Balcony
Rustic balcony of a rural house in the village of Rupit
Balcony detail
Rupit is a municipality in the comarca of Osona (Barcelona province) in Catalonia.
If traditional rainfed agriculture (cereals, legumes, potatoes, corn and fodder) and livestock (cattle and pigs) were the foundations of the economy, today tourism, attracted by the quaintness of the town, is the main source rich with a multitude of shops and restaurants that host numerous visitors and summer weekend.
Rupit. Catalonia
Bullfight in Seville
Bullfight in a farmhouse near Seville captured in April during festivals in the city. Naturally, I tried not to get too close. Each of these animals weights more than 500 kilograms (half a ton) and this day they do not seem very friendly …
As can be seen the fight get up enough dust …
The Spanish Fighting Bull (Toro Bravo) is an Iberian heterogeneous cattle population. It is primarily bred free-range on extensive estates in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries where bull fighting is organized. Fighting bulls are selected primarily for a certain combination of aggression, energy, strength, and stamina.
As I said in another post I do not like bullfighting, fortunately prohibited by popular demand in Catalonia.
More info about the Spanish Fighting Bull in Wikipedia
Post for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Motion
Louvre Pyramid
The Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre) is a large glass and metal pyramid, surrounded by three smaller pyramids, in the main courtyard (Cour Napoléon) of the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) in Paris. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. Completed in 1989, it has become a landmark of the city of Paris.
Commissioned by the President of France François Mitterrand in 1984, it was designed by the architect I. M. Pei. The structure, which was constructed entirely with glass segments, reaches a height of 21.6 metres (about 71 feet); its square base has sides of 35 metres (115 ft). It consists of 603 rhombus-shaped and 70 triangular glass segments.
The pyramid structure was engineered by Nicolet Chartrand Knoll Ltd. of Montreal (Pyramid structure / Design Consultant) and Rice Francis Ritchie (also known as RFR) of Paris (Pyramid Structure / Construction Phase).
The pyramid and the underground lobby beneath it were created because of a series of problems with the Louvre’s original main entrance, which could no longer handle the enormous number of visitors on an everyday basis. Visitors entering through the pyramid descend into the spacious lobby then re-ascend into the main Louvre buildings
Louvre Pyramid
The construction of the pyramid triggered a considerable amount of controversy because many people felt that the futuristic edifice looked quite out of place in front of the Louvre Museum with its classical architecture. Certain detractors ascribed a “Pharaonic complex” to Mitterrand. Others lauded the juxtaposition of contrasting architectural styles as a successful merger of the old and the new, the classical and the ultra-modern.
The main pyramid is actually the largest of several glass pyramids that were constructed near the museum, including the downward-pointing La Pyramide Inversée that functions as a skylight in an underground shopping complex in front of the museum. During the design phase, there was a proposal that the design include a spire on the pyramid to simplify window washing. This proposal was eliminated because of objections from I. M. Pei.
More in Wikipedia
Roses
La Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day), also known as El Dia de la Rosa (The Day of the Rose) or El Dia del Llibre (The Day of the Book) is a Catalan holiday held on 23 April, with similarities to Valentine’s Day and some unique twists that reflect the antiquity of the celebrations. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts, loved ones and colleagues. Historically, men gave women roses, and women gave men a book to celebrate the occasion — “a rose for love and a book forever.” In modern times, the mutual exchange of books is also customary. Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition originating in 1923, when a bookseller started to promote the holiday as a way to commemorate the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantes and William Shakespeare on 23 April 1616. Barcelona is the publishing capital of both Catalan and Spanish languages and the combination of love and literacy was quickly adopted.
La Rambla. St. George’s Day
In Barcelona’s most visited street, La Rambla, and all over Catalonia, thousands of stands of roses and makeshift bookstalls are set up for the occasion. By the end of the day, some four million roses and 800,000 books will have been purchased. Most women will carry a rose in hand, and half of the total yearly book sales in Catalonia take place on this occasion.
Roses
Books. St. George’s Day
The sardana, the national dance of Catalonia, is performed throughout the day in the Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona. Many book stores and cafes host readings by authors (including 24-hour marathon readings of different classics of Catalan literature or Spanish literature). Street performers and musicians in public squares add to the day’s atmosphere.
