Crossing the River Ebro

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The River Ebro flowing fast near Mora d’Ebre. They crossed it on a moonless night in July 1938, seeming a great victory, became a terrible defeat. Later they sang to it in union halls in Glasgow, exile cafes in Caracas and Toulouse, secretly at night in camp huts in Austria in Europe’s dark heart.

Republican forces crossing the Ebro river at Minavet at start of eponymous battle in July 1938. The image is in fact staged as propaganda shot some time after crossing (which in any case was at night) but portrays dramatism of events.

Torrential rain in Barcelona

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Absolutely bucketed it down this week in Barcelona, the marks of Mussolini’s murderous bomb behind on the façade of Sant Felip Neri. Then, on Saturday, Barcelona yesterday broke its highest rainfall levels ever recorded over 24 hours. Around 200 mm. The new climate normal is that weather records are smashed everywhere.

The Cable Street battle

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The Cable Street battle, Jewish London East End on 4 October 1936 with their banner explicitly adapting the antifascist slogan of the defence of Madrid “NO PASARÁN.” They shall not pass. They fought against police -who allowed the fascist march. Many then came to Spain. Note. Remember Olympia refers to 1934 British Union of Fascists meeting where they set on antifascist protesters.

John Coltrane’s Olé

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John Coltrane’s Olé (1961). Lorca”s “Gypsy ballards”, Langston Hughes’ articles and poems from Spain, Malcolm X, New York flamenco clubs, Pete Seeger’s rendition of the Spanish Civil War classic El Quinto Regimiento and the memory of American brigaders which Coltrane must surely have known… I can listen again and again.

CNT tram

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Tram lines last year unearthed as part of the reform of La Rambla this morning Photo: No. 16 collectivised tram, 4 minutes up the street in Plaça de Catalunya, 1936.
The line stopped running in 1961.