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Pastora – Desolado

Els Amics de les Arts – El Codigo Da Vinci

Mishima – Una Vida Tranquila

Els Pets – Por

Anna Roig – Je t’aime

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The last time I spent an extended amount of time alone here was last summer. My trip in 2009 offered me an inside view of what life is like for Catalan people, because I found myself spending a lot of time with them. Also, I did more touristy things, like day trips to beach towns, spending time at the beach near my apartment, and traveling around Catalonia. All of those things were amazing, and really helped make that such a memorable trip.

This time however, it’s different. Now I am in Barcelona full time, and it’s a different way of life here. Platja d’Aro, my “home” last summer, is a beach town that people vacation to. Barcelona, on the other hand, is a bustling city that is busy with everyday life. Of course, there are plenty of tourists, but there is also a very real sense that people are working here, living their day-to-day existence.

In turn, that is the kind of experience I’m having. Volunteering during the day, resting after, and then doing things around the city in the evenings – that has been my routine. It has been fulfilling in a different way, giving me a view of what my “real life” here could potentially be like. For that I am very grateful. Though it has been uncomfortable, as most of my time abroad has been to a certain extent, it has been an opportunity for me to face the anxieties and fears that will come with living in a new country/culture/city (should that be my path.)

On Saturday, July 10 my day was filled with 2 distinct experiences that were on both ends of the “insider/outsider” continuum. First, I attended the birthday party of the 2 year old daughter of someone I met last summer (the masseuse who I fell in love with for her strong hands and open attitude.) I was hesitant to go on my own, but did anyway, arriving right as they were getting there. It was at a park on kind of the edge of the city, a very pretty green space that turns out to be close to the school I’m volunteering at.

While I felt awkward at first, as more and more people started arriving I realized what an interesting group of people this woman and her husband have around them. Mostly they are ex-pats, people who have moved here from somewhere else. And mostly they are from English speaking countries. Scotland, Ireland, England, and the US were all represented. Some had Spanish spouses, one had an Italian wife; in a way, a very diverse group.

Seeing them all together was a refreshing thing, these people who have moved here and created a community with others with similar experiences of moving abroad and being “outsiders”. For the first time I was around people who I had something in common with – the desire to create a life in Barcelona.

I won’t go into too much more detail about the party, except that it was an important experience. I don’t know if I will see any of those people again, but just knowing they are out there, in this city, gives me a feeling of relief and understanding that it is possible to do what I want.

The second, and vastly different, experience was attending a demonstration where around 1 million Catalan people joined throughout the center of Barcelona calling for the independence of a Catalan nation from Spain. Minutes after being surrounded by non-Catalan people I was in the thick of a very passionate and heated march with Catalan people filling the streets around me. What a difference! I heard not one word of English or Spanish spoken anywhere, except on a few signs written in English.

Spreading the message to the masses.

I was fighting feelings that maybe I shouldn’t have been there, that it wasn’t my fight to protest against. But as my friend questioned, when I didn’t feel comfortable helping to hold a gigantic Catalan flag, “You are in support of what we are doing, right? Then you deserve to be here!” And it’s true, I am. Though I don’t have the same stake in it as those whose lives were  personally affected by the Spanish dictatorship of Franco and who fought so hard for independence, I still agree with what they are fighting for.

Massive Catalan Flag

The passion of the people in the streets was incredible to feel, and witnessing some of the older people who (as was translated to me) were talking about memories of people they knew who fought, was moving.

Though I can’t say that I will ever understand fully what they feel, I felt honored to get to be a part of the demonstration and to hopefully share some of their passion and story with others. This is a fight that few people outside of Spain even really know about…at least that’s the sense I get when talking about Catalonia with people. Many don’t know the history of this region, the reasons why they are so impassioned about their Catalan language and culture, and ultimately becoming an independent state from Spain.

It’s a story that should be shared, and I hope through these brief descriptions and photos I am able to do a little of that.

A man climbing up a flag pole to cut down the Spanish flag.

The apartment I am staying at is very near Placa d’Espanya, which while not as much of a central spot as Placa Cataluyna (popular as a downtown spot for shopping and eating) is still very much a major location in the city. I don’t know if it’s because of it’s historical meaning or because of the name, but regardless, Placa d’Espanya was a place for serious celebration last night.

I ended up watching the game a local bar near my apartment, which was nice because it wasn’t too crowded so I could get a seat, but I did kind of want a crowded, excited atmosphere. There was definitely cheering going on – in fact I thought the guy in front of me was going to propose to his girlfriend he was so happy and touchy-feely with her after the win. But once I left the bar the sounds of fireworks, horns, and cheering caught my attention.

I made my way toward Placa d’Espanya, noticing on my way the many police cars and vans lining the streets with cops in what looked like riot-gear milling about. I took this to mean I was heading in the right direction for a celebration.

Then I noticed that they had blocked off the entire center island of the plaza, barricading people from getting to the fountain. I realized later this was probably a good idea, considering the kind of revelry that exploded in the street.

I can only imagine what Sunday is going to be like, if they win or lose…

Please enjoy a few photos I was able to take with my phone. They don’t really do the scene justice, but do note the total bromance happening in the right hand corner of the second photo. Also I’m trying to upload some audio of the evening…we’ll see if it works!

Dreaming of Revelry

Spanish Bromance

A huge mass of people running in circles around the fountain.

Sounds of Winning

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I don’t have a lot to write, or rather, I don’t know how to formulate my many thoughts to write something coherent, but I can say that it has been a good day overall. Everything came together nicely – the apartment I’m in is very comfortable and in a great location, I have explored and navigated around with little trouble, AND I read a map correctly! I think this will be a trend.

The theme of this particular blog is just beginnings, since it is the first day. I’m hopeful and excited about my time here. Figuring out ways to really savor my time here rather then just spend it or pass it. I want as many moments to count as I can. So far, so good!

Bona nit, Barcelona!

Some updates on this leg of the trip…

I’m flying with Air France which I was a bit hesitant about given their not so wonderful history of plane crashes this summer. But I shoved those feelings away and tried to be positive (not hard with the plans I have…a positive outlook seems natural at this point!) I have to give props to Air France, my 10+ hour flight was AWESOME. I had an aisle seat, sat next to a really nice girl from SF who was chatty but not overbearing, ate some delicious chicken/potato/veggie dish that seemed to be drenched in oil/cream, AND was served an abundance of cheese at every meal time (dinner and breakfast).

To top it off, Air France’s entertainment services totally rock. You have your own tiny TV with choices of a ton of movies, tv shows, music, and games. I watched four, yes FOUR movies and a few tv shows. It was so great…I had a mini John Travolta marathon with Grease and then that Phelam 123 movie about hijacking a metro train in NY, watched The Ugly Truth AND 500 Days of Summer!!! Quite productive and enjoyable, to say the least.

Now, I’m hanging out in the Paris CDG (Charles de G…something) airport – a much nicer experience than the last one (see THIS POST from my travels this summer). There are these really cool lounge chairs that I am loving, and I MAY venture to find food. But I don’t really feel like interacting with anyone in “French” (my version of the language – saying “Bonjour” and then discretely switching to English.)

More to come!

Adios!

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