2001, We arrive in Sitges in the late afternoon. On our first walk it is 10pm already. Everywhere in the citycentre and on the seafront it is crowded with people in all cafés, bars and restaurants. The seafront is well illuminated. The church, a landmark of the city of Sitges, is shining in its nightly illumination and dominates the scenery . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today is a day for faineance, we stay on the balcony of the hotel to read, write and listen to some music. Besides I can test my new minicamera . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . enjoy the sun and the fresh breeze from the sea . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and grant my eyes the beautiful outlook. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On a journey to the sea we often go for a walk in the evening, when the beach is nearly empty. Afterwards we go to bed, but the nightlife of Sitges is just about to begin. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After breakfast of the following day we come back to our room and notice the heavy sea. It is very windy today, furthermore the air is steamy and unclear. This is not the weather for an excursion. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, But it doesn't take long, in spite of the wind the heaven clears off and we decide to go for a trip to Barcelona. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We walk for a while in a slow pace. Suddenly a lightbeam comes from the sky, it is so bright that I have to cover my eyes with my hands and the camera nearly dropped to the ground . . . . . . . . . . An angel appears with a dove and proclaims "Peace". That all happened in just some seconds, I wasn't able to react. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The angel leaves his presence in the form of a statue and a voice in my memory: "Peace" . . . . . . . Since I can understand the world I hear more about war than peace. During Vietnamwar my three brothers and me were drawn into the army of South Vietnam, fighting alongside the USA against the communist Vietnam. We survived the war, but my younger brother lost a leg. Nevertheless, as if the war was not cruel enough, not only people in China, in other Asian countries of the Pacific region, South-East Asia and the Indonesian archipelago, but also the Jews in Europe were exterminated en masse by the Japanese or the allied Hitler's Germany. The extermination was masterfully, carefully, perfectly and systematically planned. It was the well-known "Holocaust" and the "Asian Holocaust". - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When the japanese army arrived in China, they first selectively sought for babies and children and killed them. Masses of defenseless civilians and captured soldiers were arbitrarily shot or buried alive. In many villages the people were rounded up, when the japanese army came in. Under supervision holes where dug, then the men were buried alive up to their neck and had to die slowly and harrowingly. Before the men died they had to watch, how japanese soldiers raped their wives and daughters. Older women were killed instantly. Even more cruel and inhuman the japanese cut into the heads skin of the still living chinese people and pulled the skin off. In many villages the woman were raped and afterwards a sharpened bamboo bar was stick into their abdomen and they died from that with agony. The japanese soldiers were amused about that, wrote the word "whore" onto the bodies and even filmed that. Everything what happened in China was not only filmed by western, but also proudly by japanese journalists.
There were few older women, who pretended to be dead and with their last breath managed to alarm the people from the neighbouring village. This is how the inhabitants of a provincial town on the southern coast of China were warned. My mother lived there, when she was a child. The inhabitants organized the escape and the fishermen quickest possible took all children of the village onto their boats. Of course there were only two grownups on each boat, to allow to carry as much children as possible. This is how my mother escaped the japanese massacre as a child and later she landed in the french colony of Vietnam. My father was a child at that time too and also managed to escape from his hometown by boat. The people who were left behind were abandonded to their fate. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, To this day, the Japanese government refuses to apologise to the victims of the cruel crimes against humanity. There is no compensation at all. On the other hand, the Japanese have constantly complained that they were victims of the war caused by the US atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Applying the Japanese logic to Europe, this would mean that during the Second World War, it was not the Jews who were victims of Hitler's genocide, but Hitler's Germany, which was bombed out of existence!!!!!! I believe that as long as there are humans, there will be war and cruel things happen! Even the good ones have to be vigilant on the battleground and protect and defend against the evil . . . . . . . . Peace! Peace! Peace! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Back to the present, to the globalized world, to the humans so called civilized, democrats, citizens, and, and, and anyway the gap between the rich and the poor widens more and more.
You think that war is far away, but in reality it is very close. On the one hand by modern media you are bothered with war nearly every day.
We visited Barcelona several times on our last journeys. Today we stay in Barcelona only up to the early afternoon. On this journey the focus is on the city festival "Festa Major". - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It was just 9am when we were lying on the beach, but only a short time later very many people came and the beach was crowded, which is unusal for that time. Thomas: "It is weekend, we forgot, that the spaniards have their beachday." Most spaniards are very bubbly, men are always discussing, women chatting.children playing, laughing and shouting. The beach turns from a quiete into a vivid stage.
