photobarcelona . . .

The Saint Paul Hospital at the top of Gaud� Avenue in the Sagrada Fam�lia neighborhood is an oft-overlooked gem of modernist architecture. Although the building was begun in 1902 under the direction of the architect Llu�s Dom�nec i Montaner, the hospital itself dates from the 14th century. It serves some 34,000 inpatients yearly, along with more than 150,000 emergency room...

Outside it feels like a battle is raging, with firecrackers going off left and right in honor of Sant Joan, but in the cloister of Barcelona's 12th century Cathedral, it's quiet enough to hear the trickle of the water from the fountain. As everywhere else in Barcelona, Saint George is slaying his dragon here. Somehow...

Quiet returns. And the refrigerator was empty, so off I set on my way to the market. The plan was homemade sushi with friends so I made the trip down to the central Barcelona market: the Boquer�a. I never get tired of coming here. There are rows and rows of busy stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables, and spices and nuts, hams and upside-down chickens. And more than a couple of crazy tourists like me taking pictures. I confuse the locals by talking to them in Catalan, but...