European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps photos by Jim Derheim caged Birds peek out at passers by. Below a fire eating acrobat houses a flame in his open Mouth. Rambling on the Ramblas the unusual becomes commonplace on Barcelona Boulevard by Vince Crawley staff writer Here is a Street that lives up to its name because any trip to Barcelona in t Complete until you be spent an hour or a Day a or your whole visit a rambling up and Down the Ramblas. Ramuta Means both Boulevard and dry riverbed according to my Spanish dictionary. Either Way is Fine. It is both a Boulevard and a River of life in the heart of Spain s second largest City. Local lore says the name comes from an arabic word i Stream and in the Middle Ages the place was the site of a waterway running beside the old City Walls but these were torn Down Long ago. Beginning at Plaga Cataluna the tree shaded Street runs for three quarters of a mile Down a gradual slope that ends at the statue of Columbus looking out Over the Mediterranean sea. Along the Way you la stroll past Street cafes shops Banks restaurants Flower stalls and outdoor Newsstands where you can browse through papers books and magazines in any language you re Likely to speak but the real attraction is the Street people ranging from musicians and mimes to curb Side daredevils who entertain passers by All Day All night and into the Early morning hours. Fortuneteller will read your Palm and artists will paint your portrait in any one of a half dozen styles. Along one stretch vendors sell caged animals including pet Birds Kittens Guinea pigs chickens and roosters turtles rabbits and parakeets. You la find people from All Over the Globe and All walks of life rambling with you Down the Ramblas from backpacking tourists to foreign sailors to Middle Eastern moslem with their Black veiled women in Tow. One rambler was a Man wearing a Gold outfit from the 18th Century. He was t performing or hawking for Money just roaming around As though he were a refugee in a time Warp. We saw him two Days in a Row. Nearby we listened to a 1 i Man band a Multi talented fellow with a Little look alike puppet perched on his shoulder banging the cymbals. Beside him but part of a different gig a tall thin Man in Gray performed Spanish dances with castanets. Further Down a Man in a kind of Sultan s outfit ate razor Blades and swallowed daggers while reclining on a bed of nails. The show stopper that afternoon was a wiry Little Man in Black pants and a Green shirt who leaped through a hoop of knives about 1 foot in diameter. Then he did it blindfolded. Then he stood on his head on top of broken Glass. Then did push ups with his hands on the Glass then wiped his hands with the broken Glass. Then he put flaming Sticks in his Mouth. Then he put the fire out with his Tongue. Between performances he sharpened the knives. All in a Day s work for the Street performers of the Ramblas. A Street Vendor and his team of oddly attired pooches create quite a spectacle As they Roll Down the Ramblas. 14 stripes Magazine june 18, 1992 a sidewalk artist creates a colourful flamenco dance scene while nearby the real thing goes on in a blur of action. The highlight of the Street show an acrobat prepares to dive through a Circle of knives. A kneeling guitarist serenades curious Ramblers. Reclining on a bed of nails a Quot Sultan Quot swallows a Dagger after devouring a couple it it of razor Blades to Sharpen his appetite. Juno 18, 1992 Tript Quot Maga in Quot 1