Barcelona Photoblog

September 30, 2008

Bike Rack on Las Ramblas de Barcelona

Bike Rack on Las Ramblas, 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".

September 29, 2008

The Barcelonians: Man Leaning on Wall, La Merce Church, Barcelona

Man Leaning on Wall in Barcelona


This is my new addition to a set I will call The Barcelonians. Not that I am trying to emulate The Americans by Robert Frank , oh no (ironic). No, seriously, I love the idea of grouping people from all countries, statuses, genders, or age that are considered to be Barcelonians. Understand by that, anyone living in the city no matter what creed, race, nationality or money in the bank. I don't want to get too ambitious nor dare to imitate the masters (God forgive me). Ok let's cut the crap. Here is a man coming out of La Merce church, leaning on the wall as he walks, due to some leg impairment. That's it.

If you want to appreciate good photography then do check The Americans page at artsy.net

September 28, 2008

Christopher Columbus' Lion

Christopher Columbus' Lion [enlarge]

Standing the battering of time this lion at the base of Christopher Columbus's monument in Las Ramblas, permanently guards the majestic column from where his master watches the horizon pointing towards the new world not too sharply. Gaietà Buigas i Monravà was the artist in charge of building the monument that was completed in time for Barcelona's Universal Exhibition in 1888. In coming posts I will show you more details of the column. These are old pìctures of mine: Columbus on his pedestal and Columbus as seen from Las Ramblas.

Suggested Link of the Day: Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

September 27, 2008

Street Dancing in Barcelona

Street Dancing in Barcelona [enlarge]

Frozen in time. Do you remember the Matrix? You know, the bullet scene and all. I wish I could change the perspective here and show you the street dancer from different angles. If you like street dancing, hip hop, want to see a freeze or are just curious about the image, please visit previous post: Urban Street Dance in Barcelona.

Photographer's corner: Advanced Photography Tips

September 26, 2008

Hot Suissos at La Granja Pallaresa, Carrer Petritxol, Barri Gotic

Desserts shelf at Granja La Pallaresa, Carrer Petritxol - Barcelona
Dessert shelf at Granja La Pallaresa - Barcelona

As I promised the other day in my Churros post, this is a detail of La Granja Pallaresa at Carrer Petritxol in Barri Gotic, one of the best places in the city to have a wonderful hot suisso, that is, chocolate with whipped cream on top.

You may try churros, porras or melindros with a swisso or suizo. Leave your diet at home if you have in mind to visit La Pallaresa.

Please check these recipes of menjar blanc (almond cream) and crema catalana (Catalan custard) which I noticed on the shelves after examining the picture closely.

By the way, Granja Dulcinea on the same street is also great.

In case you wonder what a granja is you should know that it means "farm" from "dairy farm" (originally granjas were shops selling dairy products).

September 25, 2008

Medieval Craft Trade Fair: Glass Miniatures

Medieval Craft Trade Fair: Glass Miniatures

During a medieval craft trade fair that was organized in a town called Suria I caught this artisan working the glass to create miniatures by means of a torch. It is hard for me to understand how medieval this craft can be considering the safety glasses he is wearing and the lighter but if they created this fair which is celebrated every year by the way, they should know better. Other trades and crafts were previously posted here: the stonecutter, the basket weaver, the collier, the potter.

September 24, 2008

Immigration in Barcelona, The New Catalans

Immigration in Barcelona, The New Catalans[enlarge]

Immigration is one of Barcelona's major concerns according to polls. Many times this concern grows parallel to the feeling of insecurity that is increasing lately. This leads to consciously or unconsciously blame immigrants who are an easy pray to racists or bigmouths of all sorts and social statuses. I wonder what such people would think if they were in their shoes.

September 23, 2008

Taking a Break in Barri Gotic

Taking a Break in Barri Gotic, Barcelona [enlarge]

This gentleman is as tired as I am when the week comes to an end. Like tourists taking a break in Barri Gotic, shall I rest to think of fresh ideas for new pictures.

