Barcelona’s Own Wailing Wall

For optium viewing be sure to click the pictures.

We found ourselves strolling by Plaça de la Virreina (Barcelona) and happened to see these birds congregating on the walls of St. Joan Church. Now birds gathered in large groups are not unusual here in Barcelona.

I then saw a bird flapping its wing rapidly, reminding me of a sparrow, and its beak buried into the church’s wall, pecking. My curiosity was aroused.

What followed was very strange, at least to me. There appeared many other birds doing the same activity. What the purpose of that activity was I will never know. Would you know?

I have never seen such a sight and I was fortunate to get these photos before the pigeons noticed me and flew away.

The birds pecking at the wall reminded me of photographs of persons at the Wailing Wall in Israel as demonstrated in the picture below. Even the colors of the stones on the wall are almost a match to my picture.

Please click HERE for the contributory link to the above photo.

An aside note: In no way do I wish to make light or fun of any important place or structure or belief. I just wanted to show the similiarities of man and nature.

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The Shadows of Day

On a great day, Barcelona has wonderful, normal lighting where, if you are lucky, you can shoot photos of shadows that are crisp and sharp.

I had such a day on a side street off Gran de Gracia in the barrio of Gracia. I immediately saw what a wonderful picture I could shoot, and I waited patiently for a subject to demonstrate scale and add interest.

I also wanted to photograph a person’s shadow on the wall or sidewalk, or even the leaves’ shadow on the person.


She came. Click HERE to resize.

I shot 3 pictures in sequence prior to the last photo shown above and not ONE shows the shadows I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Click HERE to resize.

That is what I call perfect timing of near misses. Write me an email if you want to perfect this technique. Ha!

No matter what, I am still pleased with this photo. It has that crispness and sharpness I mentioned even if I didn’t get what I wanted.

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Flor de Tila

Walking down Rambla de Catalunya one morning, I noticed the trees being pruned. Now the Rambla has many, many trees and there were branches everywhere - just any ordinary walk watching ordinary people cutting back trees.

As I continued my walk, there sat a lady surrounded with the cuttings on the ground. The natural lighting was magnificent … almost ethereal. I had to take this picture.


As I slowly walked by her, there she sat, plucking the flowers and assisted by her husband. The leaved branches were draped over her like a bridal veil. I then took this photo showing her looking at me in a serene and inviting way.


She told me that the flower was named tila and that every year she comes down to Rambla de Catalunya to gather a year’s supply of flowers as she has done since she was a little girl. From the tila flower, she brews tea that helps her to sleep.

As I continued my walk, I asked the many other women I had seen their reasons for bagging the flowers. They too made tea. There reasons were many from acting as an antiseptic, a sedative, to helping with the digestive tract and so on. The list was endless.

Seemed to me why even bother getting any prescription medication. All that you need to help you feel better is on Rambla de Catalunya and it’s free.

Be sure to bring a bag!

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The UNHOT Dog

Click HERE to view the video in Flickr.

I returned back to the placa hoping to get more shots of Diego of Brazil. My main objectives were to get a better handle of the wide angle lens, lighting and motion, but, alas, Diego was no where to be seen.

My backup plan, if Diego was a no show, was to practice shooting photos of a running fountain and capture in midstream that ONE drop of water I’ve seen in books and magazines.

But, instead, I had an unexpected visitor … a beautiful POOCH sitting in the fountain’s water. I got a few stills of him and then he left. He had enough.

I had a gut feeling he might return. So, I set my camera, like a true photographer I am, ahem, to video mode and luckily for me, the dog came back.

Smart dog!

Lucky me!

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Meet Diego of Brazil

Click HERE to view the video in Quicktime.

I don’t know who he is. I don’t know if he’s agile, you be the judge, but he sure has a sense of determination, tough constitution and a wonderful sense of self.

Meet Diego of Brazil. This is his first moment on roller blades. What a treat for any person with a camera and a chance to shoot everyday shots of everyday people doing everyday things.

I am certain of one thing about Diego; he will be soothing his aching joints with hot water and more hot water.

Oh yes! The name of the placa will remain anonymous as Diego of Brazil will be practicing at the same time and practicing in the same place this coming week.

Stay tuned!

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A Picture of Contrasts

It is said that a pet is a reflection of its master. Here, the woman appears so peaceful and so does the pooch. As people pass, she and the dog move their heads in unison in the same direction … as if they’ve been sitting and watching a lifetime.

Francesc Macia, 2006

However, something caught my eye when I was taking the photo. I thought about the irony of life. One day that model might be that old woman and that old woman was maybe once like that model.

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Placa de Francesc Macia

Placa de Francesc Macia
Barcelona, 2006

This photo was taken with my new wide angle lens that I've been experimenting with, so there are some flaws in this picture but no matter. I have been trying to get a continous sweep of the buildings in previous photos but to no avail.

I love this corner. These are separate buildings flowing and curving along the Avenida de Diagonal as if the buildings were one.

In this area, there are fancy boutiques, beautiful gardens, a few outdoor cafes and of course STARBUCKS and KFC.

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Tranquility

Here’s Barcelona at its finest.

What better way then to spend a day in bed at the park.

Or eat a meal in peace.

Or to hide behind the flowers, away from ME?

Wondering what the day will bring.

The envy of all women, to be adorned by a sea of beauty.


Even the city revels in its own reflection.


But as for me, I walk in the shadows of light, looking for YOU!

The entire series of pictures with the exception of the last one were photographed in the barrio of Gracia in Barcelona, Spain.

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

Santa Caterina Market

Barcelona is loaded and I mean loaded with markets in just about each of the neighborhoods. We happen to stumble quite by accident on Santa Caterina Market which would delight you in every way.

