with his wife Giovanna and their two sons, Christopher and Nicolás.

He studied art at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York.