El Born, Carrer de la Princesa in Barcelona: Where The Past Meets The Present

This is the intersection of Carrer de la Princesa stretching ahead in the distance, Carrer del Rec to the left and Carrer d'en Tantarantana to the right which you can explore here in this Google Map street view link of this side of El Born in La Ribera quarter. I thought it was interesting you could compare the picture with the map and have the chance to move around in this old neighborhood of historic narrow alleys. Remember El Born is not just old stones and rickety buildings with balconies full of exuberant plants and clothes lines, of orange butane gas cylinders or barking dogs. El Born is also one of the most active areas in the city when it comes to nightlife, food, shopping and cultural activities.

Riding a Bike Near Arc de Triomf, Barcelona

There's not much I can say in this one. A man riding a small bike near famous Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. Passeig de Lluis Companys, which is the name of this promenade is a beautiful place to explore with your bicycle while taking care of the extra pounds. Our Arch of Triumph has been fully covered in Barcelona Photoblog and I recommend you follow the link as a starting point

Ginseng Root Sample in El Born, Barcelona

Ginseng roots have this peculiar shape which might look kind of bizarre inside a pharmacy container. They remind me of an alien foetus in formaldehyde about to move or some abyssal creature in a natural science museum. But as ugly and uncanny as it may seem, ginseng, derived from the Chinese term rénshēn or "man root", is almost a miraculous plant due to its many virtues when it comes to healing and keeping a healthy balance in our body. I am not familiar with traditional medicine but the age factor is changing my approach towards conventional methods lately. According to what I read, this is good to treat depression, diabetes, cholesterol problems, or even our good old German friend Alzheimer, if you know what I mean. And then there's the eternal concern about impotence which this human-like root seems to handle quite efficiently. Of course, you should consult this with an expert cause there are side effects too. I found this beautiful specimen at a small store in El Born area. According to their description they sell: grains, flour, dried fruit and nuts, herbs, spices, soy, soy milk, pet food, rice, pasta and much more. Here is the location on a map.

Open Mon-Fri 09:15-13.00/16.15-19.30, Sat 09:15-13.30.

Pg Picasso 34, Ciutat Vella, 08003, Barcelona.

Tel: 93 319 7 636

Plaça de les Olles, Barri de La Ribera, Barcelona

In the old part of town, Barcelona can boast of several squares with this atmosphere of intimacy only given by the very architecture, by the space in between buildings. I mean, behind the next corner you may find a hidden spot with no sidewalks, few trees...sort of esplanades with terrace chairs and a fountain at most. In those places you certainly travel in time and in that sense you are just another old villager, part of the historical settings, part of the scene. A good example is Plaça de les Olles at Barri de La Ribera in the center of El Born. I am not fond of making gratuitous publicity but a few exceptions when it comes to recommending places to visit or enjoy the local food do help. As it happens to be in the picture here is a link to an interesting place to have tapas and taste some excellent wine: El Celler de La Ribera. At least the terrace well deserves spending a buck or two.

Celler de la Ribera
Plaça de les Olles 6, 08003, Barcelona
93 3107845

Flamenco Dancer in Sant Andreu Theater, Barcelona

This is a flamenco dancer performing at Sant Andreu theater. I happened to be there cause my daughter is in a small local dance school near home taking hip hop lessons. They include other styles in their repertoire like flamenco, salsa or bollywood dance so they were giving this end of the course performance where all classes had their chance to show what they learned during the year. We were lucky to sit up front so it was interesting to capture them from a very low angle.

Playing Petanca, Passeig de Lluis Companys, Barcelona

Here are some old men, retirees perhaps, playing petanca in Passeig de Lluis Companys, next to famous Arc de Triomf.

According to wikipedia: 'Pétanque (French pronunciation: ​[petɑ̃k]; Occitan: petanca [peˈtaŋkɔ]) is a form of boules where the goal is to toss or roll hollow steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (literally "piglet") or jack, while standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground'

This as you know is quite common in Catalonia and I have covered it in a previous post.

I like the fact they are standing in groups and they are quite concentrated in the strategy of the game.

Moving in Barcelona

Moving to a different house or apartment in Barcelona is of course as in many cities something very common. It is not strange to see these huge ladders with a lifting platform hanging from balconies here and there. This was not always like that. I remember that in the 80s heavy furniture in general had to reach upper storeys by means of pulleys hanging out from the roof or using the staircase or elevators if any. In the picture, moving service staff at work in one of those El Born buildings with the beautiful arcades right in front of Ciutadella parc.

Barcelona Railway Stations: Estació de França

Railway stations have that certain nostalgic mood associated to departures, to waving goodbye and leaving your beloved behind. Many times we think of steam, of steel, of ticket collectors and whistles as if we were in the XIX century, maybe evoking famous movies, you know, the kind where the guy runs along all the platform to find the girl and hold her hand or to try in vain to get her off the wagon. After I finished writing these words I found there was a good article about trains in films. Among other things the author talks about the different emotions triggered by a railway station. I think Railways in Film by Jiro Hanyu fits the kind of atmosphere I wanted to portray with this photograph of Estació de França in Barcelona.

Down El Born Streets

Walking down El Born streets in Barcelona. Early in the morning. The smell of night and terraces still fading away, diluting in the puddles left by cleaning city services. Sidewalks populated little by little. Lamp post bulbs still warm. Artists setting up their painting boards. Curious cameras stalking behind corners.