Santa Caterina Market

Below is a picture of the billboard in the market's entry way. I have made a translation but, Catalan is not one of my strong languages. Come to think of it, neither is my native English.

If there are any mistakes, please feel free to let me know.

Santa Caterina Market,

Barcelona, 2006

Santa Caterina Market: traditional and modern

In 1268, on the location where Santa Caterina market stands now there was a convent and school run by the Order of Dominicana dels Predicadors. In 1835, the convent and the church were totally destroyed by fire.

In 1844 construction of the market began and completed in 1848. Santa Caterina was the first enclosed market in the city.

In 1997 there began the process of modernizing and remodeling the market but keeping as much as the integrity of the old market as possible. The market was completed in 2005.

The market was designed by Enric Miralles/Benedetta Tagliabue and opened to the public on May 10, 2005.

The market has incorporated new and modern services: an underground loading dock, cameras through out the commercial establishment, controlled climate and new commercial mixtures of avant-garde boutiques around the perimeter of the mall.

.

View barcalunacy's Santa Caterina Market photoset.

JUVE DESIGNS

Hecho en Espana

Click HERE to watch in Quicktime.
Click HERE to watch in the Real Media.

Ever try to buy a gift made in the country you are visiting and the label says MADE IN CHINA and you are not even in CHINA?!

Let me share with you a store called JUVE Designs in the barrio of San Gervasi, in Barcelona.

JUVE Designs has unique merchandise. Here are some samples:













Many gifts are Hecho in Espana, that is, MADE IN ESPANA. What a hoot!

Look at the video and meet Helena, Judith, Adela, mother, daughter and grandmother, respectively. They go out of their way to help you.

So, you will leave with a gift and an extra bonus: A smile!

Give them a try.

Disclaimer: JUVE Designs is not promoting their store.

I am!

Barcelona Critter of the Month

Barcelona Critter of the Month, 2006
Click HERE for the slideshow!

Barcelona is famous for its dogs. Everywhere and I mean everywhere there is a dog for just about each person.

Anyway, this pooch has a wonderful character. He sat, as if posed in one position, looking at me with the camera and following a conversation between two people.

I felt one photo would not capture his essence.

Hope you enjoy!

I did!

American Idol, Not!

American Idol, Not!

Watch the video

Puerto del Angel, Barcelona, 2006

Well, some entertainers are lousy, some are bad and some aren't all that good. And yes, the focus of today's video/movie is no American Idol.

Does his strength lie somewhere else?

You be the judge!

Click HERE for Real Player.

Ruis y Taulet Castellers

DID YOU KNOW that once you play a movie in Quicktime, the first download is a little slow but then the rest of the Quicktime barcalunacy movies played from the web page will run much faster. Try it !













Rius y Taulet Castellers,
Barcelona, 2006

Try building a tower with humans and you get the famous Castellers. See how each person climbs to reach heights unimagined. In this video movie I happened to luckily stumble upon the Castellers doing what they do best.

CLIMB!!

They are truly awesome!

Click HERE for Quicktime.

Click HERE for Real Player.

ENJOY!

REMINDER: You can enlarge the PICTURE/PHOTO by clicking it.

Awesome ... He is not.

Barcelona, 2006

"Bon Dia! Como esta tu familia?", each day he asks. His name is Stanciu Ilie Nelu, from Romania and he's been in Barcelona 4 1/2 years.

I came to "know" Stanciu a little over 2 1/2 years ago. He sat where you see him sitting now, in front of a mercado playing either the guitar or piano and entertaining the masses.

Today, because of some regulations, Stanciu is unable to play his instruments and now just sits all day greeting anyone who gives him a smile.

At times, we provide him with a "beverage" and a sandwich. And more recently he seems to be in his own world.

Stanciu is generous. As we were walking down the street this past winter, he called us over and gave US food. What a twist!

Stanciu is loving. He has a black dog that gave birth to three pups early part of this year. Oh how cute they were! I heard that he was hoping to sell them after they had been weaned and house trained.

But life can be cruel. One pup was eventually sold to a German tourist, the second pup STOLEN and the third pup has yet to find a home.

So, each day Stanciu comes to the market, sets up the bed for his dogs, his chair and money box, not playing his beloved instruments, and reads the newspaper, smiling at the passer-bys and exchanging greetings.

Oh, he is not someone important like Osama Bin Laden, President George Bush, or awesome like Tom Cruise and Brittany Spears, but he has created his own little world.

And I am part of it.

Freedom of Expression

Calle Tuset Demonstrators, Barcelona, 2006

What I love most about Barcelona is its people, their passion for demonstration and the time they take out to protest. Here we see a video of workers manifesting their dissent against something or other.

By the time I got to Calle Tuset, the protestors were already there for about 2 hours and were, as I was told, to continue another 2 1/2 hours.

I can't imagine being near or around Tuset for very long before going a little bonkers. (Torture by music).

You'll see what I mean.

Click HERE to watch the Quicktime Video.

Click HERE to watch the Real Player Movie.

I took a picture of the flyer and below it you will see a loose interpretation. If I have not translated the flyer to show the posters message as written, please feel free to let me know.

YVES ROCHER AND Stanhome

THE WORKERS OF COSMHOGAR HAVE BEEN:

Your faithful suppliers, your development team for new products, your technical support, your factory.

We have adapted to all your needs and whims

AND NOW AFTER ALMOST 40 YEARS WORKING FOR YOU ...

You leave us stuck without orders or a future for 100 families.

You leave us on the street.

Thanks for not recognizing our effort and loyalty.

ONE HUNDRED FAMILIES RUINED!!

DISCLAIMER: I know no one who works for this organization nor am I personally interested in their cause.