Suddenly I see someone beckoning to us: "Ah! J. and B. ." They both come directly to us, but can hardly manage to come through the masses of people. J. is from Thailand, B. is british, one is a flight attendant in the mid-twenties, one is a copilot in the beginning of his thirties. They get to know each other in Thailand and arranged to meet here in Sitges for their holiday several times. Many would find both of them very attractive!
All together we were sitting on two sunbeds. B. is an adventurous guy, and in a bitchy way he tells us what happened, but just to have some fun. J. is a more silent guy and doesn't talk very much. He asks whether we travel to Thailand. B: "When I was in Thailand, I as a european was often asked, whether I would like to have sex, even with children." J: "Because many sextourists from western countries want to have sex with minors and children, those devils." J. had also bad experiences with western sextourists. He continues: "When I meet some of those sextourists on the street, they unashamadly try to buy sex from me, but in a very brash way." After a short break J. carries on: "I grew up in a family of the middle class. My parents took care of my younger sister and me, so we had enough of everything and didn't need to land in the hand of the devil."
Both are scene clubbers, they go out and return not before 4 or 5am to go to bed, they have breakfast around noon and their dinner is of course not before 9pm. One time J. und B. showed us the nightlife of Sitges, the bars open not before midnight. The clubs were so loud, that we were not able to stand it. That is why we prefer to go out to a café or bar with them, afterwards they can go out and enjoy the nightlife! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, J. and B. are very nice people, they need to be concentrated for their daily job in the sky and in their holiday they just act out their feelings. That is nothing for Thomas and me, but every man has the right to lead his life the way he wants. For me there is no "absolute" in life! Both know, that the beach is very crowded today, and tried hard to be on the beach early, however they didn't find a free sunbed. When talking to both of them time flies. We leave the beach and J. und B. take over our sunbeds. Back to the hotel for a short stop, then we usually have lunch in a chinese restaurant (with a kind and funny female owner), then we linger on the beach promenade for a while. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Thomas has something to read, I am testing my new camera, besides I have my sketch block, it is not going to be boring . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . . and on this journey Thomas will often be in the focus of my new mini-camera. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This morning we are on the way to visit a "Castells"-sculpture made out of bronze. Castells are the traditional human towers from catalonia. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the old town of Tarragona we are in a narrow street with many nice shops, which leads to the cathedral of Tarragona. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The romanic cathedral of Tarragona is dedicated to the holy Thekla and is located at the highest point of the old town. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We induldge in a little break on the stairs to the cathedral. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The cloister of the cathedral of Tarragona seems to be reserved for us alone. Here you can see one of the most beautiful romanic sculptures of catalonia. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On every journey we like to visit temples and churches. At first I am interested in architecture, art and craftwork, second you can always have an inspiring break in a church. In Asia, especially nowadays in China, some people pray to buddha to have there wishes fulfilled, for example for success in their business or winning a case, in which they are not necessarily unblamable, and other similar things. Some people in Europe say: "I am a buddhist". Afterwards you find out, that this was only in vogue, just to be trendy. Because the new buddhism of the west is totally different from the buddhist philospophy. Some pupils and students in China pray to Confucius, to pass their exams! That too is not in terms of the masters.
In churches I always see the symbols of crucifixion. I am not religious, but the other people who visit the church, entering and leaving, they pray and celebrate mass. . . . Do they feel the horrible pain? Do they suffer with their holy master on the cross or is the crucified more or less just a sculpture for them?
