Arsenale - 01

Poor old cap head, what a heavy burden.

No cars!

The helicopter perspective. Took a few days to formulate the understanding that this is a city with no automobiles, no motorbikes and rarely a bicycle. It's all foot power or on the water. Strolling or gliding.

First taste of the Bienalle

Forgot my student id and was a little shabby to start the day, so slept a little in a grove of manicured pine trees, my favourite. Decided to flit around the free shows all over town so I could enjoy the city. Have avoided San Marco Square up till now, but had a really nice beer at a cafe by the water. Magic. Caught one show in particular, by Anton Ginzburg. I loved it! http://www.antonginzburg.com/ The other crazy bronze thing was from the Costa Rican Pavillion. A loonnng hike for exceptionally little. If I had more energy I would take the piss.

Sailor in Venezia

Venice reminds me of Varanasi. One of those very special places. I'm finding it almost impossible to get back to the same spot twice, but am happy to wander into dead ends. The city is so intimate, little windows and doors, brass knockers and buzzers all chittering and chattering to each other. Always the lovely sea breeze. Being by the water supping beer is an absolute treasure. And then there's the art thing going on.

BABY HAS LANDED!

What an event! And now we get to watch the little tacker grow up! White chocolate indeed, totally scrummy. Congratulations and welcome to the world little one. xxx.

Parc Guell

Nice to finally make the journey up the hill. It's so much easier to go down to the seaside! Gaudi in the park, but for me it is the manicured pines that really make my heart race. How I wish I could do this at home! Sigh!

Casa Maite

Why don't we have the bide? Happy little poo jar far from home!

BRANGULI / Barcelona 1909 - 1945

A spotlight on the work of Barcelona photographer Josep Branguli Soler, focusing on the great changes that took place in both the city and Catalan society between 1909 and 1945.

The Bora Wind / Trieste Italy

An exhibition at CCCB about Trieste on the Italian coast, not so much about the place but about nostalgia and the fictions it creates. Funny to walk into a simulation of the Bora wind at the start! Very blowy!

Saskia Olde Wolbers / Trailer 2005

The artist's best known works are short films with enigmatic narratives. These preposterous tales are calmly related by confessional voice-overs, while phantasmagorical, unpeopled scenarios drip and melt on the screen. This piece was part of the exhibition, "The Cinema Effect. Dreams." presenting works that attend to perceptions of reality and illustion.

Caixia Forum Rooftop

It doesn't quite get it, but at least you can see the undulating floor! Crazy! The Caixa Forum, pronounced (in Australian) 'Kayeesha Forum', was built by architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch to be a modern and safe factory, in 1909. It had a brief life as a factory engaged in the manufacture of blankets and cotten towels until the Spanish Civil War when it was abandoned. In the late 70's it was restored, and in the 90's became the social and community centre of "la Caixa", the community.

A Tourist Day

And so, with all limbs intackd. a day out. caixa forum so very good, and the architecture of meis, awesome. the miro park was funny, best with breasty sun bathers but only one sculpture, the grass itself struggled hard to compete. and then the flamenco in the placa real. trot home all good.

Flame

A little thing from Portugal because I miss the place. Not sure why I like hardware stores but I do.

Mosey on down

Not very interesting photos but something to remember wearing down the pavements by. The chess man was beating about 20 opponents at the same time. Part of a street festival of which I ran into at least 5 in the space of 3 hours. The Sonar finale with big doof, some crazy football celebration, and a very kooky lets go back to the good old days when everyone was wearing sandals and linen sacks. All very hand made. The other street parties were more of your beer tent food stall variety.