Barcelona

[henrysamson]

I'm going to be visiting Barcelona next month. Any galleries or shows I should check out?

Thanks!

Henry

[Scott Davis]

Well, check out MACBA (the Museum of Modern Art). I don't know what they have on display right now. Stop by the ARPI location at the harborside end of Las Ramblas to check out their camera museum on the 6th floor. For general purpose galleries in Barcelona, not photography specific, there is Sala Pares, which is in the Barri Gotic (medieval quarter). They've been in business since 1840, and were the gallery that gave Picasso his launch. Of course there's the Picasso museum and the Miro museum. Definitely plan those on a weekday in the middle of the day. Otherwise you'll be up to your elbows in other tourists, and quite likely schoolchildren to boot.

While you're in the neighborhood, check out Gracia Arts Project - they look interesting but I have no idea what they'll be showing when you're there - their website is a bit chaotic (http://www.graciaartsproject.com/). They're in the same neighborhood as Sala Pares.

Also worth checking out is CaixaForum -

CaixaForum
The CaixaForum (Avda. Marqués de Comillas, 6-8), the cultural centre belonging to the Fundació "La Caixa", is housed in the Modernista Casa Ramona, the former textile factory designed by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, with a new main entrance by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, 3,000 m2 of exhibition space, a 350-seat auditorium and an excellent mediateca.

The CaixaForum includes a selection of works from the Foundations Contemporary Art Collection as well as visiting exhibitions.

CaixaForum also runs courses and seminars and various other cultural events.

If you just want a glorious experience, go to the Palau de la Musica - the great concert hall in Barcelona - and take the tour. The Palau is one of the grand concert halls of the world, up there with La Scala, Carnegie Hall, and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. The building itself is fascinating, and when they get you up into the balcony to view the auditorium, you'll be blown away. If they have something playing when you're there, get tickets and go see a concert. The acoustics are incredible, and the space is so beautiful. They don't allow photography inside the concert hall. And they have really good tapas in the lounge before the concert.

[Ramiro Elena]

Scott is very well informed.

There're a couple small nice galleries in the same street one across the other:
Galeria Hartmann (http://www.galeriahartmann.com/?lang=en)
Tagomago (http://www.tagomago.com)
While your in the neighborhood have lunch at restaurant Bilbao. I usually get bull's tail :P

I think I've said this before here. Barcelona is very safe but the minute you lose sight of your bag, it is gone.
Feel free to contact me if you need anything.

[EdWorkman]

Parc Guell

[henrysamson]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. You all really came through. I'm looking forward to a week wondering around enjoying the people, the sites and the food. Especially the food!

I'm leaving the 8x10 at home this time and am going to travel light and just take a 35mm camera.

Thanks again!

Henry

[Peter Mounier]

I've never been to Barcelona, but I would be interested in getting some shots of the architecture there. In case you don't know what I'm referring to, Google "Barcelona architecture", or Gaudi.

Peter

[Scott Davis]

Food-wise, I can recommend Els Quatre Gats. While not El Bulli, it's still quite good at a fraction of the price, and you don't need reservations a month in advance - if you go during the week you probably don't even need reservations, period. It's been around since the 1800s, and it was the hangout for Picasso, Gaudi, Miro, and the Modernistas, so they've got actual Picasso drawings on the wall, among other things. It's a very cool place, and worth checking out for the atmosphere if nothing else. Another fun place is Taxidermista, which is appropriately enough located in a former taxidermists, on a little square just off the bottom end of Las Ramblas. This is where Salvador Dali ordered a rhinoceros and 10,000 ants for some installation piece. Now they have a very nice lunch with a delicious cream of carrot soup.

[henrysamson]

Thanks again for all the info! I'm leaving in a few days so if anyone has anything else to mention, just let me know!

Henry

[wclavey]

Henry, have a good trip... we will need to see prints at our next GTG at Valerie's!

[IanG]

Thanks again for all the info! I'm leaving in a few days so if anyone has anything else to mention, just let me know!

