Estrella Damm
FC Barcelona, Gaudí, Picasso and Estrella Damm are the four legs upon which Barcelona was built.
There is no better way to relax than to sit back with an Estrella Damm or Voll Damm in a square in Barcelona. I'd suggest Plaça del Rei or Plaça del Sol — the tourist books and pickpockets can keep the world-famous Plaça Reial.
This photograph was captured with a teeny-tiny Canon IXUS.
From Barcelona to the Bahamas
I was surprised to find that the gardens surrounding the marina on Paradise Island were clearly inspired by Barcelona's most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. Not exactly the first thing you'd expect to find while walking through a high-end outdoor mall in the shadow of the ultra-modern Atlantis Resort.
In hindsight, it makes a lot of sense, though. Gaudí's unique style was heavily inspired by the ocean and to say everything he did was way over the top would be the understatement of the century. Sounds like a certain pink hotel that can be seen peaking out from the back of the Gaudí-inspired mosaic in this photograph.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men
These doves can be found high atop La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The sheer vision of Gaudí in his design of La Sagrada Familia is as immense as the structure itself, with small details like these hundreds of feet up in the air.
May this holiday season bring you peace and goodwill to all.
Catalonia is not Spain
With the vote yesterday by the Catalonia Regional Assembly in favor of a resolution to split from Spain I was reminded of this photograph that I took more than a decade ago in Barcelona. This screen-printed sign was posted above the stairs going down to the Metro at the appropriately named Plaça de Catalunya. I found it fitting that a moth was perched on top of the "A" waiting to take flight.
Catalan nationalism was codified in 1892 but traces its roots back to the 1600s. The modern day struggle for independence began to gain steam with the fall of the Franco regime in 1975.
Whether you consider this a movement of independence or one of separatism — or both — I hope you keep the people of Catalunya and Spain in your mind and prayers. Economically, Southern Europe doesn't need any more strain as it recovers from the last downturn. Unfortunately, this movement — or at least the reaction to it — is likely to be seen through an economic lens rather than a cultural one. Let's hope it comes to a peaceful resolution, regardless of the outcome.
If you haven't heard of this movement before or would like to learn more, check out these articles:
Always Watching
Barcelona has some of the world's greatest architecture and advertising. And food. And beaches. And people... Let's just say it's a great city! This owl reminds me of the billboard for "Oculist" Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby... but a lot more friendly!