La playa Bogatell

What a surprise to wake up this morning and feel how chilly Barcelona is!

The apartment was cold and dressing in my street clothes felt like ice trickling down my back.

Eleven days ago the sky was sunny and WARM like a July day in November.

Hard to believe then and hard to believe now.

A Room Where it Always Rains (Una habitación donde siempre llueve)

I was shocked. Somehow, someway, I missed this area of the city. It's called la Barceloneta. In the Barceloneta is an area called la plaça del Mar. At del Mar you will see the sculptor called "A Room Where it Always Rains" by Juan Muñoz.

 The figurines are tall ... close to 5 feet. The statue's faces are haunting. 

The statues are in a "room" where the "walls" are slats of iron.

FYI, behind me was the playa de port vell. If you like sun, fun, water, great food and affordable convenient stores, then be sure to consider this area.

I will!

A Recipe for Disaster

Scene: April in Barcelona

Before taking a photo of this couple, I observe:

playa Bogatell

Autumn clothing

One bottle of water.

No sunscreen.

Warm sun.

Deep sleep.

No Beer.

In my book, that adds up to skin melt down.

Achieved Opportunity

We missed where to catch bus 92, and had to leg it for 3 blocks where I found a woman sitting on a stanchion with no feet or legs to be seen.

Oh my!

Could this be true? We know the camera doesn't lie, or does it?

 Barcelona, 2008

Were those her feet to the left of her?

My imagination ran riot. There was someone and I was taking notice.

I was swept off my feet and for a moment they felt like clay.

Would she move? Would she notice me?

I kept my feet firmly on the ground and took the shot.

Ah, Joan Colom would be proud.

Disclaimer: The woman was fine. She happened to sit in that angled way that made me smile.

And,

If the shoe was on the other foot, you would have taken a picture, too.

P. S. This photo was not manipulated.

Sliding Straight to Fun

When in Barcelona, let me give you a tip. Take bus 92 from my origin point (if you like) at plaça de Gal.la Placidia.

The bus takes about an hour and 15 minutes from beginning to end and a bargain cost of a US dollar.

playa Bogatell, Barcelona, 2008

Along the route you will see these wonderful pockets of Catalan living, more colorful graffiti then you’ve ever imagined,

And,

You can hop off to see Gaudi’s Parque Quell or the Yelmo theater on carre Icaria, where movies are shown in their original version.

If you don’t want to get off or you need a sunny rest after a busy day of sightseeing and movie watching, be sure to bring your bathing suit, sun glasses and sun blocker for bus 92’ s final destination is playa bogatell.

There’s room on this bench or the world’s longest slide, depending if you are a mature child or juvenile grown-up.

Oh! What the hey!

Be both.