More Barcelona–La Rambla

One of the areas in Barcleona is known as the Rambla. There is a wide walking promenade that stretches for several city blocks and ends near the Mediterranean Sea. The promenade is like one long street fair and very tourist-y. (But…sometimes it’s fun do the touristy thing.) Many flower vendors, sidewalk artists, musicians, trinket shops, performers crowd the edges (and it is also quite populated with pickpockets!) We wandered this area a few times during our trip, and we so enjoyed watching the street performers—or the moving statues. Each had their own spot on the sidewalk and an oddly unique artistic theme. They stood completely still until a coin was dropped into their jar, and then they jumped to life. We were told that many of these young performers were art/design students hoping to make a little extra income. It was all performed very much in the spirit of fun.

This dark angel was quite silent, mysterious and beautifully painted.

We often never knew whether this character was standing on his feet or walking on his hands. Children were especially delighted by this fellow.

I didn’t get great photos of this, but it was the cause of great hilarity. An old fashioned baby carriage held a large doll body who’s arms and legs were worked underneath like a puppet, but had the head of a living grown man—bearded no less! When a coin was placed in the jar, the “baby” threw a fit—kicking his feet and waving his arms and howling at the top of his lungs. Then the dolls thumb would go into the “baby’s” mouth and he would calm down—twitching a little from subsiding sobs and on-coming sleep. It was so remarkably silly—the crowd put in coin after coin.

And then there was THIS guy….

This performer was actually standing perfectly still. His clothing and tie were wired to make him look like he was walking in a gale force wind. A coin would make him struggle in the “wind” and papers fly from his briefcase.

We spent many Euros on this beautiful, enigmatic “sea creature”, who moved a crystal glass ball in a dance over his arms and hands. The ball looked as though it was floating in air as it flowed through his graceful movements. After a while he would come to a gentle stop–the ball balancing on the crook of his elbow—or impossibly on the tip of his finger, and then would not move until another coin was given. He was a Cirque deSoleil quality performer with a constant crowd watching silently and respectfully. His income in just one day must have been extraordinary. We would search him out and stand enthralled every time we found him.

The ancient narrow streets and neighborhoods on either side of the Rambla were filled with wonderful shops and restaurants. We were content to wander for hours and then sit in the squares and people-watch. I loved the fashions of the young people and wished I had hundreds of Euros to spend on whimsical clothing for my crew of costume girls. My book journal is filled with sketches from those watchings and wanderings. The men and women of Barcelona are stunningly beautiful people as a whole and it was hard not to just gape at times!

I’ll keep chipping away at these recollections of Barcelona when I can—but suddenly April has turned into a really crazy month!

:)xo

Adagio