STREET ART AT THE UPR 2ND PART

STREET ART ALWAYS CONVEYS A MEANING, MOST OF THE TIME OF THE SOCIAL TYPE. THIS IS USUALLY COMBINED WITH POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL FACTORS.

STREET ART AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO DURING THE YEARLY INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI FESTIVAL

STREET ART IS ALWAYS FASCINATING AND EVER CHANGING; COLORFUL AND FULL OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO OUR SOCIETY.

THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.  ENJOY IT!

TOWER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO (1903)

CORAL

CORAL IS CALLED THE "GARDEN OF THE SEA" AND IS FORMED BY POLYPS, MARINE ANIMALS WHICH FORM THE CORAL FROM THE ACCUMULATION OF SKELETAL MASSES.  IT IS CHEMICALLY SIMILAR TO PEARLS.  IT HAS BEEN USED IN DECORATIVE ART OBJECTS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND APPEARS IN NATURE IN DIFFERENT COLORS, LIKE RED, PINK, WHITE, YELLOW, BLUE AND BLACK.

EACH COLOR WORKS ON A DIFFERENT CHAKRA AND HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
.RED..........RELATES TO THE BASE OR FIRST CHAKRA AND IT'S SAID TO PROTECT FROM                      DEPRESSION AND DESPONDENCY
.PINK........RESTORES HARMONY TO THE HEART
.WHITE.....RELATES TO THE FIFTH OR THROAT CHAKRA AND IT'S SAID TO BRING                                  BALANCE AND STABILITY DUE TO ITS STRONG EMOTIONAL EFFECT
.BLUE.......STIMULATES THE INNER CHILD
.BLACK....IMPROVES MALE FERTILITY

CORAL IS CONSIDERED MAGICAL IN THE REALM OF CRYSTALS AND GEMSTONES.  IT ABSORBS NEGATIVE ENERGY AND IT IS BELIEVED TO PREVENT ILL FORTUNE AND SKIN DISEASE WHEN WORN AND EXPEDITE AND ACCELERATE THE TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE.  IT REPRESENTS DIPLOMACY AND CONCURRENCE AND.FACILITATES MEDITATION, INTUITION, IMAGINATION AND VISUALIZATION AS IT SYMBOLIZES LIFE AND BLOOD FORCE ENERGY.  IN THAT WAY IT QUIETS THE EMOTIONS BRINGING PEACE TO THE SELF.  IT STRENGHTHENS THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND THE BONES, THUS STIMULATING TISSUE REGENERATION AND NOURISHING THE BLOOD CELLS.

BARCELONA AT A GLANCE

SECOND PART:  ENSANCHE

This part of Barcelona was created by the Plan Cerdá in 1859; an aesthetic, functional and easy way to move around the city.  The structure of streets and buildings functions like a grid, with peculiar corners called "chaflans" (the vertix of each block has been cut) which allow the formation of big open spaces at the streets crossings, providing greater visibility when driving.  It also leaves big spaces in the center of all the blocks of buildings, ideal for gardens and patios.  The result is quite interesting and unique.

We have wandered around exploring the beautiful, unusual and varied buildings of this area of BCN.

JOIN US

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"CHAFLAN"

A STROLL AROUND BARCELONA

STROLLING AROUND BARCELONA IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AS THE CITY HAS DIFFERENT QUARTERS EACH WITH THEIR DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS.
FORGET THE CITY GUIDES AND EXPLORE AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT ANY MOMENT, AT ANY TURN.  ENJOY AND BE BRAVE!

FIRST PART:  BARRIO GÓTICO (OLD QUARTER)

                   
                       THE CATHEDRAL

STREET LIGHTS

DETAIL ON A BUILDING FACADE

UNEXPECTED SMALL GARDEN AROUND THE CORNER

LICEO OPERA HOUSE (TEATRE DEL LICEU)

A MODERNIST TABLE IN A CAFÉ

EL BORN (ANTIQUE MARKET NOW A CULTURAL CENTER)

 ANTIQUE CHANDELIER IN A SHOP

PLAZA DEL PI

ICE CREAM PARLOR

EASTER TRADITION IN CATALUNYA

THE "MONAS DE CHOCOLATE" ARE TYPICAL OF EASTER IN CATALUNYA.  THEY ARE MADE IN ALL TYPES OF CHOCOLATE IN MULTIPLE SHAPES AND THEMES, BUT ALMOST ALWAYS  HAVING EGGS IN IT.

THIS TRADITION ORIGINATED IN 1935, WHEN THE FIRST CHOCOLATE MOLDS ARRIVED TO BARCELONA.  THIS CREATED A REAL REVOLUTION...THE CHOCOLATE REVOLUTION.
"MONAS" ARE A FESTIVE EXPRESSION OF LOVE AS GRANDPARENTS AND GODPARENTS GIVE THEM TO THEIR CHILDREN.  THE WINDOWS OF CHOCOLATE SHOPS AND PATISSERIES ARE FULL OF SCULPTURES OF CHOCOLATE, A GIFT TO THE EYES, ENTICING THE IMAGINATION OF YOUNGSTERS AND ADULTS ALIKE.