Prior to the event, the crowds continued to swell. I was expecting this. The local woman squashed beside me was friendly Lourdes, who'd lived all over the globe with her husband and children. She became my guide to what was unfolding. We were pinned against the steel barrier fence erected by the medical emergency team close to the wall.
Prior to the event, the crowds continued to swell. I was expecting this. The local woman squashed beside me was friendly Lourdes, who'd lived all over the globe with her husband and children. She became my guide to what was unfolding. We were pinned against the steel barrier fence erected by the medical emergency team close to the wall.
0 2024/12/15 17:49:30
The middle lifters are known as 'manilles'. Spotters also took their places to watch for signs of falls and collapse. It happens.
The middle lifters are known as 'manilles'. Spotters also took their places to watch for signs of falls and collapse. It happens.
0 2024/12/15 17:51:33
Note the child climbing on the lower left. Crowd update: at this point, if you had a full bladder, then you were out-of-luck. Ditto if it'd been a sunny day and you'd not brought a hat. An uneasy feeling was taking over those of us who were being crushed into the fence by the ever-thickening throng. I've attended concerts by Led Zeppelin and also Pink Floyd where attendance exceeded over 80,000. But in placa Jaume (JOW-may) on this day, there was no escape.
Note the child climbing on the lower left. Crowd update: at this point, if you had a full bladder, then you were out-of-luck. Ditto if it'd been a sunny day and you'd not brought a hat. An uneasy feeling was taking over those of us who were being crushed into the fence by the ever-thickening throng. I've attended concerts by Led Zeppelin and also Pink Floyd where attendance exceeded over 80,000. But in placa Jaume (JOW-may) on this day, there was no escape.
0 2024/12/15 17:52:02
I threw in this image coz it chronologically features a nearly-complete tower. This was actually part of the opening act on a side stage, a series of visiting 'falcones'. These were youth groups guests from out of town whose 'wing' formations were wider and less tall than the casteler versions. Both kinds of human towers sought to place a child atop their team.
I threw in this image coz it chronologically features a nearly-complete tower. This was actually part of the opening act on a side stage, a series of visiting 'falcones'. These were youth groups guests from out of town whose 'wing' formations were wider and less tall than the casteler versions. Both kinds of human towers sought to place a child atop their team.
0 2024/12/15 17:52:12
Were these two brother and sister?
Were these two brother and sister?
0 2024/12/15 17:52:27
All-too handsome Jesus was our second property manager at Gracia's Aspasios apartments.
All-too handsome Jesus was our second property manager at Gracia's Aspasios apartments.
0 2024/12/17 11:25:11
Barcelona is an art-led city. Above was the ingenious 5' tall male arm art installation located at the entry to one of the city's historic churches.. Realistic right down to the hairs!
Barcelona is an art-led city. Above was the ingenious 5' tall male arm art installation located at the entry to one of the city's historic churches.. Realistic right down to the hairs!
0 2024/12/14 13:38:11
A trick shot from the Barceloneta neighborhood.
A trick shot from the Barceloneta neighborhood.
0 2024/12/14 14:19:32
Nimrod, who along with his wife Lilith were the original figures that til recently guarded the Correfoc's Porta de l'Infirm (gate of hell), the point through which all the diables and diablesses ran through to start the whole zany affair. Lilith wazzam (was & still is) a giant green 'vibria' (viper). She carries a trident and wears a brazen bodice. She and hubbie were recently retired for fear of folks stealing them. 'MENYSTIGUT LA PORTA HA DESAPAREGUT' (the door is gone) read a protesting sign.
Nimrod, who along with his wife Lilith were the original figures that til recently guarded the Correfoc's Porta de l'Infirm (gate of hell), the point through which all the diables and diablesses ran through to start the whole zany affair. Lilith wazzam (was & still is) a giant green 'vibria' (viper). She carries a trident and wears a brazen bodice. She and hubbie were recently retired for fear of folks stealing them. 'MENYSTIGUT LA PORTA HA DESAPAREGUT' (the door is gone) read a protesting sign.
