Some This and That Around Barcelona

 I planned to post photos of doors we saw as we explored Barcelona, but decided to add some other interesting things we noticed.

building with the first geocache find

which window?

got it!

an elaborate garage door painting

ornate decoration

the door to a shop along one of the side streets

another cache find, this one in a park

tile art in the Metro station

another Metro art

graffiti? art work? 

the central sidewalk in the oldest Barcelona neighborhood

it covers an old river, thus the feel of wavy lines

more doors

public water fountains in the oldest neighborhood

an interesting shop selling only moon shot & p**p  figurines

we both love taking door and knob photos

the half door is perfect for human entrance

another public water fountain

overhead door to another side street shop

ornate doors to a small museum

no knob or handle on this door

This was my favorite geocache find in Barcelona, because of its uniqueness. It is a lamp post and public water fountain with 4 spigots. The water from the fountain is safe for drinking. There is even a spigot closer to the base for animals. We found a traditional cache and then posed for the photo for a virtual geocache. At one time (1800's) there were 18 lamp-fountains around the city. Now there are two.

Andorra in the Pyrenees

 Our morning started when we met our tour bus at 7AM in Barcelona for a 'Three Countries in One Day Tour: Spain, France & Andorra." After many days of walking cobbled streets, a bus tour sounded like a good option. Besides, there were geocaches in Andorra and the possibility of another country in our geocaching souvenirs.

not a lot of snow on these mountains

Pyrenee Mountains and the country of Andorra

Andorra la Vella is the capital city of the small European country. It is the highest European capital at 3,356 ' above sea level. The country has a population of about 79,000 and is known for skiing and banking as it is a tax free country. Tourism is its main industry, bringing about 8 million visitors a year.

Enrique, our tour guide started our walking (what??? more walking!!!) tour in the historic part of the city. Andorra has been recognized as a country since 1278.

Casa de la Vall

Casa de la Vall built in 1508 as an ancestral home and defensive tower for the Busquets family, and was ultimately acquired by the then Consell de la Terra in 1702 to become the permanent headquarters of the Consell General or parliament of Andorra. ~ Visit Andorra

decor on the windows at the lower level

The Casa de la Vall was in use until the year 2011. The same plaza is home to the new Andorran Parliament building with 28 seats representing all Andorran men and women. ~ Visit Andorra

7 Poetes

Jaume Plensa 2013 ode to the 7 parishes of Andorra

At dusk the thinkers in the sculpture come to life, lighting up with thousands of colors and giving you a spectacular tableau of the city centre. ~ Visit Andorra

They are also supposed to be a symbol of peace in the bustling city. They sit in Buddha-like reflection on individual high poles overlooking a busy roundabout and with a view of what feels like the whole of Andorra. ~ Inverted Sheep

the Andorran flag

Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality with the bishop of Urgell (Spain) and the president of France as co-princes. The prime minister is the chief executive. ~ Wikipedia

Our bus group following Enrique through the historic part of the city.

Angel on a Trapeze

The sculpture is a figure of an angel, made of steel plates and cast iron, and placed in a black niche. The angel maneuvers on a circus trapeze, trying to find a balance. Created by Fernando de Blasi in 2009.

Sant Esteve Church is a Romanesque and partially Gothic church built in the 12th century and modified in the 20th century.

part of the 1940 restoration

OFD snuck back for a quick peak inside and a photo.

This cropped photo gives a glimpse of the two Baroque altarpieces from the 12th century and the Two Souls painting from the 18th century.

the rest of Sant Esteve we did not see from our walk on the street

(photo from Visit Andorra)

As we got closer to the city center there were signs of Christmas, modern buildings, and shopping.

flowered bear on skis, metal art work

more metal art work, bicycles

The Nobility of Time

Catalan sculptor, Salvador Dali, cast this bronze statue in 1984. It visited numerous cities before it was donated to Andorra le Velle and found a permanent home in Placa de la Rotunda, where the old city meets the new city. 

In addition to the melting clock, the statue features several other figures. The clock is mounted on a mighty tree, whose roots penetrate a platform of brick. This theme of decay and renewal is ever-present in Dalí’s work. An angel sits to one side, lost deep in thought, or perhaps in mourning. On the other side, a woman stands up from a bath, looking brightly ahead to the new day. This juxtaposition of uncertainty and courage gives the sculpture a more palpable meaning. ~ Atlas Obscure

Pont de Paris Bridge completed in 2005 over the Valira River

another Andorra le Velle landmark

We walked along the Gran Valira back to the bus and our starting point for the tour of Andorra le Vella, population about 23,000.

sculptures in Parc Central

It was definitely time for lunch, a late lunch after the tour, souvenir shopping and geocaching. Once again, we chose pizza. It was very good. 

country #23

a farmer working a field in Andorra

The Flamenco & Tapas at Tablao de Carmen

Another of OFD's must do while in Barcelona was to attend a Flamenco show. Her research found Tablao de Carmen in the area of Montjuic Park where I hosted a geocaching event in Barcelona. (The park is huge with so much to see and do, and we explored only a fraction.)

tip poster in the hotel elevator

entrance to the Poble Espanyol (Spanish Town) and the Flamenco Tablao de Carmen

The Tablao de Carmen is located in one of the most picturesque streets of the Andalusian quarter of the historic Poble Espanyol, which includes 117 shops, bars, restaurants, and a museum.

A venue that combined the architectural and cultural essence of Spain so as to impress visitors to the 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition. 

our Tapas menu (dinner was also an option)

L to R: meat and spinach croquette, bun/bread, Bomba de carne con ali oli (deep fried potato ball with minced meat filling and a touch of garlic mayonnaise), cured manchego cheese with olive oil and twisted  bread sticks, Russian salad (boiled diced vegetables with tuna dressed with mayonnaise), and not certain of the half eaten item in the center. Hubby and OFD ate all the Gordol olives before the Tapas arrived.

Potatoes bravas (fried diced potato with our homemade spicy sauce)

Andalusian-style marinated chicken

our dessert Créme Brûlée was served during an intermission

two chanters/singers/clappers and two guitarists

“Tablao” describes the public place where you can see flamenco dancing, and comes from the word “tabla”, the material that the stage is made of and that allows for the perfect sound for the clicking of the dancers’ boots.

the first dancer

1. Flamenco is a 200-year-old art form but has roots from over 2,000 years ago; it continues to evolve today. In flamenco performances, the female dancers customarily wear an elaborate red or black ruffled dress which helps accentuate their movements.

clappers when not dancing

1. In flamenco, clapping is considered an instrument in its own right. Singing is often vowels, not words.

second dancer

1. Flamenco is a mix of Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic, and above all Gypsy cultures. It also has Afro-Hispanic influences.

third dancer

Flamenco is a difficult form of art which transmits passion in each of its three components: song, dance and music. It is also a living art which represents a way of perceiving and interpreting life.

I wasn't certain if the dancer determined the tempo of the music or if the tempo was determined by the guitars and the clapping, which the dancer followed. Each dance had a section of faster tempo.

fourth dancer

After her dance, two children (of the performers) ages two and six, came on the stage and did some dancing.

decorated for Christmas

overhead lighted garland 

lighted Christmas gifts

Woo Hoo! The Umbrella Street

white, red and green umbrellas

THIS made the night for me!