Fire and Rain

It’s a rainy day, one of the few we’ve experienced in BCN. Last year it drizzled one evening. Prior to that, nada. My usual issue here is too much bright sun, which can make the photography challenging. But today we expect a steady rain through the day. This means we can slow down a bit and have a leisured morning. Kitty fixes French toast with our leftovers and we drink coffee and catch up on US news.

Our plan had been to go to a flea market, but we decide to head to a museum instead. One would think after so many trips here we would have been to the big regional (Catalonian) museum. We’ve walked around it a few times–once on our way to the Botanical Gardens, again when we went to see the fountain show (pretty, but tacky with illuminated fountain play linked to a soundtrack), and last year to capture a beautiful sunset, but we never actually ventured inside until today.
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is housed in a beautiful palace, a centerpiece of the 1888 World Exposition that helped to put BCN on the map as a metropolitan power.

Great Hall in MNAC

We headed for the café first as it was lunchtime. It was a bit of a downer. Kitty called “pathetic,” with it’s tired sandwiches and overworked staff. Actually, we split a curry chicken wrap that really did hit the spot and fortified us for our venture into modernism.

They define modernism very broadly, but we enjoyed the gay thread throughout (Modernism as a response to decadent urban living, dandies, etc. featured on their displays).

Kitty & Co. at the MMAC

Our evening adventure was going down to see another Saint Anthony celebration. Yesterday we experienced the “Tres Tombs” blessing of the animals, and tonight it was the “Tres Tombs Infernals,” or a Correfoc, a metaphorical banishing of the devil with drums and amazing fire displays. One web site advises observers “Follow the instructions of public services official and the diables.” There be dragons. There be pigs. There be drummers. There be men with fireworks coming out of their asses. It got crazier and crazier as it progressed, and lasted for about two hours. The crowd trails along and braves the fire and sparks and smoke that emit from all orifices, including pig boobs.

Beware the Fire-Breathing Dragon

Lorena Braves Pig Tit Fire for Pic

Drummers Extraordinaire

Talk about a full day! It’s 12:30 now. After the fire festivities we made our way home with two stops at breweries. Caught the end of a soccer game (Barca won! Great fun!). Time to retire.