Give me a sign

Why bother with a dietary drink called “Slim Fast”, sold in the states, when you can have orxata.

It’s a cold drink made from ground tiger nuts or almonds, milk and sugar. This beverage marks the beginning of summer.

near market de Puig Marti

Barcelona, 2005

Not only does it taste real good, but it’s packed with all the daily vitamins and nutrients required for your health.

It fills your tummy fast and provides a feeling of fullness that lasts a long time - a safe alternative to stomach “stapling” in my book.

The unidentified, ferocious, unruly and boisterous Chihuahua, knew which side his bone was buttered on.

He waited patiently for his turn, hoping for a sign that would let him forage ahead and enjoy the meal of the day.

And that sign came.

near market de Puig Marti
Barcelona, 2005

Not only was the café offering the fresh, homemade orxata, his favorite, but coffee and fruit juice as well.

So, when in Barcelona, read the omens and even more to the point, the signs.

P. S. Now you know what Catalan looks like.

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He only had eyes for me!

Not having great internet connection this past many weeks, has given me the opportunity to go through my few thousand photos.

Oh! How I can’t seem to part with not a one. I bet YOU don’t have that problem.

I came across this photo. Some of you may recognize him.

He only had eyes for me!

Barcelona, 2007

Now, normally I would have thrown it away. I didn’t like its slight blur, fuzzy focus and unsharpness.

But, there’s a real, good story here and I hope you follow me.

Sometimes I’ve been asked if I’ve ever gotten myself in trouble when taking people’s photos.

I can honestly say for sure that more often NO than yes is my answer.

Take this man for instance.

He and his companions were passing Cortes Ingles, just a few feet from where you catch the bus to go to the airport.

Our eyes locked, stocked and barreled from the moment we saw each other to the moment he disappeared from my view.

He knew what I was doing and I knew he knew but I wasn’t quick on the draw with the camera and he wasn’t about to stop, pause and pose.

He went on his way, and I called it a day.

Or did we?

There is a beginning and to read further click on the post called “The answer is on the tip of his tongue”.

Enjoy!!

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Oh buoy!

He has bounced around the Mare Magnum harbor every day, for more months than I care to recall, with no ill effects from the different seasons on his fair and pasty-white skin.

The only thing he’d be concerned with is the left-over residue of a flying animal.

Mare Magnum
Barcelona, 2007

However, with summer now unofficially here in Barcelona, the fair skinned appear not to have thoughts of protecting themselves against the strong, ultra-violet rays of the sun.

Skin safety eludes many of those pesky tourists (and locals I might add) who visit and live here. For them, sizzle-RED is the operative word.

And like the bouncing buoy, we should be so lucky.

Tanning takes common sense, smartness and a good lotion.

So slap on that UV number 15 lotion, be smart and have fun.

Enjoy!!

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Place setting

Don’t be fooled by the apparent lack of congeniality of this man at rest.

Somewhere, sometime he might have stirred himself into too much of a jiggle, as men traditionally do, requiring him to find a comfortable bench and set himself upon it for a moment of relaxation.

plaça de la Sagrada Família
Barcelona, 2007

How he was able to synchronize his body at rest without spilling a filled cup of clear water will always remain a mystery to me.

But at least he had the makings of a “super mom” that is, a woman who can juggle many tasks at one time.

And out there is some lucky lady “waiting” for this man.
Enjoy!!

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For your viewing pleasure

When you come to Barcelona, I guarantee that you will find yourself shooting photos of one of this city’s most important pieces of architecture, la Sagrada Familia.

I think just about every angle of this magnificent structure has been photographed.

la Sagrada Familia
Barcelona, 2007

So, I took a photo to capture the sunny day, the pretty flowers and the construction towers that appear to be privately dancing for our viewing pleasure.

Enjoy!!

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Voluntary constraint

Some little boys play baseball, futbol, wrestle and even pick their noses.

This little guy decided on his very own to tie himself up with a rope to a tree.

Barcelona, 2007

He was not influenced by anyone as he was totally alone.

What ever possessed him to do such a thing, I will never know.

I could give him points for creativity and so I will.

The boys who when small I adoreso, when bigger even moreso.

Enjoy!!

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Support your local kiosk!

Poor girl had absolutely no customers for the 10 or 15 minutes I stood waiting for a friend.

She was surrounded by soda, ice cream and candy.

