Tag Archives: Spain

From Barcelona, Not The Normal Thing To See At A Museum!

Walking down a narrow street in Barcelona, heading for the contemporary art museum called MACBA, we strolled past several sidewalk cafes at the front corner of the large white museum building.

Sidewalk cafes are conveniently located outside the front entry of MACBA — the museum of contemporary art in Barcelona, Spain.

We certainly weren’t expecting what we saw unfolding in the courtyard in front of us. Dozens of young people were ‘hanging out’ in various places along the courtyard and in clumps at the front of MACBA. And what we were laughing at was the sight of skateboarders doing tricks right in front of that museum!

They were quite considerate and confined their activity to a small area so that they didn’t interfere with the pedestrians who were criss-crossing the plaza or coming in and out of the museum.

Young men on skateboards perform in the open plaza outside MACBA — the museum of contemporary art in Barcelona, Spain.

Day to day life in Barcelona surprised us again and again. We might be living in Europe now, but our quiet French town is rather sedate compared to the unfolding comedy, drama, and action in this large metropolitan part of Spain.

Angles and Curves on A Barcelona Museum

We’re back to coverage from Spain for today’s photo of the day which was taken in front of MACBA — the Museum of Contemporary Barcelona Art.

People sitting atop & walking by a low wall in front of MACBA, a contemporary art museum in Barcelona, Spain.

This museum is right in the middle of the University of Barcelona district, so it is draped with young people every single day. I’ll have another variation of this museum front facade in a very different kind of mood tomorrow!

Let The Gnome Hold It In Barcelona

Quick photo of the day today — letting a gnome hold things for me today!

Gnome table in a home design shop in Barcelona, Spain

This little gnome table was in the window of a home design store in Barcelona. Not only was he rather cute, I also liked the rug behind him made out of small cut-out circles of leather.

Enjoy!

Inside the History Museum in Barcelona

As promised, here are images from inside the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat, the city museum of Barcelona.

Museu d’Història de la Ciutat entry sign

After going through several ground floor galleries full of archaeological discoveries from the ancient Roman city beneath Barcelona, visitors enter an elevator and descend several levels until they are two stories beneath their starting point. An audio track played as you enter the elevator reminds you that you are going back 2,000 years in time as you descend.

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This museum was an unexpected discovery. We had arrived in Barcelona with plans to visit several Gaudi sites, the Miro museum, and the Picasso Museum. But this was certainly a place worth devoting an afternoon to!

Stony & Textural Black & White in Barcelona, Spain

Even in sunny Spain, there are cold, wet, and gloomy days when the colour of the sky is flat and bright shades of clothing or advertising are muted and subdued. What better time to switch to black and white photography which actually enhances the image since you are looking at the bones, the structure, or the texture instead of being wowed by snappy-bright colour.

These are from Barcelona on a wet but wonderful Sunday. The building is the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat, the city museum of Barcelona. This 15th Century palace was moved, stone by stone, from its original location in 1931 due to the upcoming construction of a roadway. When the new site on Placa del Rei was being excavated and prepared for the rebuilding of the palace, there was a stunning archaeological find — a large section of the old Roman city was still lying beneath the city streets of Barcelona!

I will have a slide show from the interior of this museum in the coming days.

Enjoy!

Upper exterior of the dramatically gloomy 15th Century building housing the Barcelona History Museum. This historic palace is built atop part of an excavated Roman city.

Gargoyles ring the upper part of the history museum in Barcelona

Entry to the imposing 15th Century stone palace housing the Barcelona History Museum. An excavated section of the former Roman city is on view in the lower levels.

One last picture — a glimpse through a narrow passageway which is down the street from the museum.

View down a narrow passage in Barcelona, Spain

Catalonia In The News

We happened to be in the right place at the right time when I shot these photos of a rally just prior to the elections in Spain. The emotions and patriotism of Catalonia seemed to be evident everywhere and the intermittent rain was not going to dampen their enthusiasm. Yesterday’s news mentioned that Catalonia is joining Scotland in their intention to become independent in 2014.

The people speak a different version of Spanish, their customs are different, and we were surprised at how often we saw the Catalonian flag displayed in homes and businesses when we were in Barcelona. Solidarity for their cause was evident everywhere.

Barcelona political rally and participants with Catalonian flags.

Catalonia political rally with flag carrying participants in front of a government building in Barcelona, Spain.

Too Full Of Noise? Perhaps Not!

This photo of the day will not be sent to my stock agencies for one big reason — noise artifacts in spite of using noise removal in my Lightroom 4 software. But at a smaller resolution, it still packs a punch of funny energy! It was taken in quite low light and actually looked almost black before I worked on it. But bringing up the image also meant bringing out the grain and the surface noise. Ah well — at least I can share it with you.

We were in a very dark cafe in the Barri Gotic district of Barcelona a few weeks ago and this man was sleeping soundly in spite of the dishes clattering and the people coming and going through that door right next to him. His wife sat there reading her Spanish daily newspaper — and he slept and slept and slept for the 20 minutes that we were in there having a cup of tea.

Enjoy!

Napping man with black beret in a cafe in Barcelona, Spain.

A Wanderful Life

The Neverending Journey

Tag Archives: Spain

From Barcelona, Not The Normal Thing To See At A Museum!

Angles and Curves on A Barcelona Museum

Let The Gnome Hold It In Barcelona

Inside the History Museum in Barcelona

Stony & Textural Black & White in Barcelona, Spain

Catalonia In The News

Too Full Of Noise? Perhaps Not!