Street Entertainers, Barcelona

In Las Ramblas and other touristic areas of the city,you'll find a lot of street entertainers like this,they are asking for some money,but really it is always funny to see what they have to offer! this is a funny invisible man with four legs!.

To celebrate the patron saint of Barcelona, Mercè, some events are held in the city during some days: castellets, concerts... One of them is the sky show where you can see planes performances and others. You can see it from Port Olimpic. It's during the end of September. Ask in the tourism office the day it takes place since it's not the same day each year.

After you have been in Barcelona awhile you aren't impressed by performances easily, as you see a street performance every place you go, especially la Rambla. But these tree people right outside the Cathedral were definately worth watching . The costumes and their movements to music were otherworldly!

If you are taking pictures of the street performers you should really give them a tip.

Ramblas is a "must see" and it's also a local custom. I don't know another place in the world like that. Ramblas is about 1,5 km long and it leads from Plaza Catalunya to the harbour. Make your walk on the Ramblas just in the middle, and you are where life is: little merchants, pantomines, tourists, locals, birds, flowers, newspapers. And you see also beautiful palaces and houses on the street.

When I saw this guy, I thought: Great clothes, take a pic. I took my pic very fast, knowing, that not all the pantomimes wanted to be on a photo without any money. But, he noticed me taking a pic.... What to do? He ran fast to me and looked very very angry. He told me very polite that he want to have a coin, because it's his job being there as a pantomime. But I really didn't have any money. I only wanted to take nice shots.... But where was my husband? Where the girls? I didn't see him, I didn't see the girlies. ... Oh dear... I explained him that I had no money, it was the truth and told him to bring later some coins.
Unfortunately he was gone when I came back in the evening. So if you see them, say thank you to him and don't forget a coin!
Sorry boy, next time I will have some money for you! For sure

There are many street performers in Barcelona, and the talent ranges from zero to tops. Even if a performer isn't very musically talented, they can still be fun to watch.

One performer we saw was a girl with a recorder playing some easy tunes that little kids learn in elementary school (like Ode to Joy). I wasn't very impressed by her musical ability, but her act with her dog was cute. She laid a blanket down and got the dog to lie down on it, then she would start prancing around and playing music, and the dog would get up, bite her pant leg, and try to drag her over! We gave her a few coins when she came to our table at the cafe, but another table didn't give her any money. So she tooted her recorder loudly at each and every one of the people at the table.

On the other extreme, the next morning, we saw another group of musicians, who played music that sounded Middle-Eastern. One of them had a clarinet but I don't remember what the others played. I was very impressed by them. They were amazing!

If you are in Barcelona the 23th April and you see stands on the streets with roses and books don't get surprised. This day, Sant Jordi's day, is the patron saint of Catalonia and it's tradition to give books and roses. This day you get disccounts in most books. With roses is the contrary, this day are more expensive than usual.

What can be better than such a street show? These were well talented two guys with a Spanish Guitar sitting just by one of the main streets and playing beautiful music for the passes by. That was probably the best street show I saw for years, at list since I saw Vamosia in Helsinki many years ago.

If you happen to be the 24th September in the Barcelona (Mercè's day which is the saint patron of the city) you can't miss this human towers in plaça Sant Jaume, in the morning. It's very interesting to see.

There are some entertainers that are actually quite good. As you listen to them, you can hear the passion they have for their instrument or craft. As I was walking around most of the heavily trafficked areas there would be numerous street performers in wild costume or make-up. Some were there simply to make you laugh.