My mother used to go to the temple for at first a peaceful world and secondly for the health of family and close friends. I never saw my father praying in a temple. My father took matters into his own hands, at least those he was able to! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Like in many taoist temples in China, here you can also see precious mural paintings. The statue of Virgin Mother Maria . . . . . . in her youth . . . . with the noble garment is successfully crafted. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Inside this church you can induldge in a rest, which you cannot do in a buddhistic temple. In a buddhistic temple you will welcomed in a small room with a cup of tea, if you donate a large amount of money before. For the others are donation boxes in the hall. Nearly everywhere in the world it is forbidden to take pictures in most templehalls, where the buddha-statue are located. Unless you do a payment or a donation, otherwise it is forbidden. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The churchorgan, an impressive piece of workmanship. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This house must have seen and experienced a lot since Roman Times. It is like an old man with character to me. In spite of the scars in its face it still has great charisma!- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here we are at a lookout point on the old roman city wall of Tarragona. From here we can . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . see and enjoy this wonderful view to the mediterranean sea. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In my opinion this is a beautiful square in the old town of Tarragona and we induldge in a lunch here. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The city is decorated solemnly. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The "Balcony of the Mediterrenean" 40 meters above sea level should not be missed. Up here a very strong wind dominates, wich goes beneath the clothes. I feel as if I would wear bathing trunks only. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This remembers me a little bit to Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles, when I was there in 1991. From the Palisades Park you could see the beach deep down and the wide horizon of the pacific ocean. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Dreamworld
A veil of dream, a volume of poems,
a connection of the sea, a horizon of sky,
a garden of flowers, a pavillon of paintings,
a courtyard of wind, a village of moonshine,
a chain of stars, a bouquet of clouds,
a veil of dream, a dream like a veil.
Chau Tran (Qing Lian) in October 2015                                                      - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, From the world of dreams . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . to the café Romantic. Our favourite café in Sitges. The mood in this café here reminds me to some paintings of Renoir. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When we are having teatime the café is almost empty every time and we have it for ourselves for about one hour. Here the atmosphere is so beautiful, just until the scene crowds from the beach return and populate the café. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The city of Sitges is full of atmosphere for the city festival "Festa Major". It begins today and lasts for seven days. They celebrate with music and . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . there you can see a group of dancers. The gathering of the crowds hinders us to see what is happening. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We escape the stream of people and meet a group of drummers in this street. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I am not the only one who would like to take pictures from this festival. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In front of the town hall many people gather to go inside. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We can also see some musicians here in front of the townhall. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The figures for the parade are positioned and ready for inspection. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, There is not only dragons, but also a bird, who is going to be firebreathing. Interesting, because the chinese too have a phoenix-bird next to their dragons. Both are holy animals, are often shown together and mean to be a good symbol. On wedding banquets the chinese decorate with the word "double luck" in the center and on the left and right of it the both holy animals. It should always be harmonic and lucky for the married couple. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, These figures are very large and certainly very heavy. It will not be easy to carry them. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Lunchbreak and regeneration. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This dancing chorus has wooden sticks and they are wearing white, red and black costumes. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I see a band in front of us, which is clothed in white and blue. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A youth dancing chorus in white shirt and trousers, red skirt and a coloured hat, which is hanging on their back. They carry a dancer, who is wearing a white costume on a colourful decorated rack. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This youth dancing chorus carries its youngest member . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . up on the colourful sticks. You can see, that some grown-ups are with them to secure the younger ones . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and they too are accompanied by a group of musicians. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Now they dance! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The glas panes of the shop windows are covered with cloth, cardboards and paper to later protect them from the sparks of the firework. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Like at the dance around the maypole these women dance and are accompanied by a group of musicians. I saw something similar in Bavaria, when I was travelling along the "Romantic road" in Germany. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The grown-ups are also wearing colourful clothes . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and dance. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A part of the dancers was lifted up at their thighs. . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . or they stand on the back of each other. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here you can see, that the dancers lay on each other and the yougest one stands on top, an acrobatic act. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The group moves on to another place. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A younger dancing chorus shows its skills . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . . then some other groups come along. The audience is enthusiastic. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Those men strengthen their backs with a piece of cloth, they are going to build the human pyramids "Castells". - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The piece of cloth is quite long! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A simple Castell, the youngest participant just climbs up . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and . . .and he did it. The audience is very much excited, cheers and cheers . . . he is just a child. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This complex Castell is just being demounted. We came a little bit late, what a pity!!! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A look to Thomas. You can see here too, that the glass panes are covered with paper. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, There is a firework on the beach this night directly in front of our hotel balcony. