An Alternative Look at Barcelona

There are few sights in Barcelona at Christmastime which are quite as bizarre as the Caganer. Come December, no self respecting shopping mall would be complete without a 20 foot fiberglass man defecating. He is as festive as Santa Claus, and families take their children to see the sight and purchase small caganer figurines to give as presents. They are supposed to bring good luck.

These figurines are added to the Belen - the nativity scenes - which are popular in Spanish homes at Christmas. Mary, the baby Jesus and the wise men are all there in miniature, and also lurking somewhere out of sight is the caganer, giving his own gift to the son of god.

Of course, its not just this classic figure which is now used, and there are many modern caganers to choose from. How about Obama, good old Queen Elizabeth II, John Wayne, House, Ghandi, or Dubya....you can buy them all.

This photograph was taken at the Forum in Barcelona, and is of one of the skylights. I love taking pictures like thisand experimenting with different angles. Not all of them work, but I think this one did.

This photo was taken again at the Forum, which is in the new area of the city where skyscrapers dominate the skyline. The building in the background is Barcelona's version of the flat iron building, and is the new home of Telefonica. Whilst this alone is a reason to hate it, it is actually one of my favorite buildings in the city. I saw this building being constructed. Its great to see how it all comes together, and all you can do if you don't ave the Discovery Chanel. The modern architecture in this part of the city is amazing. Why have a boring office block when you can have something far more interesting?

Taking a stroll through Barcelona's backstreets presents a photo opportunity on every corner. You never know what to expect as you pass from block to block, and can find some real gems. Barcelona is jam packed full of amazing buildings, and if its a bit boring, why not paint it. This is one of the best murals in the city in my mind.

Despite the huge volume of stunning buildings, many are under repair and you cant get a decent shot due to all the scaffolding. This was my attempt to get a shot of the building, whilst not placing so much emphasis on the scaffolding to the side. Didn't quite work, but I do like the picture

Between May and September the fountain between Placa España and the National Art Museum comes to life with a choreographed light display set to music. Every 30 minutes or hour, depending on the month, you can turn up and enjoy the free show. Ive added a video below to give you a better idea of the show in full swing. Sorry about the sound, but it should give you an idea of what the show is like.

If you want to get the best view of Barcelona you have to get up high. If you are in the center, just get the cable car up to Montjuic - the mountain overlooking the port. Alternatively, head to the mountains at the back of the city. Perched atop this 512 m (1,679 feet) "hillock" called Tibidabo is a funfair complete with big wheel and roller coaster, as featured in Vicky Cristina Barcelona! The rides may be small by American standards, but being 512 M high makes up for that.This is a photograph of Barcelona through the big wheel at Tibidabo.

You cant visit Barcelona without taking a look at some of Antoni Gaudi's amazing architecture, and Casa Batllo in Passeig de Gracia is one of the best. Gaudi was not really one for conventional buildings it has to be said. Both inside and out you get fluid lines and a more organic construction. The roof of this building is designed to represent a dragon. They certainly dont build them like this any more. Individual carved stones precisely measured and an incredible attention to detail are his hallmarks. This house took only two years to build, an amazing feat considering the complexity of the construction and the fact this was completed in 1906.

Casa Mila is one of the most famous of Gaudis buildings, and the largest of his civil buildings. This one took 4 years to construct, and although it lacks the color of Casa Batllo across the road, it is by far the more complex using no straight lines in construction and no load bearing walls. Quite an achievement for 1906 when construction started.If you want to make the most of the light, why be limited by the heights of the ceilings? It wasn't a problem for Gaudi. He made them all different heights to suit the rooms and improve the light.

The fluid lines of the balconies make for an excellent photo, and with the brilliant blue skies for a background no photo of this building could ever look bad.

Another shot of Gaudi's work, this one taken at Parc Guell towards the back of the city. Gaudi is famed for his colorful mosaics which can be found all over the park. Its well worth the trip, and offers excellent vies of Barcelona. A stroll through the grounds offers some real treasures.

And finally, if you come to Barcelona you cant possibly miss the human statues which line the streets of la Rambla from the port to Plaza Catalunya. Pop a euro into the hat and your child can be eaten by Alien. Now, I know its a man in a costume, but this guy still freaks me out.

All photos taken with a Canon EOS Rebel.