So many homes in urban Spain come without gardens, that public playgrounds are two-a-penny anywhere you care to look. And geometric shapes form part of any play space. Here’s one that Anaïs enjoys – even though the family has a garden.
Premiá de Mar, like most towns round here, has its share of Modernist architecture. Today I’m showing you a splendid door from 1918. Originally a cinema, this building known as El Patronat became a parish hall, before returning to its roots and becoming a local arts centre for performances and film screenings. I always enjoy its exuberant doorways when I pass by.
I thought it was about time I showed some geometry from the natural world. This fellow is from Premià de Mar, but from last summer, when he was taking a rest in Emily’s front garden. He’s beautifully symetrical, and his limbs show off angles to great advantage. Google Lens says he’s an Egyptian Grasshopper. Does anybody either agree or disagree?
Did you know that the Three Kings who brought gifts to the baby Jesus arrived in a ship? No, neither did I till this evening. Look.
They’ve already done what they had to do by visiting the Christ child. Now here they are approaching Premià de Mar, preparing to bring gifts tonight to all the good children in town. The ship flies the (geometric) flag of Saint George, patron saint of Catalonia. And the port itself is geometric enough, with the masts of so many sailing ships as a foil to the choir singing to welcome the three monarchs.
Later, they put in an appearance at the town square, then processed round the town. I have better (I hope) photos of the event on my camera, but for now, let’s make do with a few mobile phone snapshots – and not very geometric at that. Not so much of the kings, but of their elephants; drummers; coal wagons (naughty children get coal, not presents); post-people receiving letters written by hopeful children. Pictures of the kings, of the distributors of sweets, and other assorted bits of fun will have to wait for another day.
An early morning walk on the beach in Premià guarantees you’ll see the dog-walkers out in force. Perfect for that all-important daily exercise, for catching up with your friends, and for getting in some scrolling-time.
For Jez’s Water, Water Everywhere.
Here in Premià de Mar, I’ve found evidence of people putting their Best Foot Forward – here’s a man on a mission …
… and three women on a different kind of mission – to master the steps of the Sardana, so they can join in a street party.
All in the interests of Becky’s challenge, inviting us to find posts illustrating Burgeoning – Moving Forward – Reconstructing – Renewing.
The sea is greedily consuming the beaches of the Maresme coast, Catalonia. So here in Premià de Mar, the council is building a series of groynes going out into the sea to prevent the sand being swept away and to encourage it to creep back to the shore.
For Becky’s #SquaresRenew
Paula, who blogs at Lost in Translation, offers each month a different set of five words to illustrate. Look at this month’s: sabulous; brimming; guarding; berthing and bight. Interesting, aren’t they? I bet you had to haul the dictionary out for one, maybe two of them.
It was bight that caught my eye. It actually means …
But it doesn’t mean that to me. Like so many Brits, I’m a devotee of the Shipping Forecast, that four-times-daily forecast to anyone out at sea within reach of the British coast. The coastal waters are divided into zones, each evocatively named.
I’m not out at sea, dicing with the elements: I’m a rotten sailor anyway. But I can be soothed by the predictable poetic rhythms of the regular broadcast. Do watch this explanatory video. It’ll take up under two minutes of your life.
It’s so much a part of my life, I even have a cushion showing many of the much-loved names.
… and there you’ll have spotted it. German Bight. So that’s what Bight means to me. Ships at sea, their crew always ready, four times a day, to tune into that most necessary programme.
It seems only right then, that my four remaining photos should have been taken on the sea, or at any rate by the sea. Here they are …
A few shots from our recent stay: only one is from Barcelona. It’s not hard to tell which one.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday.
Here is a red (well, reddish) sunrise, seen from our bedroom in our daughter’s family’s house, and looking over at Barcelona in the distance. We’re leaving today, and will miss everything about being here.
For Debbie’s One Word Sunday: Red.
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