Port Vell
Another view of Port Vell, the old port. You might have noticed: I LOVE BOATS!!!
More on my new website, paintings with my camera!
Paintings with my camera
A little publicity today, for myself. I recently started this project/website, taking some of my photos, and transforming them into paintings, using mainly Adobe Lightroom, and several plug-ins. Want to see more? It’s right here!
BTW, this is the W hotel, facing the Desigual HQ.
Добро пожаловать в МИР
Welcome to the World, Mir in russian! Isn’t she gorgeous, the white princess from up north!
Señor Colon y las golondrinas
In English: Mr Columbus and the swallows. Colon is Christopher Columbus. He is standing on top of his column, and is watching over the golondrinas, or swallows, the tourist boats going around the harbor and along the coast. If you’re in town, do it, it is a really good way to see Barcelona from a different angle. And it is relatively cheap.
Figuring out the figurehead…
One of the tall ships present in Barcelona during last summer’s Merce festival, had this figurehead. And I just can’t figure it out. Can you?
Dreamy
A rather dreamy view of the Port Vell, with the Maremagnum shopping center in the background.
A weekend reflection
Sundown in one of the windbreakers at the Maremagnum shopping mall, on Friday night.
Click right here to see more weekend reflections!
Port Vell
Had a nice walk in the old port last night, and the best crepe I’ve ever had this side of the Pyrenees mountains, smoked salmon and cream cheese.
Wanted to take the ferry to Ibiza, but… Maybe another time.
28 degrees, partly cloudy…
…said the weather report for today. Well, it didn’t quite reach 28 degrees, more like 26, but the clouds were out, including some really peculiar ones. Here is a nice cloud carpet above the general post office on the seafront. Anyone knows what these clouds are called???
Free money
Not sure what that was about, but this is a very generous person indeed.
No, he didn’t give us any money.
The great sea
The Maremagnum (great sea) shopping center, seen from Montjuic hill. A shopping center with a normal cinema, an IMAX cinema, many restaurants, painters, artists… A very lively place in the Port Vell, the old port.
Weekend in black and white: gone fishing
It is the weekend, and I might do just this… Ah, who am I kidding, I wont have the time to do it!
The painter
Remaining on this week’s maritime theme (wasn’t planned, just came out like this), here is the Horizon, out of Valetta, Malta. Needs a wee bit of painting, it seems. I wonder if the people underneath the painter are aware of his presence? One more of these ‘ invisible’ workers who make our life what it is.
Pretty granny!
She is 94 years old, and she is so pretty! The schooner Santa Eulalia, proud property of the Maritime Museum in Barcelona. She is usually moored nearby, this is the first time I’ve actually seen her sailing.
Skywatch Friday
The La Pepa, replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon. Galleons were the most universal Spanish ships, which played the lead on commercial and cultural relationships during more than 3 centuries, 16th to 18th, between Spain, the Americas and Asia. Or so says the provided information. They brought other stuff as well, far more evil and nasty. Anyway, the galleon is beautiful, and well worth a visit. Will come back to it later.
To see what other participants to the Skywatch Friday meme did, just click here.
3 men on a ….
… kind of boat. Taken large, of course.
Once again, I apologize for not visiting your blogs and commenting. The problem is: most days only have 24 hours, and they’re very very busy right now.
And if you’re not there it, please join the CDP Facebook page, temporary replacement of the portal!
Nao Victoria, a welcome visitor!
Victoria (or Nao Victoria, as well as Vittoria) was a Spanish carrack and the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world. The Victoria was part of a Spanish expedition commanded by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and after his demise during the voyage, by Juan Sebastián Elcano. The expedition began with five ships but the Victoria was the only ship to complete the voyage. Magellan was killed in the Philippines. This ship, along with the four others, was given to Magellan by King Charles I of Spain. Victoria was named after the church of Santa Maria de la Victoria de Triana, where Magellan took an oath of allegiance to Charles V in order to be granted full access to the Spice Islands. Victoria was an 85 tons ship with a crew of 42.
The four other ships were Trinidad (110 tons, crew 55), San Antonio (120 tons, crew 60), Concepcion (90 tons, crew 45), and Santiago (75 tons, crew 32). Trinidad, Magellan’s flagship, Concepcion, and Santiago were wrecked or scuttled; San Antonio deserted the expedition before the Straits of Magellan and returned to Europe on her own.
Victoria was rated a carrack or nao (ship), as were all the others except Trinidad, which was a caravel.
Click here to read more about this beautiful Nao.
And this is a replica, built in Punta Arenas, Chile, between 2006 and 2009.
Chinese new year, part 4: the photographer
Quite a few interesting stalls around, during the celebrations, all Chinese businesses in town, or Catalan companies doing business with China. One of the stalls was this one below, the photographer. One of the things they proposed was taking your photo in Chinese clothes.
