Girls and Boys

Found this interesting wall drawing on tiles in an underground passage that leads to student parking at my university. It is obviously social commentary meant to stop a pedestrian in their tracks on their way to find their car. I for one, did pause as I was startled by abruptly having to figure out why noies and noies at this juncture had to possibly separate according to gender. Then it made me think that if I were in a country ruled by religion, I would have to follow  enforced gender segregation rules.  

Neu, Flors d'ametller i Van Gogh

It happens at least once a year sometime between February and March. The weather becomes menacingly cold and blankets the Barcelonese coastline with neu at altitudes of 300 meters. In December we are deprived of snow covered holidays, so this late winter gift is an amusement. I can't help but look up at the almond tree branches with pink blossoms and think of Van Gogh. How would he paint these snow powdered blossoms? I remember his paintings of apricot trees in bloom and almond tree branches with delicate blossoms. Inspiration peaks in me and I photograph a visual manna I have in common with Van Gogh more than one century later. My pictures barely resemble Van Gogh's paintings, but this Noia has tried her best to capture the beauty of the flors d'ametller just the same.

Adeu!

Diumenge Blues

How I disliked diumenges every weekend when I lived in Barcelona. Everything is closed on this day of the week. When I lived in the city, I used to wake up on Sundays with a feeling of inevitable glum. Nothing to look forward to on the seventh day really, except walking two blocks to eat at my mother in-law's house, which I didn't mind. But that was the high point of every diumenge. Sundays were so trist, trist to me.  Walking on the street in Barcelona is a reminder of what day it is because every store and shop has the metal roller blind down. Most metal blinds are tagged or display graffiti art. There is no window shopping or the slight chance of peaking into stores to busy the mind from remembering it is Sunday. A simple pleasure stowed away behind a curtain of metal. Amsterdam was not like that. No metal blinds on any of their store fronts. You can stroll down the street on your way to a café and stop every once in a while to peer inside an eclectic shop. Not here in Barcelona, keep walking until you get to your destination. If only Morrissey were here to see how much his song Everyday is like Sunday has meaning to this noia, who feels blue on Sundays in this coastal town.

Not. a. Basilica.

Funky. Insects. Animals. Jewelry. Stylish. Antlers. Rings. Love. It. Flamingos. Cases. Mannequins.  Bling. Necklaces. Vintage. Old. Ladies. Feathers. Petals. Earrings. So. Much. To. See. Doberman. Pinscher. 

La Basilica Galeria. Adeu.

Ohla

This is what it is like to have a thousand eyes looking at you. The front and back facade of Ohla Hotel in Barcelona is the creation of surrealist Catalan designer Federic Amat. The building is cataloged as a historical neoclassical building. Once buildings are cataloged for historic preservation, the facade cannot be demolished. It's a five star hotel that will scent your bed linen with aromatic scents.

back facade

front facade