Backstory on Barcelona Balconies 2
My work tends to generate a lot of recommendations for additional locations that might be good subjects for a collage. Sometimes people send email or cell phone photos when they think of me, and others tell wonderful stories about potential subjects from their own travels. Old European cities tend to be extraordinarily photogenic, and Barcelona is one that is frequently recommended—along with welcome advice on what to see and where to eat.
This collage includes details from all over the city; however, images for the background setting, as well as many of the balcony shots, were taken while I waited for the café Cal Pep to open. As it turned out, more important than knowing about Cal Pep, which any guidebook will feature, is that it’s easier to get in at lunchtime, especially if you arrive about an hour before it opens. Fortunately, my daughter was happy to hold a place in line while I took pictures in the delightful Placa de les Olles and its adjacent alleyways. The golden, ivy-covered walls that underpin the piece are from the restaurant itself, as well as a few of its architectural neighbors.
Our patience was eventually rewarded with one of our best meals ever, at great bar seats with a close view of the extraordinary chefs at work.