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Pretzel sticks of the sea! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A heaven full of stars! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After the firework the cars honk their horns until after midnight. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This day of the "Festa Major" you can find an ever bigger crowd in the old town. After lunch we withdraw to the other side of Sitges. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This beach is full of tourists too, but they are not interested in the city festival at this moment. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We linger on an elevated promenade, which we have just for us, as always . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and we enjoy the wonderful sight! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The church of Sitges dominates the landscape from this point of view too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We already walked up to that hotel on the horizon (see left side of photo). - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Another test with my new mini camera. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I should have a souvenir picture too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The shadow of the trees is best for relaxing, reading, listening to music and we are not bothered by others . . . . . . . . and Thomas would like to be sketched from me in that position . . . . . Thomas is just fooling around. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We decide to stay until sunset. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today a sunset with cirrus clouds, the sun can not shine through. It is still beautiful to us! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today is another beachday. Normally we stand up early and after breakfast we go to the beach directly. Short before noon we usually leave the beach and go back to the hotel, just before the masses of sun worshippers arrive and present themselves like sardines in a tin. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On the way back to the city for our small lunch Thomas would like to have a souvenir photo of me with the famous church of Sitges in the background. I am ready for it, but suddenly I start laughing:
This morning we were relaxing on a sunbed on the nearly empty beach, when suddenly a couple came closer. The man had some beach bags and other beach stuff and handed it all over to his wife, then he began to straighten the sunbeds, mats and cushions. Now we heard the wife talking: "No, not this one, the other one, the second from behind . . . . . . Yes, this one . . . . No, this one is dirty, we cannot lie on that one . . . . . . . . . . The sun shines from that direction later, the bed has to stand the other way round . . . . . ." Suddenly the wife handed all the stuff back into the hands of her husband and she said: "Here, take it . . . . . . . that way . . . that way . . . this way and this, this is how it should be arranged." The woman noticed our presence, turned around and saw us reading german newspapers, she talked to us in german: "How can I live together with this man for over thirty years now?" We did not react yet, but the man looked to us too and added laughing: "How can I bear this woman for over thirty years now?" We started to laugh and they both laughed with us.
The woman suddenly came up to us and reached us her hand: "Hello, Helga." The man followed up: "Hello, Joachim." We introduced ourselves too. The atmosphere relaxed. We asked: "How comes you both met each other and married?" The man answered immediately: "I didn't want to, but she was behind me constantly." The woman responded to it instantly: "But you liked what I cooked." The husband looked to us and said: "That's correct!" I said: "Nobody is perfect, you cannot have all in life." The man replied: "Yes, that's right!" . . . . . . . Then we continued to talk to the couple about this and that of everydays life. When we left the beach around noon, we wished both of them a nice holiday and also accepted their best wishes for us.
Thinking about it later I found the couple very honest and likeable. There are other people, who present theirselves in the public as a happy perfect couple, like a shiny apple. But truly this apple is rotten from inside. Apart from that you should laugh, as long as you can laugh. You never know how long the world is going to be all right. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, You should breathe as long as you can breathe . . . It is possible, that you are not yet able to breathe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Or that you have to pay for breathable air, like for drinking water today. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Lao-Tse: "A rich man is one who knows that he has enough." And I say, you should let go what you should let go. Trying to hold on to something very intensely can have the opposite effect, that is especially valid regarding power and career. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I'm having my lunch break, my shoeshop is just closed, meow. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Cactus blossoms on the seafront. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The closer you come, the more beautiful it gets. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After we have seen enough from the "Festa Major" in the old town, we are having a day off on our balcony. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Up to the horizon we see the Mediterranean Sea only. And the beach is very popular today too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, All the people from Sitges gather on the beach in front of the church. There is a large display of fireworks this night. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Of course we are among the spectators and are not sitting in our hotel or in a café. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The audience cheers and claps as the firework display starts. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The church on fire . . . . . . .workish Red, then on the sky suddenly appears . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . a shape like a flower . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . then an exotic tree. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The church is the center of this event, because the city festival "Festa Major" in Sitges is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew and Saint Thekla. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The smoke rises up to the sky! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It is raining golden coins! In front of the church! For the people in need! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The "Annunciation I" at the beginning . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . at the beginning theres was "Nothing", it was empty and dark. Slowly air, gas and shapes began to arise. . . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . There are giant pillars of light in a constant movement, additionally changing their shape . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . until a "touch of feeling" appears . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . and first spring awakens. . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and the beautiful world increases systematically . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . in the universe of stars! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the centre of creation! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It glows . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . and glows . . . until somewhen flowers appear. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A rose for all the people, who became victim of the inhuman, cruel allied Japan and Hitler-Germany. It is for all the people, who help other people in miserable war zones in the present or the future. A rose, to follow my mothers wish for a peaceful world. My father and me believe, there is no peace on earth , as long as mankind exists. A rose for all the family members and friends: Happiness and health. