Mindless Game

If he had only written a list, he wouldn't have forgotten the most important "to-do" item.

Oh, the games we play as we get older, to master memory.

A Room Where it Always Rains (Una habitación donde siempre llueve)

I was shocked. Somehow, someway, I missed this area of the city. It's called la Barceloneta. In the Barceloneta is an area called la plaça del Mar. At del Mar you will see the sculptor called "A Room Where it Always Rains" by Juan Muñoz.

 The figurines are tall ... close to 5 feet. The statue's faces are haunting. 

The statues are in a "room" where the "walls" are slats of iron.

FYI, behind me was the playa de port vell. If you like sun, fun, water, great food and affordable convenient stores, then be sure to consider this area.

I will!

No Title

I love this photo and yet I'm at a loss to know what to title.

Originally, I had "Is that all there is", but the phrase kept replaying in my head like a golden oldie.

So, I surrender. If any of you can help me with naming the photo, I'd be so happy.

Too much of a stretch, even for a ballerina

What's the ballerina doing here?!

Is she the odd man out?

A ballerina helps a hip-hop group perform warm-up exercises.

The crowd is delighted. 

Sitting on a bench with my friends, yet I feel alone

Hmm ... don't you just hate the devices, where everyone gathers to look at "something" and someone is left out for ... you fill in any reason.

A real puzzler

When I first saw him, I was puzzled and wondered why he was sitting on the steps of the Maremagnum.

After all, he's in Barcelona, and when in Barcelona you walk, eat, shop, rest, and then start again until you drop from exhaustion.

But he was alone, and I liked his ruggedness, quiet demeanor, intense concentration and I wanted to take a photo for its perspective and composition.

For a few minutes, look before zooming in on the photo. Can you figure out what he's working on?

Did you guess Sudoku?! I would have never guessed.

A name so nice, they used it twice

TapaTapa is nestled at the very opposite end of the Maremagnum entrance.

After a busy day of walking, talking and shopping,  I suggest you take a break for a tapa at the TapaTapa -- a name so nice, they used it twice.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with just about any restaurant in Barcelona, for their taste will delight you with sinful pleasure.

And look: TapaTapa is located right by the water;  if you got any closer, you'd be in the Mediterranean Sea! How's that for a view?

You'll experience real life. Way better than watching TV.

Yo soy la jefa (I am the boss)

When I first saw the poster sponsored by Toulose Business School, I felt pleased that this woman looked in control of her business future and empowered. I thought the poster to be strong.

But then I began to question the words.

The poster reads: Durante los proximos 3 anos, y so la jefa.

Translation: During the next 3 years ... I am the boss.

And then what?

I feel it should have read: AFTER the next 3 years, (for the rest of my working life),  I will be the boss.

How would you have written words?

Or is it ok the way it is?

Or am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

Marato Barcelona - 2015

Runners participating in the Zurich Barcelona Marathon.

The run is 42.195 km or 26.2188 miles. 

Well, when you can't get a taxi, great running shoes and good insurance (sponsored by Zurich) are a must.

Master the art of interpersonal relationships

Find an area with water, lay under a tree, put away the 'devices' and most importantly, butt heads.

Her face doesn't matter.

I had not seen her face but she surely caught my eye for her stance was confident and while unassuming was assuming.

Very rarely does a woman attract my attention but I've learned through the eyes of the camera and more an awareness of my  immortality to appreciate ALL that is around me.

She was alone with long auburn hair spiraling down her shoulders and back.

Her legs looked like a never ending tube of toothpaste squirted into stiletto heels so pointy that hopefully she had the very ever high heels registered as a dangerous weapon.

I clicked a few photos of her more to see how the new adjustments I made on my camera appealed to my taste. A bit saturated and something I would have to fix at a later time. I didn't want to lose her.

She walked past me and slowly began turning. I realized she was taking selfies of herself, pouting her voluptuous lips in that way I see actresses do after a new round of collagen injections. Interesting, I thought, but not exceptionally exciting or different to post or even care. I realized her face just didn't matter.

And then I knew what I liked about her.

Can you guess?

It was the curvature of her body, truly shaped like an hour glass. I really liked the way she moved her body and she did too.

She is a woman and proud. And I like that.

A kiss on each cheek

While I do enjoy the works of Salvadore Dali, the men on the balcony interest me the most. They have sat or stood there, come rain or shine, for the last 12 years, sometimes without moving a muscle and they have been my interest.

They look in my direction, but not at the same time. I have waved and waved but they seem not to notice how foolish I look. How can that be? Everyone else notices.

They ogle the crowd below them or stare, fixated, at the statue of Christopher Columbus across the street from their position.

This day, they both looked in my direction. Success.

Good things come in small steps. I can wait another 12 years for them to smile.

But, I don't think I'll wait anothor 12 years beyond the smile to meet them.

Next time, we shall say "hola" and greet each other the Spanish way, a kiss on each cheek.

2theloo

Sometimes, there is a photo, where the subject needs no explanation.

Can you guess the main interest of the picture I took?

I usually would say hasta luego (because I'm in Spain) but today I say, too-da-loo. (Sounds very Cheecago, eh?)

Passing Bye

I admire Henri Cartier Bresson. Who doesn't?

I've looked at his photos, (probably not as often as I should), and tried on occasion to emulate his simple yet complex style.

However, let's face it. If you have lots and lots of time, good lighting, an obscure place to linger while not accused of loitering and confident that you won't need a latrine break, you, too, can be a Bresson.

A clean shot of a domestic posing 2 stories high

I couldn't believe my eyes.

At first, her back faced me and she stood at the very top of the ladder, making sure the window was cleaned from corner to corner. I was sure she was going to fall. I took the shot.

She then turned around, continued cleaning and of a crowd of about 25 people she spotted ME (I couldn't believe it) ... and I took this shot.

She was as bewildered by me taking her photo as I was shocked by her fearlessness.