Influential Bloggers' Tips: Nine Lessons in Search Engine Optimization by Michael Martinez via SEO Theory

September 22, 2008

Woman and Child Detail, Folk Song Sculptural Group, Palau de la Musica, Barcelona

Woman and Child Detail, Folk Song Sculpture, Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, Spain

Woman and child, a detail of Miquel Blay sculptural group on one of the corners of Palau de la Musica Catalana, the modernista or Catalan art nouveau concert hall.

The title of the sculpture is Cançó Popular (Folk Song), a lyrical representation of Catalan culture and traditions.

September 21, 2008

Girl with Beautiful Legs in Plaça del Rei, Barcelona

Girl with beautiful legs


I was trying to think of a better title for today's post. We were standing on Plaza del Rey waiting for the steps to empty and sit for a group photo during Europe Photobloggers Meetup 2008. A man, obviously her partner, was taking pictures. We were camera in hand, more than 30 considering how many we were and some of us started shooting over the man's shoulder.

To keep her identity unknown I decided to include this one with her head turned up. So I reckon all the attention deviates to her beautiful dress and legs. I have to say that this subject made me recall some interesting comments under another photo including legs at Chromasia. We were having an argument on whether a picture of just women's legs is somewhat degrading. Of course I haven't changed my mind. Legs are just legs and if beautiful they are to be admired.

September 20, 2008

The Gargoyles of Death, Plaza del Rey, Barcelona

The Gargoyles of Death, Plaza del Rey, Barcelona

Half-bred uncanny creatures, stalking from above and ominously spitting rivers of water as if announcing the downfall of man and the arrival of an ignote, unfathomed gloomy world. 

Sunday morning on your way to church. A long, long time ago. You have a sudden urge to pray. Things are not going too well lately. Mysterious deaths scamper through the city. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are doomed by now and nobody knows why. Is it God's wrath? Is it one of the seven plagues? 

Some say it comes in the air or that it dwells in the pestilent waters of the outskirts. Almighty God! What is that! A filthy rat!. Get out of my way, you abominable evil creature. I wonder why there are so many. Stop looking at me, you hideous gargoyles...

In 1589 1/4 of the population in Barcelona, 12.000 to 13.000 approximately, succumbed to bubonic plague. Here is Plaça del Rei, the place where the gargoyles are.

September 19, 2008

The Art Nouveau Lamp in Barcelona, Europe

The Art Nouveau Lamp in Barcelona, Europe [enlarge]

Decorative arts, architecture and other forms of artistic expression lived an authentic ecclosion by the end of XIX and the first years of XX c. in Catalonia as part of a cultural and political movement known as Renaixença which was spurred by the new spirit of the wealthy local bourgeoisie and their quest for industrial expansion, the influence of Paris and other industrialized European countries as the new model to follow in opposition to the retrograde, stale Castilian yoke. The cultural side of this renaissance, this art nouveau and the way it manifested in Catalonia is called Modernisme. A lamp was just a lamp but all of sudden there was an urge for innovation and new trends, an outburst of creativity that said hey this is our art, it is Catalan, we borrowed some elements from the most modern and fashion countries in Europe and Asia, we improved it and lifted it to the category of divine, we are educated, passionate for art, powerful and basically we don't need your Royal Majesties anymore, in fact we never did. Of course this is history in a very personal and simplified way. Here is another modernist lamp.

September 18, 2008

September 17, 2008

The Best Churros in Barcelona - A Short List

Close view of Spanish churros in Barcelona
A close look at some good Barcelona churros

A now for something completely different: Churros!!!

I have been browsing in search for good recipes or the history of churros. According to Wikipedia: 'A churro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtʃuro]) is a fried-dough pastry—predominantly choux—based snack' and there are many recipes out there for some exotic and appealing churros.

No, I just wanted to show you this picture to evoke those good memories every citizen in Spain has involving churros or porras which is a bigger, thicker variety made in Madrid.

The experience of waking up early to go and buy churros for a good weekend breakfast is unforgettable. There are street stalls or caravans in Barcelona neighborhoods where they cook homemade churros which you can smell from some blocks away but they are fewer than in the good old times.

