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

Maremagnum at its finest!

In Barcelona's district of Port Vell, there's a magnificent shopping center called Maremagnum.

As you cross its bridge, you will find fantastic landscapes of Barcelona, outdoor cafes, anchored boats of all sizes , many many seagulls and much much more.

On the other side of the bridge and to the left there's a restaurant called Tapa Tapa (yum yum), and at the very end of the boardwalk is a small nook ... the very one you see and want to be at --- a place you can sit in solitude or with a loved one and a fine bottle of wine.

Maremagnum at its finest!

Hey! Be sure to use Google Chrome, like me. I was an avid Firefox user but I certainly like Chrome for 2 reasons, mainly, the its low usage of memory and its translator.

plaça de Narcís Oller

In the barrio of Gràcia, between Via Augusta and the Travessera de Gràcia, there's a quaint park called the plaça de Narcís Oller.

Visually, it doesn't compare to other plaças in the barrio in terms of size and crowds and that's okay with me. I like the small plaça for it has a fun seating arrangement, a running water fountain, 5 restaurants or cafes, a small grocery store, a wellness spa called the the Flotarium, a computer repair shop and wonderful architectural structures.

The plaça is small, like I said, but on special days when the weather is great you hear children playing, and you see dogs running into the fountain to cool off.

Speaking of dogs, I believe it's been about 3 years since el barrio de Gràcia has placed dog leash restrictions. I can understand why without arguing a pro or con stance. In the day when the dogs roamed it was fun to see them play with one another and enjoy frolicking in the fountain like children.

Time surely flies as the days of today quickly become the days of yesterday, more than I want.

50% off on most stuff you don't need.

I can't believe November is here and for many in the world , fulfilling wish lists and giving presents in this time period will be the norm.

For some of us, the work to match a gift with your loved one, will be strenuous but satisfying.

For many others, the time spent searching and lurking for the CORRECT beanie boo, or Ernie Banks autographed baseball card, will not only be strenuous but a harrowing and unforgiving experience.

But, for heaven's sake, how can I even write about any forthcoming holiday when the United States presidential elections are coming upon the world in less than 7 days!

For those swinging to the left or to the right of political opinion, either candidate will be catastrophic and rather than gift giving an exit to Canada might be on their list.

The Art of Negotiation

For anyone and everyone, finding peace and quiet in this tumultuous world can be difficult.

And, for the cute little girl who was sitting on the ledge, content and happy, her time of peace and quiet was invaded by the loud demand of a little boy wanting to take her space.

She stood her ground, but after much hand waving, cajoling and whining, the little boy won but not before he gave her some candy.

Their hero

While I was walking towards my favorite mercado, I heard a commotion of adult and children voices in front of the Restaurant Corea Gayagum, well known in la vila de Gràcia neighborhood.

There was this fellow trying to hoist a balloon to the kids on the balcony but the balloon kept slipping from the children's grasp.

I saw this scene unfolding for 20 minutes or so. I have no idea the length of time the actors in this play were involved before I came.

As I clicked, I kept wondering why the man didn't bring the balloon upstairs, or why they didn't come downstairs.

No matter - they were all having fun.

Little magenta riding hood

Her shimmering hair ... you call it magenta , i call it little 160 23 21 (pantone) riding hood.

Can YOU think of a better title?

If you've read this, HONK!!

The magic of a setting sun

It's 17:56:44 on a weekday (thank goodness for EXIF data) and I am at plaça Sant Miquel for one thing and one thing only ... the SUN!

The plaça is tucked in the middle of a barrio with trees surrounding its perimeter.

The tree's branches have separated allowing the sun to filter through in that romantic way ... like a man first experiencing the separation of his hair fleeting through his fingers.

The ambiance of the plaça and its light tricks you. For a brief while, you are a professional photographer. Every shot you take is magic.

A man and his shoe

His concentration so great, and so TOTALLY absorbed with his shoe, that the man doesn't notice me or anyone around him.

Thinking, scouting, working

She's been in Barcelona for almost a decade, that I'm aware.

She walks with a stoop, has worn similar clothing in the 10+ years and exuded an aura of mystery.

I like this photo a whole lot.

The picture above is the first photo I took of her.

This day, the sun light was at its best.

She was walking and pacing in that way when one is "asking" for money from the tourists.

I looked around the Cathedral to observe any persons of interest, (meaning YOU!).

I turned and I saw her sitting with the light enveloping her.

I clicked, wouldn't you?

May be the last photo I take of her but I've learned never to say never.

Sun Strokes

PIMP

  Here's a chance to PIMP up your wardrobe with "second hand & underground wear".

Now, if someone can explain "underground wear" maybe my wardrobe style will improve.

She pleases me

It's been a long time since I heard this style of jazz in Barcelona and in particular a distinct musical voice.

I scurried quickly for I had to see if it was THEM ... the New Orleans Ragamuffins.



I wrote a post about the group in 2006. Here's the link:

barcalunacy.blogspot.com/2006/10/barcelonas-own-ragtime-b...

But, alas, they were not THEM.

The fella on the right facing you is or was a member of that band and it's his unusual voice with a distinct megaphone nasality that I remember.

I don't know anything of this group other than they played well.

So well, in fact,

As I was taking a photo a girl passed smiling, dancing, swaying and walking all the while on a mobile phone.

She pleased me.

Please Help Me

There's been a significant increase in the last 2 1/2 years of young women begging money for food in Barcelona.

I feel conflict when I see them. I have an innate desire to help anyone but the skeptic inside of me stops me from doing so. I guess maybe it's because many of them, men as well as women, just don't seem that 'needy'. Of course, appearances can be deceiving and I can be wrong.

This photo reminds me of another story.

About 3 years ago, while taking our evening walk, we can upon an elderly woman of 76 years old, preparing her bed on the sidewalk adjacent to a bank. It was a winters night and cold like ice.

Anyway, we stopped to speak. Her face reminded me of an older Mary Pickford, so sweet and delicate.

She lost her home and belongings a few days before we met. She had no idea about her tomorrows but for that night she was trying to find a warm place, a safe place, a quiet place.

Unfortunately for her, we had no money on us but the next night with food in our hands we went back to her spot, searched everywhere ... well, we never saw her again.

And to this day, we look and think of her.

Left to Their Own Devices

No one speaks to a human anymore.



I remember as a child, born in Manhattan, people who talked to themselves alone on the streets were considered NUTS! Hey. It's New York. We're all nuts some say.

And, today. No one is crazy, or at least you can't tell.

If you're not listening to your ipod, or speaking on your iphone, you're not COOL or HIP ... or whatever. <--- see, I'm down with the lingo.

Left to their own devices, human contact is at an all time low.

And, thank goodness I didn't fall into that trap.

Enough of this. I'm gonna tweak my camera settings.

Indifference

Does anyone care?

Is this union going to last?

The only interested person is ME!

And, the only thing I'm concerned with is the LIGHT that was escaping me faster than I could write this post.

Casual Saunter

A leisurely stroll through the grotto at the Park Güell.

He gave me A finger!

 A friendly gesture that says, Hi! How you doin'?

I love workers such as those in the photo. 

More often than not, I get a smile, a pose and a wave.

Four My Eyes Only

Well, it finally happened.

 

Toys like computers, ipads, iphones, ipods, and fancy cameras have reeked havoc on my eyes.

I thought I had a clear defined photo of a dapper young man.

Love Knot!

Ah, young love! 

Two kids, resting on a church step, oblivious to their surroundings in twisted perfection.

If I was lucky to be in their position today, I'd unfortunately need help straightening up.