Barcelona, 2006

These treats, filled with a boatful of Vitamin A, B, C and SUGAR didn’t make a dent on her bored grin.

I ordered my coke, bought some edible treats and I left with a smile on both our faces.

Enjoy!!

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Shalom

It’s an ordinary looking building between stores and apartments.

It is a school that ordinarily wouldn’t catch your attention but for its unique name.

Col-Legi Esclaves del Sagrat cor de Jesús

Barcelona, 2007

The Catalan translation above the doorway reads “School – Slaves for the Sacred Heart of Jesus … Shalom”.

Interesting! No?

Students attend the same school from kindergarten through high school. Not unusual in Barcelona.

However, children in the United States normally would attend 3 different schools by the time they were 18 years of age.

Enjoy!!

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Sole Train

Here’s a photo I thought fun to take for the shadows, light and of course, the HOLES in the SOLES of the shoes.

To me, Barcelona is “cement city” and the pair of shoes I own have been a tremendous blessing for the long walks on the stone sidewalks.

And,

Sad to say, my footwear will soon go to a better place and beyond the repair of any fine shoemaker.

Barcelona, 2007

Luckily for the pairs in the photo, there’s hope.

Enjoy!!

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Clothes of many colors

She sat there totally motionless for the time I saw her.

Her clothes of many colors drew me to her.

I couldn’t resist and took 2 photos of her.

Gran de Gràcia
Barcelona, 2007

As I left, I looked back and decided to return and give her some change.

I nudged her, not once but twice.

I opened her hands and the coins dropped in.

Leaving, I turned again.

But,

She never looked up.

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Give this fella a rose. Please!!

I forgot to upload the most important photos of all.

On Sant Jordi day, men of all ages purchased beautiful floral arrangements down to the simplest one rose.

I saw the sprint in their walk and anticipation in their eyes.

But the fellow in this photo was sad, almost to the point of tears.

Give this person a rose. Please!!
Barcelona, 2007

I imagined all sorts of things. You probably can, too.

But,

Maybe the rose was on its journey to someone's hand, putting a smile on their face and arms around his shoulders.

This post concludes the Sant Jordi of 2007 series.

Enjoy!!

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Sant Jordi: Memories of 2007

Whew!!

I originally blogged a post called "Goodwill and spirits around Barcelona", explaining the holiday and its traditions.

Barcelona, 2007

Since then, I have been asked by some of those whose pictures I took, to make a slideshow of the day so that families abroad could see them.

So, for their and your viewing pleasure, I am providing a link for additional photos that you can see as a slideshow on FLICKR.

Enjoy!!

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Pucker-Up

I was at the consulate in Sarria to get a new passport for reasons mentioned in a previous post I called “Grant Me a Wish”. So, my mood was not a happy one.

We finished at the consulate, walking slow with no purpose in mind, when I saw him on a white pedestal dressed in auburn fur with his lips puckered up.

Pucker-Up
Barcelona, 2007

He was puffing big bubbles I could only dream of when I was a child.

They were so spherical and filled with colors of the rainbow.

He looked like he was having tremendous fun.

While he was making bubbles he was making my day.

For that moment, I wanted to leave the grown-up world behind me and be a kid again.

Enjoy!!

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STOP! wondering

About 10 months ago, I took this photo through the window of bus 92.

Ten months later to this day, I’m still looking at the picture, wondering why there was a stop sign on her hip and a cell phone to her ear.

I was intrigued by what appeared to me to be her indifference. She showed no interest nor did she show concern for anyone passing by her.

STOP wondering
Barcelona, 2006

Was she taking her morning break?

Did she not like her job?

No!!

TODAY, for the very first time, I realized that her stop sign was a purse!

I never said I had fashion sense but, at least for now,

I can put this picture away and,

I can STOP wondering.

Enjoy!!

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Fish ‘n Chick

At la playa Bogatell, your eyes will see this wondrous sculpture that glows majestically in the brilliant sun.

You just can’t miss this phenomenal structure that’s made of steel lattice and shines a copper color.

It’s THE fish, marking the start of the Olympic port when Spain hosted the 1992 Olympics and it was designed by Frank O. Gehry.

la playa Bogatell
Barcelona, 2007

This phantasmagorical piece of artwork overlooks a boardwalk (really a huge cement sidewalk) where you can see the Med and a cornucopia of different people, dressed and not so dressed.

So come on down.

If you’re not here right now, your better half is, maybe.

Enjoy!!

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