Category: Photography

Santa Maria Del Mar

Posted on Posted in Photography, TravelTagged , , , 15 Comments

Barcelona’s Cathedral of the sea, isn’t actually a Cathedral at all, but a beautiful 14th century Gothic church. It was on my list of places to see in Barcelona this time, but on no particular day. In the event, we stumbled upon it by accident while wandering around El Born and La Ribera areas. In case you want to find it, it’s at the end of the street where you’ll find the Picasso museum, heading towards the sea.

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The exterior of the church is a little dull, squeezed as it is in the narrow streets of the Ribera, and once you climb to the rooftop, you’ll see just how densely built the area is. You can enter the church without any cost at certain times of the day, but we were happy to pay our 8 euros for a tour of the rooftops. A tour was about to begin, so we had little time to consider the impact on our knees of climbing 140 steps!

Narrow street from 70 steps
Exterior of the rose wndow
After 70 steps
The view after the first 70 steps

There’s another chance to draw breathe after 60 more steps, then just 10 and you’re on the roof.

The bells, the bells
The phallic shape in the distance to the right is Tour Agbar
The densely built old city
The Cathedral to the left and Tour Collasera on the skyline
The ever present towers of Sagrada Familiai in the centre if you look closely

The church of Our Lady of the Sea was well worth the visit, I’m so glad we stumbled upon it. I believe that if your timing is good, you may get to hear musical rehearsals. It’s known as the people’s church, and because of it’s beauty, it’s also one of the most popular for weddings. I hope you enjoyed sharing my visit.

 

The Details on Guell

Posted on Posted in Art and Design, Photography, TravelTagged , , , 14 Comments

I went to Park Guell last year, but my friend didn’t so that was a great excuse to go again! But I won’t bore you with more of the same, instead, I’ve created a gallery of some of the smaller details, the Trencadis mosaics.

It’s commonly believed that Gaudi, Park Guell’s architect, invented the Trencadis modernist style, but it’s more likely that it originated in the ancient Arab world. I’ve tried mosaic work, just making a house number. The result was pretty good, but it was very hard on my hands, and I wouldn’t want to do it again. I can’t imagine the number of hours it must have taken to create Park Guell.

Through the surf darkly

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, PoetryTagged , , , 14 Comments

I went to the coast today, this is what I saw

and this is what I was inspired to write.

They stand tense in the knowledge

that feet giving way

would trap twist betray

one distracting sound that might pierce

the rage of ocean on rock

to knock them like dominoes.

each yearn to go further

to be the brave stepper

cheering risk taking surfers

while surreptitiously wondering

would the sea turn red

if instead of a wave

a skull breaks on the strand

 

His Master’s Voice

Posted on Posted in Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge: BreakfastTagged , , , 9 Comments

There’s a whole industry built around the current passion for anything vintage. It seems that even young people like to wear clothes from their grandparents era and even earlier. I went to a vintage fair a couple of years ago with a friend who is very keen. personally I like to look but wouldn’t want to own or wear anything from the past. i did see some interesting things though, this was one of my favourites.

His Master's Voice
His Master’s Voice

Are you a vintage fan? If yo have photos you can join this weeks photo challenge at The Daily Post.

A Few More Pretty Things

Posted on Posted in Craft, PhotographyTagged , , 8 Comments

Yesterday, for my LPTH I posted a photo of some wicker garden decorations. Several people wondered about their size and purpose, so I thought I should show you some more.

These fish are about a foot long and on stems of perhaps three foot. Aren’t they adorable? They’d look great beside a pond. Yesterdays mystical birds are taller, on stems of six foot, to sway gently in the breeze. in a tall border perhaps. Which do you prefer?

Santa Eulalia’s Geese

Posted on Posted in Photography, TravelTagged , , , 11 Comments

The day we arrived in Barcelona we were shattered, but determined to hit the streets after a bit of a snooze. Wanting to get out of the Ramblas as soon as possible, seeing a sign for the cathedral seemed a good idea. The Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia as it’s called in Catalan, was on the must see list.

We soon became distracted by the sights and sounds of the city, but knew we must be heading in the right direction, and once cooled by an ice cream we soon found it.

 But it had just closed, so we had to wait half an hour, which we spent people watching on the steps.

Eventually we were allowed in, to admire the Gothic vaults built between the 13th and 15th centuries.

bac4Remembering to look in all directions.

bac5The Cathedral, which is the seat of the bishop of Barcelona, is known for its rather unusual cloisters and I have to confess that was what particularly drew me. There’s an odd looking fountain, but in the background . . .

Yes, geese, thirteen of them, representing the age of Santa Eulalia when she was martyred in Roman times.

Despite the crowds, the cloister was an extraordinary peaceful place, and it warranted more time than our tiredness would allow. Maybe next time.

bac9In the absence of any food, I think she would have been happy to chat.

I’m leaving you with this beautiful Madonna and Child, there was something about her that touched me, I hope you can see it too.