Wednesday 12 October 2011

book buying on sunday morning

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The squat next door to my new place has pretty awesome graffiti!

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Canada represent! Murder on the Canadian Express and Nightmare in Vancouver, hehe

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One of the big joys of my new flat is the second hand books and comics market that takes place just outside it every Sunday morning. In the second picture you can see the market itself, which is closed for reconstruction for the next hundred years at the rate things are going. In the meantime, proceedings take place under a covered awning in the middle of the road. In that second picture you can also see the intensity of people of all ages trading and selling gaming cards. We started off with an Argentinian empanada breakfast, browsed the market wares for children's books in Catalan (to improve my vocabulary) and then went for a wander in the nearby Raval neighbourhood and tried to capture some of the sunny, end of summer moments on camera. I say end-of-summer, but it was 35 degrees today at one point... the summer just keeps going here!

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I love the size of that plant on the balcony!

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I used to hang out in this bar all the time when I was recently arrived in Barcelona. Apparently that makes me a total tourist, but whatever, it's actually quite a nice bar.

Photos of me by Albert

I love all the different vibes this blouse can convey: 90s this time round, a more 80s look last time, and a bit 50s the first time I wore it. In my head at least.

blouse: vintage, skirt: oysho (last years sales), shoes: Steve Madden via ebay, sunglasses: Lucky Brand via TKMaxx, necklace: gift

37 comments:

Closet Fashionista said...

I wish we had cool things like that here! So many books :)
and all that graffiti is awesome!!
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

Marisa Noelle said...

Looks like quite an amazing place to live. I can't lie...I'm a bit jealous:) I would dream to have a book market like that near me. Anyhow, that's such a darling blouse...I love how versatile it is and how perfectly pretty you styled it each time.

Shybiker said...

Killer blouse. It works with everything.

Miss Tallulah Porkchop said...

That graffiti is AMAZING!

Love your outift. :)

Natalie Suarez said...

this is amazing! love this :)

xx

natalieoffduty.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Omg! Emily you just brought back so many junior high memories! In my class we had all books from El barco de vapor collection, and Pesadilla i Vancuver was my favorite, I want to read it again!

Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

Unknown said...

Goodness, I hope that when I finally get my own apartment a used book sale happens right outside every week - that sounds like a dream!
Anyway, this outfit is wonderful. I love how that blouse looks tied up - so cute!

Maria Elyse said...

Thanks for your funny and encouraging comment on my blog the other day! It made me smile. :) Thanks, love!

I wish I had something remotely intelligent to say about this post...but I'm exhausted right now so any attempt at a smart comment will result in a sleepy slur, haha. But I love your blouse! I like how it can rotate through decades like you said. :)

xo
Maria Elyse
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Margaret said...

I love Europe's open markets. When I was in Germany two years ago, there was a little book market in front of the Kaufhaus where the music festival took place and I would always stop by on the way just to look at the old books. I found a book of Schubert Lieder from the 1890s with an authentic autograph and a Figaro poster from the 1880s (?) from Frankfurt. My treasures!

Monique said...

that blouse is certainly versatile. so cute with the denim skirt. emily thanks for sharing your neighbhorhood with us! i love the balconies and ahh and i could spend hours at a used book store. that squat graffiti is amazing. oh and i totally used your trick of posting an outfit and then some other pics...very clever. ha!

out of order said...

love the look! That blouse is too awesome!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Cess: Aww. I feel like I should have bought Pesadilla in Vancouver myself, since it's my city... now that you tell me it's a good one I just might!

@Margaret: Wow, those are some treasures indeed!

Stevia said...

It looks like a fun time at the market
your stripey blouse is definitely super versatile
definitely a treasure :)

<3
http://escapesweetest.blogspot.com/

Lunapark Queen said...

I loved your outfit and your day.. :)

Take a look at my blog, if you like follow me! I'll be waiting for you.. :)


http://lunaparkqueen.blogspot.com

The Semi Sweet said...

Can I just fly to Barcelona already? It looks like such a cool city:)

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Emily (The Daily Fashionista)
It's awesome! You should definitely come!

C.G. Koens said...

Book market (first of all, those two words together make my heart skip a beat) right outside your flat = heaven on earth. I'm seriously jealous. But "Murder on the Canadian Express" - not exactly an original book title (a la my favorite A. Christie).

And I can't believe I never thought about trying children's books when learning a language, but that makes total sense. Oh, this just makes me want to move somewhere... :-)

By the way, have you read any of the Boston mystery books by P.B. Ryan? They were recommended to me in a blog comment, specifically "Murder in a Mill Town". I haven't tried them yet as they seem to be out of print (at least to buy on Amazon), but I'm on the hunt for a copy.

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Carrie: Those two books I photographed are from a children's series, so I imagine the derivative title was entirely deliberate!

And nope, haven't read those mysteries... I generally like my murder mysteries set in the 30s!

gbgb said...

...no words. just, wow. what a gorgeous area!!!!

Jul said...

Sounds like a perfect sunday morning! That graffiti looks just amazing and you look great too :) I can't believe it's still so hot there!
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sweet harvest moon said...

Lovely pictures! It looks beautiful out there!

Anastasia said...

I love your oxford shoes. Thanks for your comment on my blog. Hope you had a great day love.
xx

Raquel said...

I think I went to that book sale when I was in Barcelona! I don't have any idea where it was though haha.
I love that shirt of yours, it is really pretty and versatile, like you said, channelled 3 eras quite on spot!
Is Albert back to Barcelona too?

Unknown said...

Sounds like a perfect Sunday, love the outfit you look positively chic! x

Ashley said...

Eek! I went missing from the blogosphere for a while and am finally catching up with everyone. Glad to see you're still as gorgeous as ever.

I would die over a second hand book market. I'm going to stop at a great used bookstore tomorrow and I'm so excited! They have such unique finds.

NRIGirl said...

I too totally loved the vibes the blouse creates across different scenes... Isn't that something?!

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

Empanadas for breakfast and secondhand books? Sounds like a good way to spend a Sunday! How is your Catalan coming along? Do you feel confident when you speak it?

I'm convinced this blouse can do no wrong. Looking great, yet again :)

Anonymous said...

You look adorable! I love your photos, especially the graffiti - amazing. So you're in Barcelona right now? Wherever you are, I want to be there!

Kirstin said...

I'm so jealous of this little market just outside your place, so cool!

Jenny said...

I want to come live in your new flat. Everything seems so magical. The location with the second hand books and comics faire, the street art, your patio. The cropped top suits you quite well (and I always love some stripes). AND I am so happy that you won our giveaway at Ticktock Vintage. E-mail us with stuff you like :-)

Annebeth said...

your posts are always so awesome and you seem to lead the coolest life :D yes, that blouse is super versatile and I really want one like it. Not that I'll be able to wear it the next, oh, nine monthes or so, with our great belgian weather, but still!

Ashley said...

Oh man, I am loving the art work!!! It's lovely.

Barcelona definitely has my fancy now, all thanks to you.

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

Excellent, Ashley, my work here is done! ; )

Bhushavali said...

Love the blue red outfit. That graffitti is fabulous...
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Unknown said...

I love the graffiti and your striped top is just fabulous!

Rebeccak said...

How great is that mural with the blue background?! Totally adorable... I want a t-shirt with that!

Dus of Cuddly Cacti said...

haha I always had this idea that everything functioned better in Catalunya so it's funny to know that construction seems to take 100 years everywhere in Spain. Love your oufit & the front tie, I was just trying to convince my mom that it is in fact cool again to do a front tie, good proof on you! I also liked that you linked your other looks, it was fun to see the diff styles. Sounds like such a nice day!