And what about those who on their way to bed after a long crazy night grab a bag full of churros to soak them in hot chocolate. That is one of the best remedies in the world for a bad hangover.

Needless to say that there are small traditional places called granjas selling good churros in Barcelona. The best according to many is on carrer Petritxol, near Plaza del Pi in Barri Gotic and is called La Pallaresa.

Here is the short list of best places to have churros in Barcelona recommended by Barcelona Photoblog

  1. La Pallaresa
  2. La Nena
  3. Dulcinea 
  4. Viader 
  5. Xurreria Laietana 
  6. Xurreria Trebol 
Learn more about historic carrer Petritxol or watch for churros at La Pallaresa in the next post.

September 16, 2008

Savings Allegory Sculpture, Caixa de Pensions Building, Via Laietana, Barcelona

Savings Allegory Sculpture by Manuel Fuxà, Caixa de Pensions Building, Via Laietana, Barcelona [enlarge]

On April 1st of the year 1917 Caixa de Pensions i d’Estalvis de Barcelona building at Via Laietana, 56-58 was completed by famous Catalan architect and artist Enric Sagnier. Nowadays it is one of the venues of the Supreme Court of Catalonia. On one of the corners you will appreciate this sculptoric group which is an allegory to savings. Remember La Caixa is an important savings bank in Spain. The sculpture was made by Manuel Fuxà. Perhaps you want to see the whole facade of this neomedieval building in Via Laietana or want to investigate further on La Caixa and its founder.

September 15, 2008

The Kiss

Young couple kissing each other [enlarge]

Love is a topic I don't deal much in my posting because I think adding too much sweet may be noxious. Now that I slipped, I am going to suggest this photo essay called Famous Couples, a gallery with some of the twentieth's century great romances. Of course we would not have chosen many of those but there is one that helped me make up my mind about selecting the link: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

September 14, 2008

Urban Street Dance in Barcelona

Urban Street Dance in Barcelona

And this is what the street dancer in yesterday's post was looking at, one member of his crew performing a freeze. Here is a video with a basic freeze guide. Please don't try this at home.

September 13, 2008

Profile Portrait: Barcelona Street Dancer

Profile Portrait: Barcelona Street Dancer [enlarge]

Walking along Portal de L'Angel some members of Barcelona Photobloggers found a group of street dancers. We were pretty tired after a long day's photo walk but still gathered some strength to take some snaps. Here is a profile portrait I could catch of one of the hip hop dancers. He was crouching, arms resting on his knees as the rest of the members improvised. Soon his turn would come. Tomorrow I will show you what he was looking at.

September 12, 2008

The Feminine Touch

A baby wearing a clip on the head [enlarge]

Routine is something that I really hate. Posting always the same kind of topic is really boring not only for you but for me as a blogger. Let's leave art aside for a while and refresh ourselves with an innocent image, that of a baby girl photographed from a different angle. Some friends came by and left the girl toddling on the wooden floor. I noticed she was wearing this tiny hair clip that barely succeeded in its task but clearly gave her the feminine touch.

September 11, 2008

La Merce or Our Lady of Mercy in Barcelona: A Brief History

Mare de Deu de la Merce or Virgin of Mercy in Barcelona

What better to commemorate the festivities of Our Lady of Mercy or Mare de Déu de la Mercè or Virgen de la Merced than showing the Virgin itself.

This is the way she appears on top of the church that goes by the same name. As you know every September 24th Barcelona honors La Merce with numerous activities all over the city.

I just wanted to say that La Mercè is of course one of the many ways to refer to the Virgin Mary. According to religious scriptures she appeared to Pedro Nolasco in the form of Our Lady of Mercy and commanded him to found the Mercedarian Order. She carried two bags of coins to pay the ransom of Christians caught by the Moors. That's why she is also known as the Lady of Ransom. The order was officially constituted by King James of Aragon in Barcelona on August 10, 1218 and approved by Pope Gregory IX on 17 January 1325. Although the Virgin manifested on August 1st, the date was later changed (1696) to September 24th.

Find an image of Mare de Deu de la Merce in another post.
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