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Published: September 30th 2006
We arrived from Nice, France via Montpellier to Barcelona after a full day on the train and waiting in the station. At first, we were excited to finally speak spainsh again but soon realized that the Catalonians speak their own tongue. It´s not a spanish that we heard before, seen written before, or even studied before. The foundation is the same, but it´s just different. Weird. At first, we were thinking that our 11pm arrival was late and were surprised that so many people were out late on a Wednesday night. Then we remembered perhaps one of the greatest innovative advances of all time--the siesta. They nap in the afternoon and stay up late. Eating as late as 8 or 9 is completely normal. We weren´t arriving late. We got in just in time.
Barcelona is a city in the Catalonian region. Most people consider themselves independent from Spain. It has a little bit of everything. The mountains, beaches, city life, and plenty of shopping. The streets long and wide, many with outdoor cafes in the middle of streets on the medians.
The only downfall about the siesta is that most shops are closed during the afternoon break. Meaning
La Sagrada Familia
View of the facadewe didn´t get our day started until 4pm after a late wake up. But no problem there. We still managed to get in enough R&R and see the sights. We checked out Barcelona´s cathedral and enjoyed a children´s choir concert in the square. We took our siesta at the waterfront by plopping down on the docks that surround the yachts anchored to shore. Afterwards, we found a monument to Columbus and took the lift to the top of a hot and stuffy enclosed viewing platform that had okay panoramas of the city.
The main attraction of Barcelona is something that many people say is a once-in-lifetime-before-you-die kind of experience. La Sagrada Familia. A huge temple started by Anotoní Guadí in 1882. As of today it is only half done and they are not even sure if it will be done by 2082...200 years later! Personally, I think it´s not at all a see-before-you-die kind of experience. It´s an incredible church, but I´m pretty sure I could´ve found a better way to spend all that money. The facade is pretty much completed with nativity scenes and other biblical representations.. However, the inside is a different story. At the rate they´re
going they have at least another 100 years. Scaffolding is everywhere, the ground is only somewhat in tact. By the time they actully do finish the church the construction that they completed in 1882 will have to be redone. The church is done in very distinct and different style that you will ever see. Guadí based the construction on the use of innovative geometrical shapes of naturalist style.
We also visited the Olympic Village on the beach. Barcelona was the site of the 1992 Olympic Games. We walked by a swimming pool constructed on the side of the mountain. The spectators sat on the mountainside and had an incredible view of the entire city as they watched the Games.
One day by the waterfront we spotted an older guy that had tattooed most of his body. Perhaps the most unique tattoo was the one giving the appearance that he was wearing underwear when, in reality, he was wearing nothing at all. Well, almost nothing at all. No shirt. No shoes. No pants. Just a little "sock" connected to a bikini string that went around his waist and held things in place. As we continued to walk the beach
La Sagrada Familia
Tenille at the back of the temple we also noticed that the expression ¨No shirt, no shoes, no service¨does not apply in Barcelona. Topless women were sitting at the cafe eating and enjoying a cold beverage like nothing was out of the ordinary.
Good weather in Barcelona. Too hot the last day. Hopefully it will continue.
Next up: Madrid, Spain; September 30, 2006
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Mike
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Soon Come
Paolita Minervini will arrive Barcelona next week to begin her Master's program there! All of Merce's family speak Catalan and IT IS WIERD!! If you go north of Barcelona to the small town of Sarreal (sp?) there is a statue to her g'g'father who came to El Salvador from there and then started bringing family members, and thus many of the the hardware businesses in ES were started: Llort, Miro, Vidri, Panades, etc. Just a little historical tidbit...if you go there, look for Llorts and mention El Salvador...you'll be well treated! Ry, I agree w/ your Dad about the haircut. Hell, even Tenille could have done a better job!!