L’Any del Drac
Maybe a bit late, but Barcelona celebrated this weekend the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, l’ any del drac in Catalan. Plenty do see, plenty to do, and plenty to eat. So, happy new year! We do have a very important Chinese population in town.
The circus, part 3
Our World on Tuesday, of course!Lolita y Encarnacion…
… are 2 of the Golondrinas (swallows) taking tourists around the port and along the coast. It is a very nice thing to do when you’re visiting Barcelona… and the sea is not too choppy!
Wasting time…
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
Thanks, Otis, you’re still the best!
Watery Wednesday, the place to be!
Golden
One early morning in the ferry-port…
National holiday here in Catalunya today, la Diada. Don’t you hate it when holidays fall on a weekend???!!!!
Black and white Port Vell
The Port Vell, or Old Port of Barcelona, with the ferry terminal and the World Trade Center.
The Weekend in Black and White. Check here to see more!
Visitors
The Europa was here on Saturday. So I decided to use my ‘levitating skills’ and to have a closer look. It is a strange feeling to ‘float’ above a cruise ship…
Some people were having breakfast. Bon appetit, bon profit!
Summertime
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take to the sky
But till that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
Georges Gershwin, Porgy and Bess
Watery Wednesday 130
A Golondrina at night. Even Golondrinas need to sleep, I suppose.
This is of course for one of our very favorite weekly memes, the one and only Watery Wednesday!
Our fellow Barcelona blogger Isabel, from isasfotoblog really likes this blog! So much that she gave us an award! Here it is:
Now, we have a few days to think about who we will pass it on. Stay tuned, folks!
Watery Wednesday
A very familiar scene in the Port Vell, the old port (which is actually the new one… Don’t ask). I think the fishes actually wait for for the tourists to feed them. Hello, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov!
This, of course if for Watery Wednesday.
Skywatch Friday
… and the sky was full of jellyfishes…
The one and only Skywatch Friday! Just a CLICK away!
Happy new year!
Nice looking dragon, isn’t it? He was part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Barcelona. Happy new year to all my Chinese friends everywhere! Enjoy: it is the year of the rabbit!
The Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu…
… and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Barcelona, Yan Banghua.
More about it soon!
And a warm welcome to Z, from NYC, our 394th follower!
Post 615: Mc Merry-go-round???
…as seen near the Maremagnum shopping center, in the Port Vell.
Once again, I’m having header problems: tried to change it for a new one, but whatever I put comes out blurred. Anyone knows what’s happening?
Weekend Reflections 70
Oh look, that’s us! Let’s take a photo!
Another weekend reflection. Want more? Click here!
Experimenting some header problems. Will try to fix it ASAP. Although it might be a good idea to K.I.S.S. for a while…
Watery Wednesday 123
When the Barcelona World Race was here at the end of last year, there was this artificial pool where small and big kids could play with model replicas of the boats. These kids seem to have fun!
This is for Watery Wednesday in it’s 123rd edition. Please click here as usual to see other blogger’s photos.
And don’t forget your weekly appointment with Thursday’s Food for Thoughts!
Thursday’s Food for Thoughts, nr 5
This is our contribution to Thursday’s Food for Thoughts meme. You’re next!
Thursday’s Food for Thoughts, episode 4
I posted a couple of photos earlier about the Barcelona World Race, around the world non stop. There was a red boat in the lot, and here is it’s sponsor, La Vache qui rit, the Laughing Cow (famous french cheese). This is my contribution to Thursday’s Food for Thoughts. You’re next, please feel free to post any food related photo below, in 3 or 4 clicks. It’s very easy, try it!
Few facts about the Laughing Cow: The Laughing Cow is red and jovial, and is almost always depicted wearing earrings that look like the round boxes the cheese comes in. On April 16, 1921, Alexander Baxter trademarked his brand, called “La Vache qui rit,” in France. In the trademark, the cow is said to have a hilarious expression. Bel had made the original drawing himself, after seeing a traveling meat wagon during World War I called “La Wachkyrie,” a play on the word for Valkyrie. In the beginning she wasn’t laughing, she wasn’t red and she didn’t wear earrings. This patent was the very first branded cheese product registered in France. In 1924, Benjamin Rabier, a famous illustrator, edited the drawing into something more like the image that prevails today. The blue and white stripes around the box date from 1955. Since 1976 both earring-boxes have been shown with the top-side visible. Before that year consumers were shown a top and bottom side.
And also… Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is often jokingly referred to as ‘La Vache qui Rit’ because of his supposed resemblance to the cheese’s logo.
