It's been relatively busy out here in Spain over the past few weeks with one thing or another. I'll try and cram them all into this without boring you to death.
Every weekend I seem to go to Barcelona. This is far from a chore and seen as it's only an hour and half away, why not?! The Barcelona Bucket List is slowly but surely being ticked off and it's great fun doing so. Although the trips to Barcelona are mainly cultural and touristy, I do manage to squeeze in the odd Starbucks and fastfood indulgence from time to time as a reward for living in the least touristy place on earth. Along with wondering down La Rambla and super walks along the beach watching the crazy surfers out in January!
Recently I have visited Sagrada Familia which is the big Cathedral designed by Antoní Gaudi. It's immensely impressive on the outside but slightly disappointing on the inside, and certainly not worth the 11 euros I paid to get in. It is arguably the symbol of Barcelona and it's clear to see why. However, it is yet to be completed and so adding to the wonder that is Sagrada Familia. My Grandad Harry had a theory that every night all the work that had been done in the day would be removed so that it would never be finished and continue to be this extravagant tourist attraction. Who knows?
I have also been to another of Gaudí's famous bulidings; Casa Batlló. This is basically a house built on the Passeig de Gracia running through the centre of Barcelona that is a bit wacky. (Gaudí was a bit wacky). It's a fully functioning, practical house but with weird and wonderful 'stuff' in it, all designed and overseen by Gaudí. It was really interesting to visit but I don't think I'd like to live there, I'm happy with my little flat.
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| The last leg to the top. |
On Sunday, the gym I go to had organised a little excursion- a walk to Puigsacalm. This should have really been labelled as a climb as it is, according to wikipedia, 'the highest mountain in the Catalan Transversal Range...and has an altitude of 1512 metres.' Now, although I didn't start the walk...I mean climb from sea level, it bloody well felt like it. It was extremely steep and it definitely nearly killed me. Ok that's an exaggeration but it was pretty difficult and my legs were aching like mad afterwards. Having said all this, it was a grand day out in great company (mainly old ladies who were out climbing us- to be fair they had sticks) and the views from the top were spectacular. It was lovely to get some proper fresh air and see another part of this fab country.
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| Thankful to be alive |
Other activities that have been undertaken over the past few weeks include seeing Les Misérables twice (it's immense, and if you haven't already seen it then do!), being subjected to a questionable English production of the Ugly Duckling and Pinocchio at school and indulging in some gorgeous strawberries and cream IN WINTER!
Well that's all for now folks but I'm sure I'll have some more Barcelona stories to fill you in on soon. Ciao for now!!
P.s. Hi Fran.
Ok, it's been far too long since I've updated this blog. I do apologise for this but I can assure you that I'll be more disciplined this year.
Let's start at the end of last year, before Christmas. The last few weeks before we broke up for the holidays were mainly geared towards Christmas and Els Pastorets. This is the Catalan equivalent of the Nativity play that young kids put on around Christmas time but the story is centred around the Shepherds (els pastorets) and the journey they make to see the birth of baby Jesus. The three Kings, Mary, Joseph, the Angel Gabriel etc feature very little in the production and so I wasn't really following the story until it was explained to me afterwards! This is mainly because there are about 400 kids at my school which made the show a complete shambles, and that, along with the fact that only half the microphones worked meant that it was about 2 hours of me thinking 'what the hell is going on?!' Having said that, it was great to see another Catalan tradition and I felt like a proud honorary teacher watching all the students perform.
By the time the 21st December came around, I was super excited to venture back to the UK Christmas. I was met at the airport by the family and was extremely happy to back on home soil. Needless to say, it was a very special 2 weeks at home seeing the family and friends and going to London to see in the New Year made it even better! I also got see the newest addition to the family- little baby Willow (who is actually a dog). I love her to pieces but I just hope she remembers me when I'm home next, whenever that may be.
So, on coming back to Spain, I decided to drag my Dad and brothers out here to see what goes on and where I live. They were staying in the hotel opposite my flat which was very handy and they spent 3 days and nights here and we barely stopped. We visited Barcelona and Girona, seeing as much as possible in the little time we had. I also showed them around lovely little Vic and took them to some of my favourite places. We were lucky enough to be invited to my lovely mentor's house for dinner on Saturday before the Three Kings parade through the city. I should mention at this point that some families go with the tradition that the Three Kings bring the presents on the night of the 5th January as opposed to Santa Claus on 25th December. Anyway, after indulging in some traditional Catalan foods with my family and Maria's, we set off for the city centre and needless to say, it was booming. I had no idea that there was so many people in Vic. The atmosphere was super and I can imagine that being 5 years old and seeing the Three Kings parade through the town is exceedingly exciting!
The boys all left on 6th January and so that meant it was back to normal for me here in Vic. I'm really happy to be back and to see all my Spanish, English and French friends again along with all the little monkeys at school. I've already tried my hand at some new Catalan foods with my French friend Aurelie and her brand new baby boy, Yann, and their friends. I was invited out for lunch with them and by lunch I mean about 4 hours of food in a restaurant whilst nursing a hangover. However, I had the most fun! We ate calcots which are a vegetable (somewhere between a leek and an onion) cooked on a fire. You then pinch one end and pull the other to take out the juicy vegetable from inside, all the while wearing a bib and gloves (it gets very messy). This is all served on a roof tile, I don't know maybe the restaurant couldn't afford plates. This was all an experience in itself which made for a great day out with some new friends.
I'm looking forward to some new adventures out here over the next 6 months, I've even written a 'Barcelona Bucket List' (don't worry I'm not dying) but it's all the stuff I want to do before I leave Spain in June, so watch this space. So, I hope the New Year is treating all of you well and I promise to update you all more often from now on....I hope.
Every weekend I seem to go to Barcelona. This is far from a chore and seen as it's only an hour and half away, why not?! The Barcelona Bucket List is slowly but surely being ticked off and it's great fun doing so. Although the trips to Barcelona are mainly cultural and touristy, I do manage to squeeze in the odd Starbucks and fastfood indulgence from time to time as a reward for living in the least touristy place on earth. Along with wondering down La Rambla and super walks along the beach watching the crazy surfers out in January!
Recently I have visited Sagrada Familia which is the big Cathedral designed by Antoní Gaudi. It's immensely impressive on the outside but slightly disappointing on the inside, and certainly not worth the 11 euros I paid to get in. It is arguably the symbol of Barcelona and it's clear to see why. However, it is yet to be completed and so adding to the wonder that is Sagrada Familia. My Grandad Harry had a theory that every night all the work that had been done in the day would be removed so that it would never be finished and continue to be this extravagant tourist attraction. Who knows?