Henry

I'm grinding/helping grind a couple of LF focus screens in Barcelona :D next week :)

I'll check out the recommendations in this thread.

Ian

[Ramiro Elena]

We should all sit in front of a beer, no?

[IanG]

We should all sit in front of a beer, no?

Maybe :D

Ian

[anglophone1]

One of the best cities in Europe IMO.
City, Beach, old stuff, new stuff, great food, great booze, great vibe.
Clive

[henrysamson]

We should all sit in front of a beer, no?

I'm arriving Sunday (30th) and leaving on the next Sunday. I have nothing planned so I am up for almost anything. I'm only bringing a 35mm camera (this time) but I will have a portfolio of 5x7 contact prints.

Feel free to PM me.

Henry

[Scott Davis]

Ramiro-

why beer when you have such wonderful Cava around? Or a nice bottle of Garanacha?

[Martin von Lindenberg]

Ramiro and Scott,

This has been a great thread, as I haven't made it to Barcelona yet. Are Rioja and Ribera del Duero unknown there? Even in Jerez a bottle of Rioja is readily available, so there is something to enjoy before sherry and brandy.

Ruing that I didn't bring back a few bottles of 1866 last month,

Martin

[Ramiro Elena]

Ramiro-

why beer when you have such wonderful Cava around? Or a nice bottle of Garanacha?

True.
I prefer wine for meals and not a great fan of cava although we emptied one last night :D (and a Rioja).
Ribera de Duero and Rioja are the most common wines you find all over Spain but other D.O have become popular in the last 10 years. Regions that weren't known for their quality are getting world prizes now like Priorat, Penedés or Costers del Segre.

I gotta say it was great knowing Hank and Ian. Ian was super nice and helped grind an 8x10 glass for my Eastman View in 15 minutes at the hotel he was staying. They both brought incredible portfolios and excellent knowledge. I even got a print from Ian!
We should do this more often :D

[Scott Davis]

I got spoiled on some very nice Cava when I was in Barcelona. Juve Y Camps Gran Reserva De la Familia - look for it when you're there. Better than Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label at a third/half the price. Also, surprisingly good, the house label wine from Els Quatre Gats was very tasty. You can buy it online as well as at the restaurant. CaMerlot Ferre i Catasos crianza 2005. They're probably selling the 2007/08 crianza now.

Rioja is, as Ramiro said, an extremely common wine. There are tons of good Riojas out there, and the best can compete with a good Bordeaux as a companion for steak/game/rich and heavy foods. One that I like which is fairly common is the Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva. Not a bargain wine, but for the price, excellent.

[henrysamson]

We should all sit in front of a beer, no?

A good time was had by all!

[IanG]

A good time was had by all!

Thanks for posting the image. It was great to meet up with fellow LF workers while travelling, it's worth sharing experiences.

Hope the print travelled home OK Ramiro :D

Ian

[IanG]

Ramiro grinding his screen :D

Ian

[Ramiro Elena]

HAHAHA Great! I was worried about the print but it made it home perfect. I traveled back home with lots of goodies. I take it you're both back?

[IanG]

HAHAHA Great! I was worried about the print but it made it home perfect. I traveled back home with lots of goodies. I take it you're both back?

3 am this morning :( Spain's a great place to make images but next time less travelling and a more contemplative approach, and the 5x4 camera.

I found a store in Madrid with LF cameras, prices were very high, and they had no idea where to buy LF film :D

Ian

[henrysamson]

HAHAHA Great! I was worried about the print but it made it home perfect. I traveled back home with lots of goodies. I take it you're both back?

I went onto Madrid and got back very late Tuesday night. I want to go back with an 8x10 but if not, at least with a 5x7. I've traveled "self contained" (nothing sent ahead) by air many times with a 5x7. With an 8x10 I've always shipped stuff ahead and then shipped stuff back. Domestic that is not too expensive but to Europe . . .