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here comes the "Annunciation II"! . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . the world becomes beautiful . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and more beautiful! . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Happy tears fall from the sky like threads from the heavenly gown! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, More stars are being created!- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, New things arise. . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and more new things . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . until the world is silent again and a golden tree appears as a symbol for life! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After the fireworks we walk along the beach back to the hotel and once more there is a chorus of horns on the streets . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . this time up to 3am in the morning. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today the lordly gentlemen . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and ladies leave the palace, to be hailed by the public. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The dragon . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and the royal bird follow them.- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, You can see, how great and powerful the king and his entourage are. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The people are looking curious . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . .and marvels . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . and cheers. The chinese from abroad also hold on to their traditional religious rituals. With divine temple festivals men are disguised as gods or large idols.and dance in front of the altar or in a procession. There are also huge fireworks. (examples from Asia: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5) - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Some VIP visitors from a faraway country are taking part in the procession. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The important persons of this city march behind them. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A festive and happy atmosphere. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The resident population is on the move too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, So are the musicians. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The children too . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . are having fun at this celebration. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When we arrive smoke is hanging in the air. The pyrotechnists are already there. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here they ignite one more firework. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, People play with the pyrotechnists, just like in the "Running of the bulls" in Pamplona. Here the people just stand and wait . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . but as soon as the pyrotechnists ignite a pinwheel, the spectators run away, . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . to avoid being hit by the hot sparks. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We do not always understand what the spanish people shout, but we comprehend, that they warn each other in fun, allowing everyone to run away in time. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The king arrives in this narrow alley and is expected by the masses. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The royal couple dances. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The guests of states dance for the audience too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, As soon as the pinwheels arrive . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . the people push back . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . even on the balconies of the first floor . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . until the fire finally expires. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, We walk through a side street . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . like some other viewers . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, .. . . . to meet the firebreathing dragon in another alley again. The royal bird can be seen in the background. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The dragon is having some breathing time and waits for the royal bird, which is just fire-breathing in the background. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, And once more the dragon fire-breathes. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The fire-breathing royal bird comes closer and the dragon charges its batteries. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When both meet, they fire-breathe forecfully together. The audience cheers . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . then both leave the alley . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . and emerge at another place. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The later the evening, the brighter the fire of the pyrotechnists gets . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The fire of the pyrotechnists is now presented in all the streets. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The celebration lasts until late in the evening. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At our last journey to Sitges we visited Barcelona more often. We then visited all the places of interest. Barcelona cannot be compared to Sydney or San Francisco in my opinion, but this metropolis has its own atmosphere. This time we again visit the Palau Nacional. Large pillars of water at both sides of the alley lead up to the Magic Fountains of Montjuïc in Barcelona, above the Plaza Espagna. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In front of one of the waterstairs of the Palau Nacional. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, From this position of the national palace (Palau Nacional) at the foot of the Montjuïc we can see the city and the Plaza Espagna with its two pillars. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The "Magic Fountains of Montjuïc" in Barcelona is accompanied by music and light. The first performance was on May 19th 1929 with the opening of the world exhibition "Exposición Internacional de Barcelona". - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, As soon as it gets dark the lights of the fountain are turned on. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A test for my mini camera: Portrait with an extraordinary background. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Thomas stands next to the waterpillars on the Plaza Espagna. In the background the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On this photo you can see the water stairs of the Palau Nacional far in the background.

I am not a friend of carrying around unnecessary things on a journey, except some art material and important souvenirs from and for friends. The mini camera pleased me a lot, because you put it in your pocket, travel around with it and the results were not bad too.
On this journey we once more not alone met the people but also the culture of a country. I was also impressed by very normal people. In my opinion every country has its own culture, which developed with the daily life of the people in their specific country, in their environment, with the natural ressources and with the climate, which is exactly fitting for that country. "Importing" and "Exporting" of cultures, which are not compatible to some countries often do not give pleasure, that applies of course to political systems too, which do not fit to the character of the culture and the people! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)