The Dough in St. Jordi

Sigh sigh sigh. This year I will miss celebrating St. Jordi's Day as I will be cloistered in a computer lab listening to a lecture on T-tests and independent variables  in my statistics class at the university. Every year I look forward to photographing events on this day, but since I will be en absènsia, I will display creatively themed St. Jordi edible items all made from dough (the title meant to be a pun to all the money made on this day), instead of the usual books and rose tradition. I found these lovely treats depicting the Catalan fable between the the dragon and the brave knight (the princess is missing). I act as semi-curator of all things Catalan, and I found pictures on Facebook and on Google searches of cookies and cupcakes having to do with this adventurous tradition.

This was the first thing I found on Facebook.

Like the dragon and St. Jordi (shield and tower), but they should have included a princess cookie! These yummy cookies are from BONPASTÍS.

also from BONPASTÍS

More darling dracs from Somnis Pastís

Rose and book cupcake are from Flickr by La Vie en Doux...

No need to tell you were I found this picture...OK, I'll tell you Mama muffins. They even have workshops too!

You can learn to decorate these artistic creations at a Taste of America...

These rose motif cupcakes were swirled and designed at Alicia's Cakes... amazing!

Tea and cakes from Karma's Cakes

Rose cookies from I Feel Cook. I wonder if that is a Raymond Carver book?

Enjoy eating, smelling roses and buying books! Adeu.

p.s. I do have previous posts on Sant Jordi you can visit by clicking here and here.
p.p.s. If you want me to add any edible item you've made for St. Jordi, send me an email and I will add it to this post. Happy St. Jordi!!

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.