Bookstore. La Rambla. St. George’s Day
Bookstore. La Rambla. St. George’s Day
Women with her Rose
23 April is also one of only three days a year when the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona’s principal government building, is open to the public. The interior is decorated with roses to honour Saint George.
Bringing the rose to his girl
A girl with her rose
A bookseller advising customers
23 April is also one of only three days a year when the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona’s principal government building, is open to the public. The interior is decorated with roses to honour Saint George.
More info: Wikipedia
Rose
Mallard duck
Mallard duck
Mallard duck
The mallard or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands and South Africa. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae.
These ones have been seen in a little town in Catalonia.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks
More info: Wikipedia
Tricycle
This afternoon, walking around my city I have come across this tricycle used to carry passengers on a for hire basis. It is an ecological system to explore the city. I thought it would be good idea to share.
This is the Second Post of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge.
Tricycle
A tricycle, often abbreviated to trike, is a three-wheeled passenger vehicle, usually carrying a single rider.
Human-powered trikes are powered by pedals or hand cranks. There are also motorized tricycles.
In the developing world, particularly Africa and Asia, tricycles tend to be used for commercial purposes: such as “pedicabs” for transport passengers, and freight trikes for making deliveries. In the West adult-sized tricycles are used primarily for recreation, shopping, and exercise.
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, beca, becak, trisikad, or trishaw.
As opposed to rickshaws pulled by a person on foot, cycle rickshaws are human-powered by pedaling. Another type of rickshaw is the auto rickshaw.
They are a type of tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for hire basis. Cycle rickshaws are widely used in major cities around the world, but most commonly in cities of South, Southeast and East Asia.
More info: Wikipedia
Tricycle
Penguin
Penguin Humboldt
Penguin Humboldt
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds, that is, they have lost the ability to fly but have adapted to marine life thanks to their dense plumage and fin-like wings, which make them fantastic swimmers. They feed on fish, crustaceans and squid.
Penguin Humboldt
Penguin
Penguins
All the species live in the southern hemisphere and are characteristic sight in the cold Antarctic regions, although the Humboldt penguin lives further north on the coasts of Chile and Peru, in the area of the Humboldt current. The Humboldt Current is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru.
More info in Wikipedia.
Penguin swimming
The Penguin
I am a bird you know quite well,
All dressed in black and white.
And even though I do have wings
They’re not designed for flight.
I waddle, waddle, waddle,
On my funny little feet.
Across the icy snow I go
To find a fishy treat!
Penguin swimming
Penguin
I know a bird
That cannot fly:
Penguin is its name.
It cannot fly,
But it can swim
With speed that wins it fame!
I know a bird
That lives on ice
And waddles by the sea.
It looks so cute
In its black-and-white suit,
As handsome as can be!
Penguin
First Post of the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge, invited by my friend Berryduchess from berryduchess.com. As I said her, I’m not good at writing but I’ll make an effort to not detract her confidence.
Sorry for my english, I’m neither good at it.
Poems for kids from teachingfirst.net
Penguin
Penguin
Bird
Bird
Birds of sunfall
Birds of sunfall passing in my eyes
Far off in the patterns of storm clouds,
How I wish to freeze you in my thoughts
And paint my poem on skies of yours.
Birds of sunfall singing your song
Pouring o’er hues at the trees of fall,
How I wish to flutter with you beside
And douse my wings at silent shores…
by Dinesh
Sunset
PHOTO CHALLENGE Blur
This biker appeared before me yesterday afternoon and decided to shot photograph for this photo challenge.
Castelldefels beach. Kite-surf
Playing sports on the Castelldefels beach at 20 km from Barcelona in Catalonia. Young sporters doing Kite Surf.
Images edited with Adobe Lightroom 5 and OnOne software.
Castelldefels beach. Kite-surf
Castelldefels beach. Kite-surf
Castelldefels beach. Kite-surf
Vulture
This is the largest bird of prey found and the most common carrion-eater in the woods of the Mediterranean area. Unlike other species of vulture, it does not nest in cliffs but in the tops of trees.
It ranges from the centre and south-east of the Iberian peninsula, Mallorca, to eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Near threatened specie.
Vulture
bCL Photography 