Watery Wednesday 120
This is for Watery Wednesday, episode 120, a very cool meme coordinated by 2sweetnsaxy. Click here…
… and for Outdoor Wednesday as well.
And of course… Click here to see the BIGGEST CAGANER IN THE WORLD EVER!!!
Barcelona World Race, part 2
Extreme sailing is a sport dominated by men, with some very notable exceptions, like Ellen MacArthur. Therefore, this is the boat I want to win, the Gaes Centros Auditivos (named after the sponsor, no names like Pen Duick anymore), the only boat crewed by 2 women, the Brit Dee Caffari and the Spanish Anna Corbella. Only 3 women amongst the 30 crew of the boats
Much more information about the crew, the boats, the race generally, can be found here.
Barcelona World Race 2010/2011
On December 31st, at 13 hours, will start one of the main events of the sailing year, the Barcelona World Race. 15 boats, 2 crew per boat, going around the world, non stop, from Barcelona to Barcelona, 25000 miles or 46300 km. It will take them over 3 months, in those incredible IMOCA Open 60 yachts.
These boats are part of an ‘open’ class. That means that the designers enjoy a level of freedom when designing, as long as the boats fit within the measurements of 60 feet (18.29 meters) in length, 4.5 meters of draught and a mast that must be no higher than 28 meters above the water. The design must also comply with a series of safety requirements that can be divided into two main groups:
Structural design regulations. These include watertight compartments and safety hatches etc.
Stability regulations. These are a series of requirements and tests performed on each boat to guarantee stability and self-righting action if the boat were to capsize.
The IMOCA Open 60s are specially designed for solo and double-handed ocean sailing. The shape of the hull and the rigging features respond to the average wind direction and swell experienced in a west-east circumnavigation of the globe. Favoring fair winds, the IMOCA Open 60s have smooth, straight hulls to plane across waves, and can reach speeds of up to 25 knots.
And here is their route:
Watery Wednesday 118
The Golondrinas, Spanish for swallows, are waiting for you!
This is for Watery Wednesday. Please click here to see more.
And don’t forget tomorrow’s new meme, Thursday’s Food for Thoughts. Any photo about food welcome, be it food itself, food places, anything goes! See ya all tomorrow!
Silver Wind
The magnificent Nasssau based MV Silver Wind moored at the World Trade Center in the Old Port of Barcelona. Just the right size, not too big, not too small.
Operator: Silverseas Cruises
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1995/2008
Length / Tonnage: 514 / 16,800
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 157 / 296
Officers / Crew: Italian / International
Operating Area: Mediterranean, Africa, Indian Ocean, Far East, Australasia, Mexico, Panama Canal, Caribbean
I wonder if she ever made it to Livorno, Italy…
Theme day: public transportation
It is theme day again. This month’s theme is public transportation.
This are the Golondrinas, spanish for swallows, leaving the old port to navigate along the beaches to Sant Adria de Besos and the Forum. Nice trip! My wish is that the municipality decides to transform what is a tourist thing into a regular public transportation. Might sound a bit silly, but think of Venice, or London’s water busses. Hey Mister Mayor Jordi Hereu, listen to me please!
Merce 2010: the enchanted city hall
During the Merce Festival, several times during the evening, the facade of the Barcelona City Hall changes quite drastically… Enjoy!
The guest city this year being Dakar, the capital of Senegal, some of the photos have a very african inspiration.
Waiting…
Still waiting to find the bargain of the century…
Watery Wednesday 100!
Some fishes in the remarquably clear waters in the Port Vell.
This is for Watery Wednesday, episode 100, yeah! Click here to see more.
After 5 weeks going through a hospital, plumbing problems, no internet, a house change, and so on, we’re finally back! Slowly though. My health is improving steadily, but there are still some bad days. At least, I sleep at night now, and not just for 2-3 hours. Sleep, what a wonderful thing!
So, we’ll be catching up with your blogs in the next couple of days, curious to see what marvels you produced lately!
W
The W Hotel, as seen from the old port.
Once again, sorry about not being able to visit your blogs at the moment, as we still don’t have internet. I still manage to spend half an hour in an internet cafe, aka here as locutorio, but that’s about it. We’ll be back ASAP, God and the IP willing!
And also a very warm welcome to the latest followers of this blog! Hope you enjoy it!
Watery Wednesday nr 96
OK. Let us assume for a moment that YOU (yes: YOU) are absolutely and utterly filthy rich (and we hope it is true). YOU obviously have several luxury super yachts all around the world, but can’t use all of them (what’s the use for a yacht in Barcelona when YOU live in the Seychelles???).
Obviously, having spent an enormous amount of money on your toy, YOU don’t want it to get dusty. So, this is the ideal solution for every yacht-owning housewife: a dust cover, duh!!!
Barcelona Daily Photo 
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