Barcelona: Festes de la Merce

October 02, 2012

Barcelona: Festes de la Merce

Barcelona 2012 and it's the wild week-long celebration to honor the Catalan's patron saint of the city "Our Lady of Mercy."

I stumbled onto this festival in 2009 and promised myself I would make it back for the whole event. This was the year.

Now you might think with all the economic uncertainty in Europe, especially Barcelona which was hit hard, that this year's festivities would be subdued. Negative, nothing could be further from the truth. Barcelona put on a festival that wrapped up in an amazing fireworks display that impressed this jaded New Yorker. But I have to admit, I'm a bit biased as I love this town. I have a thing for water and among port cities, Barcelona is definitely my favorite. Art, culture, beautiful women, and an open multicultural atmosphere oh and yeah there's a beach on the edge of town. What's not to love. Below are my shots, enjoy!

The Open-air Market called Mercat De La Boqueria right off the Las Ramblas strip is a collection of seafood, nuts, fruits, different cuts of meat, and whatever you might need if you were planning to cook instead of buying dinner like I did.

Right at the edge of the beach is the Hotel W Barcelona soaring into the Spanish sky like a gigantic metallic sail catching glints of the sun instead of the wind.

I didn't make it to the top, which boasts a magnificent view of the entire city but you better believe I'll get shots of that.

Look for my travel photo books soon.

The beach homes closeby on palm tree lined streets evoke images of a care-free lifestyle.

This is definitely on my list of places to retire.

On the other end of the city is the Montjuïc, a hill with numerous attractions including one of the best vistas of the city.

Being up there almost made up for not making up to the top of the W Hotel.

Seen from a different angle, you can see the famous La Sagrada Familia cathedral in the center of the city.

One of the major events of the festival is the Correfoc - Fire Run which I can tell you is pretty intense and amazing.

You see that young man in the green hoodie? Well, it wasn't cold, he was protecting himself from the flying sparks which I can confirm, you feel.

It wasn't until the next day that I realized my tee-shirt had several holes burnt into it.

If I ever do it again I'm wearing old cloths and a goggles.

Look close at that dude with the black hood. Scared me good. I hope that's a mask because it looks like something out of a horror movie.

So that lipstick or phallic tower located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz was inspired by Montserrat, the shape of a geyser rising into the air, and by the male genitalia. Hmmm... Okay...

Antoni Gaudi's unfinished Gothic masterpiece pays homage to the Holy Family and is probably his most celebrated and visited work. Construction began in 1882, Gaudi became involved in 1883 influencing development with his unique vision. He was 73 and devoted his last years to its completion but sadly never finished it. Still under construction but incredible none-the-less.