{"id":3647,"date":"2013-02-14T19:36:37","date_gmt":"2013-02-14T18:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/2013\/02\/14\/poetry-at-the-city\/"},"modified":"2013-02-14T19:36:37","modified_gmt":"2013-02-14T18:36:37","slug":"poetry-at-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/en\/2013\/02\/14\/poetry-at-the-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Poetry at the city"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"La<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, February 10. At precisely 10 o\u2019clock on the dot, at \u201cLa Cocotte\u201d<\/a> coffee shop, in \u201cPla\u00e7a del Rovellat\u201d, there\u2019s a sort of unusual excitement at this hour. Apparently, I am one of the hundred freaks, arrived from all over the area, who have confirmed their attendance at the workshop shared, for about four hours, by \u00c1lvaro Sanz<\/a>. What first pops into my mind is: \u201cThis is what I call summon power\u201d.<\/p>\n

Those rounded up, professional photographers, both experienced and initiated or \u201clevel zero\u201d \u2013as labelled by \u00c0lvaro Sanz for those who are mere amateurs\u2013, start all with the same benefits: a healthy breakfast prepared by La Cocotte, a sweet place, charming and very, very recommendable indeed.<\/p>\n

\u00c1lvaro Sanz introduces the activity due to be performed this morning in Tarragona, and that has already been tested before Christmas in Madrid<\/a>. It is about exposing photography to different cities so that, in a joint and cooperative way, people get to rediscover and appreciate things, which are often closer to them, providing users with a new approach.<\/p>\n

\"\u00c1lvaro<\/a><\/p>\n

In every city, there\u2019s a luxury host. And \u00c1lvaro, who has been the photographic extension of \u201cEls Pets\u201d<\/a> for five years, immortalizing their concerts and tours, designing their outfits, and taking part in video clip editing, has asked Llu\u00eds Gavald\u00e0 to be our cicerone for one day, and to show everyone his own intimate and personal view of Tarragona. The morning, then, looks promising. <\/p>\n

Llu\u00eds takes his turn to speak, while setting in a context: \u201cWe are now at the \u2018Part Alta\u2019, or high part of Tarragona, not the old part of the town\u201d, he says. Let things be perfectly clear. \u201cI would like to start by speaking about the sun, because Tarragona is almost always sunny, but today these clouds have spoiled it\u201d. Despite this though, he finds an alternative point to make. The \u201cpla\u00e7a del Rovellat\u201d connects with the \u201cpla\u00e7a del F\u00f2rum\u201d, one of the most beautiful and genuine spots of the city. \u201cWhen I was a child \u2013Llu\u00eds recalls\u2013 I used to live at the \u201cpla\u00e7a del F\u00f2rum\u201d, and one of my obsessions on my way out of home was to go through the roman door. I used to think: dearie me! Surely, about 2.000 years ago, a guy wearing a toga was doing exactly the same!<\/p>\n

We walk across the square diagonally as if we were a Japanese army carrying cameras. And as proper freaks would do, we make use of both our hands to keep taking pictures and twitting at the same time. \u00c1lvaro asks us to tag any picture we upload to Twitter or Instagram as #poesiaenlaciudad<\/a>, and so we do. If you do a search in any of these two social networks, you\u2019ll find all the pictures of the day.<\/p>\n

\"Territori<\/a><\/p>\n

We walk across the arch at the \u201ccarrer de Merceria\u201d, while stumbling into the Sunday merchants who, baffled by all the lenses, end up asking each of us 1\u20ac per photo. We go upstairs towards the Cathedral, and merge into the tourist crowd visiting the see, waiting to go up the bell tower, or simply walking around (rather than buying) the several antiques stands. On the \u201ccarrer de Les Coques\u201d, Llu\u00eds asks us to pay special attention. We might see \u201ca la vella Montserrat despertant el barri a cops d\u2019escombra tot cantant\u201d, or \u201cal bell mig de la pla\u00e7a, a la peixatera prenent paci\u00e8ncia amb la Cons\u00f2l, que remuga i regala grans bafarades d\u2019alcohol (literal transcription of the \u201cBon dia\u201d, good morning, by Els Pets, Llu\u00eds Gavalda\u2019s music group, describing some everyday symbolic scenes in Tarragona). We are now, for those who didn\u2019t find out, at the Tarragona area that inspired Els pets to write that song. A realist painting, providing names and surnames. <\/p>\n

We walk out the walls across the \u201cportal de Sant Antoni\u201d, and Llu\u00eds reminds us \u2013and makes good use of them\u2013 the words with which he welcomed us: the sun has just arisen. \u201cIn Tarragona, it\u2019s always a battle won for the sun; it\u2019s like the weather is actually pushing us to have a drink, a vermouth (very typical in Catalonia)\u201d. The scene chosen by the cicerone though, is not casual. In here, at the \u201cPasseig de Sant Antoni\u201d, there are two of the main elements, which give the city its particularities: the wall stone and the Mare Nostrum.<\/p>\n

\"Taller<\/a><\/p>\n

It is now time to \u201ctocar ferro\u201d, or knock on iron \u2013a similar expression to knock on wood\u2013 at the \u201cBalc\u00f3 del Mediterrani\u201d, one of the most rooted traditions. Llu\u00eds warns us that anyone touching the iron railing will be blessed with good luck, and it is likely to come back to Tarragona in the future. I recall a few coins thrown at the \u201cFontana di Trevi\u201d, in Rome, every time I\u2019ve been to the Italian capital\u2026 Therefore, it works!<\/p>\n

Making the most of the sun shining, \u00c1lvaro tells us about a few secrets regarding how to make use of our cameras when the light is too bright. He\u2019s not only an excellent photographer, but he has also loads of patience with most of us. <\/p>\n

\"\u00c1lvaro<\/a><\/p>\n

We go back into the \u201cPart Alta\u201d, now across the \u201cPla\u00e7a de la Font\u201d, main spine of the roman Circus of Tarraco in the past. It\u2019s getting late though, and we really get cracking. Walking up the \u201ccarrer Major\u201d, we turn at \u201cCavallers\u201d to get into one of the most photogenic streets: the \u201ccarrer de Comte\u201d, now renamed as \u201cPylon street\u201d, due to all the coloured bollards (pil\u00f3 in Catalan). <\/p>\n

Four hours have passed flying, rediscovering spots, details, spaces\u2026 We find ourselves at the starting point, at the \u201cpla\u00e7a del F\u00f2rum\u201d which \u2013I didn\u2019t mention this before, so I will now\u2013 is a \u201cvermouth zone\u201d. We take the group picture, and \u00c1lvaro asks us a very last effort: a jump for the photo. So let\u2019s jump!<\/p>\n

\"Foto<\/a><\/p>\n