0 2024/12/14 20:13:14
A designated adult or two was in charge of lighting each kids firecrackers, then the kids were sent on their merry way to parade and carry on.
A designated adult or two was in charge of lighting each kids firecrackers, then the kids were sent on their merry way to parade and carry on.
0 2024/12/14 20:32:57
0 2024/12/14 22:53:49
Here is one such adult, sober as they should be.
Here is one such adult, sober as they should be.
0 2024/12/14 20:33:08
Kids line up behind another adult in charge of lighting the various contraptions that carried fireworks. Those contraptions included vertical spark launchers ('francesos') and also spinning wheels on long poles ('carretilles').
Kids line up behind another adult in charge of lighting the various contraptions that carried fireworks. Those contraptions included vertical spark launchers ('francesos') and also spinning wheels on long poles ('carretilles').
0 2024/12/14 20:33:24
Some folks wisely brought goggles plus long-sleeved clothing to protect against errant sparks. I saw a number of participants plus tourists who were seemingly unaware of live sparks that had fallen onto their clothing.
Some folks wisely brought goggles plus long-sleeved clothing to protect against errant sparks. I saw a number of participants plus tourists who were seemingly unaware of live sparks that had fallen onto their clothing.
0 2024/12/14 20:33:40
There were some coordinated gestures, while other participants favored solo prancing about. Many approached tourist watchers with mock-charges and playful 'threats.'
There were some coordinated gestures, while other participants favored solo prancing about. Many approached tourist watchers with mock-charges and playful 'threats.'
0 2024/12/14 20:33:51
Check out the boy's facial expression.
Check out the boy's facial expression.
0 2024/12/14 20:34:00
Things were ramping up. Some tourists acted with control. Others seemed to forget social norms. A Chinese tourist family stood right in front of me, like I was somehow invisible (long groan). Their 20-ish entitled daughter tried to move me off my spot with a nudge. I ignored her, planted my feet and maintained my position.
Things were ramping up. Some tourists acted with control. Others seemed to forget social norms. A Chinese tourist family stood right in front of me, like I was somehow invisible (long groan). Their 20-ish entitled daughter tried to move me off my spot with a nudge. I ignored her, planted my feet and maintained my position.
0 2024/12/14 20:34:15
Some locals protested The Americas Cup.
Some locals protested The Americas Cup.
0 2024/12/14 13:20:30
As with other festive events, banners representing barrios (or in this case another town) were part of the show. The gegants that they lead about represent various historical figures.
As with other festive events, banners representing barrios (or in this case another town) were part of the show. The gegants that they lead about represent various historical figures.
0 2024/12/15 13:35:47
Gegants are lovingly created with paper machier and fiberglass. They can reach as high as 5 meters. The robust individuals who volunteer to go inside them and carry them around are always covered in sweat afterwards. The towering King above was from Zaragoza, a town whose name I could not begin to properly pronounce, nothing like its phonetic appearance! The guy inside this gegant was actually a young keyboardist named Andrieu. We had a long chat during a break.
Gegants are lovingly created with paper machier and fiberglass. They can reach as high as 5 meters. The robust individuals who volunteer to go inside them and carry them around are always covered in sweat afterwards. The towering King above was from Zaragoza, a town whose name I could not begin to properly pronounce, nothing like its phonetic appearance! The guy inside this gegant was actually a young keyboardist named Andrieu. We had a long chat during a break.
0 2024/12/15 13:41:01
The angry 18C painter Francisco Goya next to a character called Giganticus or somesuch. This pair were also from Zaragoza and like all other gegants would do a twirling dance to historical music during the various downtown parades. If the parade took them along medieval alleys here, it would be called a 'toc a plagar'. Btw, Goya's wife trailed behind.
The angry 18C painter Francisco Goya next to a character called Giganticus or somesuch. This pair were also from Zaragoza and like all other gegants would do a twirling dance to historical music during the various downtown parades. If the parade took them along medieval alleys here, it would be called a 'toc a plagar'. Btw, Goya's wife trailed behind.
