Jake has called for Black and White this week, and I’m thrilled, because i have some old shots from Spain, the winter after Franco died, that I’ve been looking for an excuse to post.
It was a Sunday morning in late November, and we’d been to Mass in Barcelona’s marvellous gothic cathedral. As we all poured out of the dim interior into the bright winter sunshine we were met by an amazing sight. There, on the steps of the cathedral, surrounded by the city’s worthies, was an ensemble of wind and brass players, and a double bassist, while down below in several great circles, people were dancing in the paved forecourt. A long suppressed expression of Catalan nationalism, the population of the city was joyfully gathering to participate in the Sardana.
Led by the fluvial player (bottom left), the little orchestra was seated in two neat rows, all decked out in fawn suits
Being a sucker for parades, you can imagine how interested I was to watch as people readied themselves for a parade before Advent – Barcelona.
In Cordoba, in a courtyard near the Mezquita, we came across old folk soaking up the sun, chatting
and in Avila, on a freezing, sleeting blustering day, we watched the Guardia at work in the livestock market
Check out other Black and White entries here.
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A little aside –
Half the house has been plunged into darkness (don’t ask!) so I won’t write much, in case the other half goes, which will knock out the internet and leave me with only an already fried battery to power my laptop … fingers crossed!
Several hours later … Yes, the whole house went dark, and I suspect it was we who shorted the neighbourhood. Bless the multi-talented Amarasiri – he’s made temporary repairs to the main trip switch – lets hope they withstand the surges of tomorrow’s power cut (oh, I forgot, we’re not having a power cut tomorrow, in honour of Ramazan).
The Wanderlust Gene 
Beautiful post my friernd thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Jake – it was a wonderful challenge.
Beautiful words and photos!
Thanks Razel, i appreciate your visit and comment.
I’m looking forward to the day when our power cuts are over and I’ll have time to pop over to your site and have a good wander around.
I’m super impressed that you have such interesting black and white photos just hanging about waiting to leap into a challenge! Even if I did have appropriate photos, I know I’d never be able to find them. Glad you did.
It’s a byproduct of boarding school,l Jo – everything in its place – on top of which I just can’t stand it when I can’t find things, so i’ve learned to be neat, and (mostly) well organised 🙂
So glad you liked the old photos.
Loved them. Just wish I could hit on a meaningful system for filing photos.
After I began scanning the old prints and digitising the slides, I knew I had to use something a bit more creative than normal ‘file folders’. In the end I bought Aperture, Apple’s Editing/Organizing software. It’s been worth every penny.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
There are probably some less expensive programs, especially if you’re not a Mac user – but basically anything that allows you to tag your photos, much like we tag our posts. Good luck!
how extraordinary to see your b&w photos of spain, another world! good luck with the power cuts 🙂
it’s only in looking at the old photographs that you realise how much the world has changed in 30 – 40 years!
We’ve another week of the current regime of cuts – then they’ll reassess. I just wish they’d stick to their schedule so I could turn things off and avoid frying batteries and things … 😦
Wonderful photos. Spain has lived through some difficult times.
Yes, and it’s alarming to see what’s happening there now – especially for the young people, almost half of them without work … frightening.
wonderful, wonderful images…I hope all this power malarky sorts itself out for you soon
Some rain would be nice, to fill the dams, then they wouldn’t have to ration … I’ve got my fingers crossed, but I’m fearing they’ll increase the outages next. If they’d just stick to the schedule, we could turn sensitive things off in time to avoid damaging surges – that would be nice.
So glad you enjoyed the old pictures Jo.
Great post for the theme! Thank you for sharing your precious photos!
It’s my pleasure – this blogging thing is like home from holiday slide night on a grand scale!
Those are amazing photos. Were you living in Spain at the time or visiting?
I had considered living in Spain at one time, but no – just visiting Naomi. So glad you enjoyed the old shots.
sounds like the challenge was more technological & personal than anything to do with photography – but what a wonderful story & a thrilling slice of life to have witnessed: the resurgence of culture 🙂
Yes it was, Keira, especially as my first visits were all during the Franco era – machine guns in the streets, riots, and rubber bullets … You’re right – they’re more documents than photographs.
great black and white documents!
Yes, they are documents now, aren’t they? Thanks Frizz 🙂
Black & white, always timeless & chic. What wonderful memories and stories to tell, you have, and iconic photos document them.
It’s really very satisfying to see history and the changes in society within my own little photo album, I must say.
I love all of these great photos, but the last one is my favourite. I can almost feel that chill wind!
That’s my favourite too, metan 🙂
I have photos of the Sardana in colour and they don’t seem half as nice as your black and white ones! These are so beautiful and the people somehow seem more elegant 🙂
I think it’s probably a matter of 30 odd years, Madhu – there’s an elegance in the classic wardrobe of those days! I’m chuffed you liked them though 🙂
The photos are magic! They transport you right there. I can almost hear the whispers and chuckles. It always amazes me when black and white can do this.
Oh, Michelle, that’s great to hear – thank you so much 🙂
Great pics. I love the first one.
What a great set of photos! They look like stills from one of those international espionage thrillers of the time . . .