Remote Corners 6

I’ve always mulled over the idea that when travelling we take more notice of the details of the cities we visit while ours is simply part of a backdrop we are used to. I don’t understand why our minds step up on this problem and I will try to remedy it. Seeing Barcelona in that way, we are missing out on an endless amount of culture, stories, legends and local knowledge. That is why many times I try to look without knowing…

I write this under one of the streetlights Pere Falqués designed in 1906, when he was then the city architect. I chose it because I found one of those countless particularities, right here above me. These streetlight-benches are very distinctive of Passeig de Gràcia and they are a perfect spot to photograph, draw and meditate within the cosy space it creates. So far so good. But have you really taken a good look? Have you thoroughly studied them?

This time I won’t tell you about a single corner, but thirty-two corners, which is the number of streetlight-benches there are. Perched upon the crown of the Kings of Aragon and Barcelona’s coat of arms of each of the streetlight we find a bat.

This time the remote corner has been revealed. But I’m sure you’ll still smile when you see for yourselves that this little fact, which seems taken straight out of a horror film, is completely true. No, we are not travelling in Transylvania. Bats fly around Passeig de Gràcia hidden by the banana plants. And the question is why is there a bat above the crown?

I invite you to imagine and make up a good reason for why this peculiar animal is on our streetlights. I’ll be waiting for your comments!