The burliest 'pines' formed the base.
The burliest 'pines' formed the base.
0 2024/12/15 17:51:17
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
Even the musicians
Even the musicians
0 2024/12/15 17:50:49
Moments before the event. Lourdes became so pissed off at folks who kept insisting on invading our 10 inches of space, that she yelled at them. Idiot tourists dragging suitcases through the impenetrable mass. Foolish local parents who brought young kids in strollers. Misguided locals who'd brought their elderly parents only to be crushed, like the octogenarian on my other side. Above: young casteler members blocked by insensitive onlookers from reaching their crew. It was uncomfortable.
Moments before the event. Lourdes became so pissed off at folks who kept insisting on invading our 10 inches of space, that she yelled at them. Idiot tourists dragging suitcases through the impenetrable mass. Foolish local parents who brought young kids in strollers. Misguided locals who'd brought their elderly parents only to be crushed, like the octogenarian on my other side. Above: young casteler members blocked by insensitive onlookers from reaching their crew. It was uncomfortable.
0 2024/12/15 17:50:19
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
Two hours before the event. The crowd still felt manageable.
Two hours before the event. The crowd still felt manageable.
0 2024/12/15 17:49:17
Catalunya sends many of its towns' Casteler teams to Barcelona. These traditional social group associations each compete on the clock to construct, then deconstruct, a human tower.
Catalunya sends many of its towns' Casteler teams to Barcelona. These traditional social group associations each compete on the clock to construct, then deconstruct, a human tower.
0 2024/12/15 17:49:00
0 2024/12/15 17:47:33
0 2024/12/15 17:47:23
0 2024/12/15 17:46:36
0 2024/12/15 17:46:20
0 2024/12/15 17:46:08
0 2024/12/15 17:45:50
0 2024/12/15 17:45:40
0 2024/12/15 17:45:10
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
The crowd grew with each passing minute. It began to rain off and on. I'd arrived 2 hours early to stake my place right by the City Hall wall, advice given to attendees: more shade and less crowd crush. Uh-huh...
The crowd grew with each passing minute. It began to rain off and on. I'd arrived 2 hours early to stake my place right by the City Hall wall, advice given to attendees: more shade and less crowd crush. Uh-huh...
0 2024/12/15 14:14:10
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
followed by his 15' wife.
followed by his 15' wife.
0 2024/12/15 14:08:23
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
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:35
Some gegants were more comical.
Some gegants were more comical.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:03
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
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 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
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
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
Mrs Z wasn't interested so I attended this event on my own. That was a blessing. She simply could not have handled the crowds (more about those later). Pretty sure that the man above was the mayor of the nearby town of Zaragoza. The outsized gegants number in the hundreds across the country and Barcelona welcomes neighboring towns to send some of their own to be part of the big parades.
Mrs Z wasn't interested so I attended this event on my own. That was a blessing. She simply could not have handled the crowds (more about those later). Pretty sure that the man above was the mayor of the nearby town of Zaragoza. The outsized gegants number in the hundreds across the country and Barcelona welcomes neighboring towns to send some of their own to be part of the big parades.
0 2024/12/15 13:35:36
0 2024/12/14 22:53:49
0 2024/12/14 22:53:41
0 2024/12/14 22:53:27
Mrs Z said that this design was her fave...
Mrs Z said that this design was her fave...
0 2024/12/14 22:53:15
...until she saw this. next, the usual suspects: the Palaua de Musica, Barri Gothic (selfie stick central) and more.
...until she saw this. next, the usual suspects: the Palaua de Musica, Barri Gothic (selfie stick central) and more.
0 2024/12/14 22:53:00
No matter what the rumors say: the cafe is OPEN.
No matter what the rumors say: the cafe is OPEN.
0 2024/12/14 22:52:44
The eccentric building is known colorfully-tiled Moorish tiles.
The eccentric building is known colorfully-tiled Moorish tiles.
0 2024/12/14 22:52:35
Casa Vicens is a World Heritage Site. Here are the mugs that we bought from the Gift Shop. The motif second-from-right was all over the building.
Casa Vicens is a World Heritage Site. Here are the mugs that we bought from the Gift Shop. The motif second-from-right was all over the building.
0 2024/12/14 22:52:19
The stylish wrought-iron fence that he designed for his rich patron Vicens. See the mug second-from-left in the next foto.
The stylish wrought-iron fence that he designed for his rich patron Vicens. See the mug second-from-left in the next foto.
0 2024/12/14 22:52:05
Color was everywhere.
Color was everywhere.
0 2024/12/14 22:51:56
Casa Vicens was all about Gaudi's initial attempt at what became the 'Modernista' movement. In his imagination, that meant flamboyant mosaics and custom fountains. The various doors, windows, mirrors, art and plants were all special in their appearance. This was no place for 'plain.' Here, the ornate tower. There were good rooftop views.
Casa Vicens was all about Gaudi's initial attempt at what became the 'Modernista' movement. In his imagination, that meant flamboyant mosaics and custom fountains. The various doors, windows, mirrors, art and plants were all special in their appearance. This was no place for 'plain.' Here, the ornate tower. There were good rooftop views.
0 2024/12/14 22:51:41
I second what Percy says about wishing those with health concerns all the Best. Those interested in Spain may want to view our new TR 'From Born to Bielsa.' Born is one of the neighborhoods where we rented in Barcelona, while Bielsa is a mountain town up in the Pyrenees. We also visited the French Pyrenees. I am done. the pyrennial travelerz
I second what Percy says about wishing those with health concerns all the Best. Those interested in Spain may want to view our new TR 'From Born to Bielsa.' Born is one of the neighborhoods where we rented in Barcelona, while Bielsa is a mountain town up in the Pyrenees. We also visited the French Pyrenees. I am done. the pyrennial travelerz
0 2024/12/14 21:54:02
Advertising | Cookie Policy | Privacy Statement | Terms of Service | Manage Preferences - Your Privacy Choices