0 2024/12/15 13:41:26
The Rioja town of Calahorra sent this historical trio: a noblewoman, a bearded Moorish Sultan and a Roman woman.
The Rioja town of Calahorra sent this historical trio: a noblewoman, a bearded Moorish Sultan and a Roman woman.
0 2024/12/15 14:03:51
The King and Queen? Am I right, Enric? Maribel?
The King and Queen? Am I right, Enric? Maribel?
0 2024/12/15 14:06:09
Some gegants were more comical.
Some gegants were more comical.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:03
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:35
Spain's Jewish heritage was represented. First the husband...
Spain's Jewish heritage was represented. First the husband...
0 2024/12/15 14:08:13
followed by his 15' wife.
followed by his 15' wife.
0 2024/12/15 14:08:23
There were many other traditional figures, African kings, Asian lords, humble fishermen, knights to name but a few. Children especially appreciated the smaller and more nimble 'capgrossos' or 'macers' (fat-heads). Those were cartoonish and comical alternatives to the much larger gegant collection.
There were many other traditional figures, African kings, Asian lords, humble fishermen, knights to name but a few. Children especially appreciated the smaller and more nimble 'capgrossos' or 'macers' (fat-heads). Those were cartoonish and comical alternatives to the much larger gegant collection.
0 2024/12/15 14:09:45
Live musicians abounded. Next: the other half of this day - the famed Casteler human towerss.
Live musicians abounded. Next: the other half of this day - the famed Casteler human towerss.
0 2024/12/15 14:14:23
0 2024/12/15 17:45:10
There was a bit of brouhaha with some locals protesting the ongoing effect that tourism has on housing costs and quality of life. Beyond the odd bit of graffiti and a few banners, we experienced exactly zero hassles in that regard. Some locals protested The Americas Cup.
There was a bit of brouhaha with some locals protesting the ongoing effect that tourism has on housing costs and quality of life. Beyond the odd bit of graffiti and a few banners, we experienced exactly zero hassles in that regard. Some locals protested The Americas Cup.
0 2024/12/14 13:17:52
The location was Passeig de Gracia between Rossello and the Catalunya metro stop.
The location was Passeig de Gracia between Rossello and the Catalunya metro stop.
0 2024/12/14 20:34:52
These kids will never forget the moment. We see them at recess the following day. Sister: "AND THEN THE DRAGON BEAST SHOT SPARK FIRE AT RAIMUNDO AND EVERYTHING! HE STARTED CRYING!" Brother Raimundo: "LIAR! I DID NOT!!!'
These kids will never forget the moment. We see them at recess the following day. Sister: "AND THEN THE DRAGON BEAST SHOT SPARK FIRE AT RAIMUNDO AND EVERYTHING! HE STARTED CRYING!" Brother Raimundo: "LIAR! I DID NOT!!!'
0 2024/12/14 20:35:18
By this point, you could tell that everyone was anticipating the REAL adult Correfoc.
By this point, you could tell that everyone was anticipating the REAL adult Correfoc.
0 2024/12/14 20:35:49
The end of the kids correfoc. It began to rain. A cold rain not conducive to people with illness.
The end of the kids correfoc. It began to rain. A cold rain not conducive to people with illness.
0 2024/12/14 20:35:59
This figure was much taller than a basketball player. Dig the claws. Next: *The Adult Correfoc, one of Barcelona's Great Travel Moments. We recommend that you wear eye goggles and like that.
This figure was much taller than a basketball player. Dig the claws. Next: *The Adult Correfoc, one of Barcelona's Great Travel Moments. We recommend that you wear eye goggles and like that.
0 2024/12/14 20:36:10
First, an overview.
First, an overview.
0 2024/12/14 13:14:43
Even the musicians
Even the musicians
0 2024/12/15 17:50:49
Here we go! Captains encouraged their teams with this ritual of grasping hands in a huddle.
Here we go! Captains encouraged their teams with this ritual of grasping hands in a huddle.
0 2024/12/15 17:51:02
The burliest 'pines' formed the base.
The burliest 'pines' formed the base.
0 2024/12/15 17:51:17
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