travel photography – Page 70 – Postcards from Barton Springs

Postcard from Valencia, Spain: Just waiting on a train

May 5, 2017 postcardsfromsanantonioLeave a comment

This day probably did not differ from any other time he sat in this spot waiting for a train, a time or two too many to comprehend why the beauty of the details surrounding him magnetically attracts the camera lenses of tourists.

Orange blossoms and oranges dominate the interior mosaics and ceramic designs and the exterior trim of the 1917 Estacion del Norte of Valencia.

The station abuts the convex exterior of the Plaza de Toros next door. The bullring dates from 1859, and, yes, it still is used for its original purpose.

It’s a long way to travel, but frustrated fans from Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, where bullfighting is banned, must appreciate the convenience of the station to the bullring. Spain is one of the few countries still permitting the sport with outcomes possibly fatal for the matadors and never positive for the bulls.

Postcard from Valencia, Spain: Don’t block the driveway

May 3, 2017 postcardsfromsanantonio1 Comment

Guessing the purpose of street art applied to many garage doors in Valencia is two-fold: to alert drivers seeking parking spaces in a competitive environment not to block the driveways and to dissuade both graffiti artists and taggers from assuming the metal louvered doors are blank canvases awaiting their touch.

The same type of louvered doors lowered over shop or business entrances often combine advertising in the colorful artistic expressions characterizing numerous streets.

Postcard from Valencia, Spain: A merry May Day to you

May 1, 2017 postcardsfromsanantonioLeave a comment

Monday, May 1. Another weekday holiday in Valencia. By the time we leave after four weeks here, I think there will have been five.

Strolling around, the time off obviously means different things to Valencians. There was a rather loud but small group participating in a labor march we encountered. The original point of the holiday.

Their message was lost in translation on the way to me, though. Unsure whether their point was workers are treated like animals; pets are as well-regarded as people; or more of a PETA protest for protecting animals because they are equal to people. Most Valencians they passed appeared unbothered and more focused on their beer or gin tonics in the outdoor cafes than politics.

But celebrations weren’t restricted to that. Turia Park was filled with bicyclists, joggers, walkers, picnickers and people simply sprawled flat-out on the ground to absorb the sun.

In the midst of our walk in the park we encountered an exuberant admission-free festival spotlighting Andalusian culture – with dancers jumping on stages ranging from skilled flamenco practitioners to enthusiastic never-tried-it-before volunteers. All seemed welcomed equally by imbibing attendees.

And then, cutting back through town, we came across some of the more sedate regionally costumed families who have been parading formally through town for the past week or so for different events.