Posts Tagged ‘catalonia’

El Diada

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

It’s a national holiday in Barcelona today. Actually all of the state of Catalonia. Back in 1714, this area of Spain lost the right to govern themselves (War of Spanish Succession). And they are fiercely independent folk.catalunya protest

Next year, in fact, they are voting to secede from Spain and be their own country. The Basque area is also hot for independence. Spain is a country that has 7 different dialects and lots of deep traditions and flags and customs. They just aren’t unified. Sometimes our differences can make us stronger but not here. It just makes them critical.

So nothing is open on our last day in Barcelona and there is to be demonstrations and a large human chain throughout all of Catalonia. It’s suppose to be peaceful, but we’ll see.   (it was, and very impressive/ a human chain of millions stretching across the entire state.)

On My Own

Monday, September 9th, 2013

DSC01097_smWe are in Barcelona and Steve has to work 8-5. That’s ok because that’s what got us here and is what’s paying for it, but I am now the solo tourist.

Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region of Spain. If they’d have their druthers, they would be an independent country. They speak castillian, a version of spanish, and all signs must be printed in castillano,then espanol, and sometimes english. Example : exit=salida in spanish and  saltida in castillian.  

This is the land of Antoni Gaudi; famous architect and artist (more later), a shipping hub on the mediterranean, tourist mecca, and gastronomic heaven. People come here just for the restaurants.

So I organize my maps and hide all my valuables on my person — multi -pocket pants, credit card in the bra etc — think thru my game plan and off I go!