Barcelona Bars: Opening Ceremony

A small bar called Rincón in El Born neighborhood. One of the many terraces in Barcelona city to enjoy the fine weather and the great food. Most of them do not need to be very pretentious to offer good service and quality products for a reasonable price. Before the play begins, the staff needs to set up the stage to amuse the audience. On many occasions these are family businesses as seems to be the case here. This is what we would call el bar de la esquina (the corner's bar), our friendly place to chat over some beers with our neighbors. A tradition that is clearly losing ground to modern times and new business models.

Building at Carrer del Triangle and Carrer del Rec, El Born, Barcelona

Here in Barcelona, we could say we have our own Flatiron building in El Born at the intersection of Carrer del Triangle and Carrer del Rec figuratively speaking of course. Here you can appreciate this triangular building in Earth view at Google maps.

Gracia Quarter Streets

Some Barcelona quarters have a certain aura, some kind of mood. That atmosphere can be perceived even in individual streets taken out of context, with no extra reference, just by taking a quick look, if you have been in that neighborhood before of course. The combination of architecture, people clothes or even the way light falls upon its streets due to their orientation towards the Sun, the amount of trees, or how high its buildings are, may be relevant to determine what part of Barcelona we are talking about in just a wink. And this one is...Gràcia, of course.

Hanging Market Scale in Small Barcelona Shop

Hanging market scale in small Barcelona shop next to Mercat de l'Abaceria in Travessera de Gràcia. The open maize ears, those corn cobs decorated with their own husk as well as the sifters on the wall really grabbed my attention. I would say this was mostly a grain shop judging by the content although the onions would be really out of place.

Egg Stand, Travessera de Gràcia Market, Barcelona

An egg stand at Mercat de L'Abaceria aka Travessera de Gràcia market in Barcelona. There was a very similar post about another egg stall in La Boqueria. I think both are quite attractive and you really feel like buying dozens of eggs thanks to their imagination and good taste.

Sitting on Plaza del Sol, Barri de Gracia, Barcelona

Not that sitting on the floor on public places like squares is big news but in Gracia quarter for some reason it is almost the usual thing to do. Not that everyone there is a hippie or an "alternativo". Not that all of them are tourists that couldn't care less about local good manners. Possibly not that there's an evident lack of urban furniture to accommodate everybody. The fact is, it is a concoction, a sweet blend, of all that plus an extra additive of cultural engagement and adaptation to the Gracia environment, a living organism that models up its neighbors according to its historical background. In a certain way, that's the good thing about this part of town. Gràcia is a multicultural melting pot with a passion for art, for culture and social cohesion.

Fish Monger Stand: Sea Breams at Abaceria Central Market, Barcelona, Spain

After a rather brief existence this is how it all came to an end. Yep, this is me, an innocent sea bream lifelessly lying somewhere in a Gracia market fish monger stand. It didn't have to be this way, I could have avoided those fishermen and so I wouldn't be here looking at you with such cold fishy eyes. They want to eat me and they don't even know my name. Well, they have this stupid habit of giving names to stuff, so they wonder if I am a gilt-head sea bream, a common dentex or a black sea bream. My friends used to call me porgy although I always preferred, fish, just fish.

Bicing Bicycle Station, Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona

A very common image in Barcelona city nowadays, that of a Bicing station with the usual rack of bikes. This one in particular is the one on the right side of Arc de Triomf monument at Passeig de Lluís Companys. I found the perspective kind of interesting so I thought of sharing it with you. Nice weekend!

Flamenco Fusion Dancer, La Barceloneta, Barcelona

Dancing to the sound of a small flamenco fusion group, here is an artist caught in the very act of expressing her passion with her body. I took several pictures and it was difficult to decide which one was the most dramatic and evocative. I think her frown, her concentration and the hands up in the air finally made me choose this one. The bailaora was really more beautiful in other shots but I preferred to show her wrath, strength and plasticity. This took place at Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta.

Update: Barcelona Photoblog's picture "Legs" has been selected in Photo Friday - Noteworthy section as part of weekly challenge called "Sexy". Thanks so much to all voters and to Photo Friday for the opportunity!

Estació de França: Barcelona's Most Charming Railway Station

Estació de França or Estación de Francia (France Station) is a magic place for architecture enthusiasts.

As seen from La Ribera quarter on the other side of Marques De L'Argentera avenue the place looks rather dull and does not give you any clue of the beauty inside.

The moment you walk under its gates the light coming through the stained glass both in the domes and walls gently falls on the polished marble floors creating this mysterious soothing church-like atmosphere quite pleasant if you are about to travel. In fact, I felt like skating across the hall in the way a child would do.

The elaborate modernist and art deco motifs and specially those metal spheres hanging from a sort of ring tied to the domes are a pleasure to the eye.

Although the railway station has been there since 19th century the building was rebuilt in 1929 for the International Exhibition by renown Spanish architect Pedro Muguruza who held important positions in Francisco Franco's dictatorial government but that's part of another story.

Soon (not necessarily tomorrow) I will post some details of the ceiling and the train platforms.

Check La Ribera quarter and Estació de França on Google maps.

Art on Exterior Wall Panels, Barcelona

After a building is demolished it leaves behind traces of old rooms and partitions in houses next to them. Many times the unpleasant view can be avoided with exterior wall panels of assorted materials. If on top of them you add some colorful samples of art, an otherwise lousy corner may become a happy canvas to deter monotony.