La Boqueria Market

La Boqueria Market has its origins from year 1200, as an open market, and enclosed today as shown in the photo taken at 1:30 pm.

Today, many pesky tourists and local inhabitants buy and eat the luscious vegetables, sweet (and I mean SWEET) fruits, familiar and strange looking fish that lurk at you and *bocadillos with jamon and queso. (Yum Yum).

And, when you've finished eating paellas at the many cafes that surround the perimeter of the market, at the entrance is a Dunkin Donut shop, to satisfy your craving for sugar.

Truly, it's a great place to see history, taste great food and I ask you to be nice, if you're a visitor. Like I said, many locals inhabit the market and on days when you're there shooting pictures, they can't get to the counters to buy their food and the vendors can't make a living.

*bocadillos --- sandwiches of crusty bread, made with various hams of your choice and cheese with an optional tomato

Las Niñas Flamencas

Give a girl a fan, polka dot bow, dress and more importantly high heeled shoes and what have you got?

Three happy little sisters who call themselves la Flamenco Chicas.

Shop any souvenir shop in the heart of Barcelona's las Ramblas and make little girls dance with joy.

CIRIS

You ever try getting a Coca-Cola out of a CIRIS vending machine?

Ain't going to happen.

Not until hell freezes over.

And, certainly not before you can get water out of a stone can you quench your thirst with a candle.

Photo was taken at a church along las Ramblas.

Pour Favor

Who knew that taking his picture would make his eyes wag.

Pour Favor

Beware of San Miguel!

Metro Gig

We were descending the stairs of the metro, when we heard this strange but beguiling music.

As I got to the last stair, the young man moved his body to the music without skipping a beat on a most unusual and unfamiliar instrument I’ve ever seen.

Barcelona, 2008

Even if he did skip a beat, I wouldn’t have known better but the music did sound enticing.

I had my wide angle lens, and I so wanted to get a shot with fantastic distortion.

For those who have used this type of lens you have to almost get within inches of your subject, invading their space, becoming familiar with one another that you almost feel like you should put them on your Christmas list

And,

Sometimes causing them to wonder why the heck they let you even take a photo.

But, the wide-angle is lots of fun. In the next few week I will post more photos and show you what I mean.

By the way, if anyone knows what the name of the stringed instrument is, please let me know.

Incognito

Some people delight in working the crowds; others feel more comfortable networking behind the scenes.

Like this lady glugging coca cola. It’s a miracle there’s enough room for a straw because a gnat wouldn’t stand a chance.

Barcelona, 2008

On a personal note, I used to prefer Pepsi over coke so much so that I named my present computer PEPSI.

But, gosh darn it; the taste of Pepsi to me doesn’t taste the same like when I was a kid so I’ve switched over to Coke.

Nevertheless, I am a private person but when it comes to the cola my eyes are wide open.

And, if you understand what I just said, write and let me know ‘cause I don’t know what the heck I wrote.

Enjoy!

E. J. Malinowski: Poet laureate of Las Ramblas

He neither sings,  neither dances,  nor “stands still without movement” as the other Ramblas artists are known to do.

He has a booth and can usually be found on Las Ramblas Saturdays and Sundays selling his books of poems.

He’s tall with piercing eyes, a striking beard and a stature that commands attention.

E. J. Malinowski
Barcelona, 2006

He’s known as E. J. Malinowski, a poet originally from Argentina.

Yes!

A Malinowski from Argentina!

This day we got a chance to speak with him and take some pictures. I’ve been dying to do so the last two times I’ve seen him on Las Ramblas.

So … this day we took the plunge.

Can you blame me?

Malinowski has been in Barcelona for over 29 years.

He’s had luck to live off his poetry and people actually look for his poems.

He named his books Viento 1, Viento 2, and Viento 3. Coming up with these simple titles was not as easy as it seemed, he continued.

E. J. Malinowski
Barcelona, 2006

He spent much time and finally figured that if the “Planet of the Ape” movies could put numbers in their titles, he figured “why not” he in his books.

Continuing, Malinowski said those who read his poetry liked how his poems touched on life and the human condition.

By the way, the "E" in his name stands for Eduardo

View E. J. Malinowski and others in barcalunacy's People of Interest FLCKR photoset.

The Primping Imp

This shot taught me serendipity can happen to me. Everything is right in an extraordinary way.

As I watched him intensely, I saw the entertainer concentrate with INTENSITY far greater than mine, applying his make-up.

At least he is better at cosmetic application than me and I've probably been carrying out this procedure since well before he was born.

The Primping Imp

I didn't get an opportunity to know him better this time but I will the next.

Sort of looks like Edward Scissorhands and, so much so, that if he tells me he is not, I would be SHOCKED.

An aside comment: Please come back in the next few days, I have something to say about the street artists and the general public's treatment of them.

View the Primping Imp in barcalunacy's Barcelona’s Street Artists FLCKR photoset.

The acrobatic waiter who is not a street artist

Okay … okay … a day taking pictures as usual on Las Ramblas when right before my very eyes I see motion of an unusual kind.

Showing off and "Y" not
Las Ramblas, Barcelona, 2006

I turn to my right and I see this fella being wild and crazy. Aha! I say to myself. A street artist entertains on Llano de la Boqueria, a sort of street just a wee bit off Las Ramblas, and I am here ready and available.

Satisfaction
Las Ramblas, Barcelona, 2006

I am full of wonder and excitement that this wonderful subject is performing for my viewing and picture taking pleasure.

He is Jose, a waiter, (hmmm … I’ve been meeting a lot of Jose’s in Barcelona lately) and he does acrobatics to unwind from a day with those pesky tourists.

He may be a great inspiration and you might wish to try what Jose does so easily. Good luck!

But, as for me, I think I might not try, at least for now.

Oh waiter!!!

While Jose is not a street performer, he deserves the honor to be in the same photoset as one of Barcelona's own street artist. He does them proud.

View the acrobatic waiter in barcalunacy's Barcelona’s Street Artists FLCKR photoset.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.