Mes que un pais: "More than a Country"

“Mes que un pais: More Than a country” is a travel blog aimed to capture the many facets of Spanish culture that we have experienced in our travels throughout the country. The audience aimed for this blog is college students, especially students involved with the Miami University Doblios European Center Summer Program. The personal narratives presented portray mainly the Catalan cities of Barcelona and Valencia, each city capturing a unique cultural identity stemming from their regional allegiance. The entries below are written by college students currently concluding their seven-week study abroad program. The accounts presented capture the tastes of Spain, especially focusing on the famous cuisine of Catalan culture and the abundance of market life. The diaries next describe entertainment tourism, including Barcelonian nightlife and the Ramblas, and the beautiful beaches that flood the Spanish coasts. In addition, the blog captures visual tourism through the renowned architecture and famous collections of art found in both Valencia and Barcelona. On a more recreational note, the final entry includes Football Club Barcelona and the significance of the team beyond the sports arena. The hope of this blog is to guide future students traveling to Spain with information that is useful and will supplement the overall travel experience.

Tastes of Spain

Spanish cuisine consists of a numerous variety of dishes, which stems for the prevalent differences in geography, culture, and the climates of different areas within the country. The cuisine is renowned for seafood as a result of its coastal cities and accessibility to the ocean, and also portrays the deep maritime roots of the country. Two cities that have great food opportunities and famous markets that this blog will focus on are Barcelona and Valencia. The rich Catalan history and unique culture serve to feed both Barcelonian’s pride of their identity and Valencian’s confidence in their agricultural sectors.

On our visit to Valencia, we all had been educated that we must try paella, the Valencian rice dish that originated in its modern form in the mid-19^th century. Before ever visiting the port-city with deep agricultural roots, I was unfamiliar with the dish and its cultural history. I always associated rice dishes with the entire nation; however, paella is in fact a regional dish, which is used as an identifying symbol of Valencia. There are three kinds of paella: Valencian paella, seafood paella, and mixed paella. However, in our group experience we were exposed to paella that went against most of our food limitations. We were served rabbit in our paella, and squid ink paella that most people either nervously tried, or turned the noses up with horror at such a cruel cultural difference. Personally, I knew that I would be unable to handle anything that had a seafood base, so took my chances and deeply analyzed the mixed chicken and rabbit paella. I desperately tried to distinguish the meat between the chicken and the rabbit, however it was impossible. Both small pieces of meat were grilled to perfection over the Spanish rice, and I shockingly ate the meat pretending it was completely normal. Paella is one of the

many dishes that one should try as you venture to the port-city. It captures the deep agricultural heritage dating back to the 15^th century when Spanish Catholics expelled the Muslims.

Valencia is also famous for its plethora of markets, especially the Central Market. In this market you can find fresh fish, meat and fruits. The market is in the city center in front of the Market Square (Placa del Mercat). However, one cannot lie that when you venture into the building that was finished being built in 1928, the aroma that spreads through your nostrils does not scream desirability. The first thing I saw to the left was a large fish stand, where heads were being chopped off and fish laid over ice in preservation. Then to my right, I was shocked to see pigs that still had their heads, differing from anything I had ever seen in a standard American grocery store.

The mixed smells between the fish, meat, and fruits and vegetables made for an extremely surprising experience. The region is very famous for fruits and vegetables and much of the crop is exported. The famous fruit that Valencia exports are the oranges, which stems for the region’s excellent climate for citrus fruits. I personally tasted one of the oranges and the rumors are true, Valencia’s were by far the most succulent citrus fruit I had ever experienced. Brian Guarnieri gave an excellent portrayal of his experiences at the Central Market in his blog, “This is No Publix” he explains:

“I began to realize how important this market is to the people of Valencia and how it perfectly embodies their culture and who they are. Since Valencia is located on the water, has the perfect climate to grow citrus fruits and vegetables, and is irrigated extremely well, agriculture has been extremely important to the city of Valencia for hundreds of years and is one of the main reasons for their growth and success.”

In addition, the market capitalized on individual venders all lined up with their own stands competing for business. Through our visit to the market we learned that markets are where loyal people do their shopping and actually form relationships with their vendors who they visit continuously over and over again. It is a cultural difference not to buy in bulk, but rather make more frequent trips to the market and buy as you are in need, rather than stock your fridges for the next depression.

Barcelona’s cuisine can often be surpassed by the rich tourism that takes place in the heart of the city. Walking down Las Ramblas, the heightened tourist street of the city, you see globalized food chains, street vendors, and mass crowds of people looking at the shops and people attempting to make money in anyway possible. However, Barcelona is renown for La escudella i carn d’olla or a rice stew made of rice, noodles, ground pork, potatoes, and vegetables. Fuet is Catalonia’s slender-shape regional sausages, but the region is best known for botifarra, or spicy sausages served with white beans (http://www.barcelonatravelinfo.com/food.htm). I however did not have the opportunity to try either dishes, because as a college student, the city of Barcelona targets people at our age for the beach scene and nightlife that one has to go out of their way to experience foods that are culturally significant in the party town. As advice to future MUDEC students or other college students who venture to Barcelona, you really have to plan wisely because it is so easy to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the city. Our group was lucky to have organized events visiting significant places of the city, because it would have been the preference to most students to sleep on the beach and stay up all night experiencing the city’s infamous club life.

Overall, the cuisine of Spain, in our experience was the regional tastes of Catalan culture. We experienced the port city of Valencia where agriculture was a key influence in the economy and seafood where seafood was accessible and eaten by most citizens and tourists venturing to the Mediterranean cities. Rice, fresh fruits and vegetables were things that all of us were given the opportunity to experience, allowing us to see the political identity associated with the markets and tastes of the food. Both places had excellent food that every traveler should experience!

To read more about Valencian markets visit Brian Guarnieri's, "This is no Publix".

Vida Nocturna

Barcelona:
Barcelona is a lively and colorful city that is full with great nightlife because of its rich diversity of tourists, travelers and young people. One can enjoy pubs, salsa bars, night clubs, late bars, gay bars, shot bars, wine bars, cafes, basically anything one can think of. But first comes first, you must know the “Nightlife Schedule” which most of us are not accustom to, most bars and clubs do not even open until after midnight, don’t expect the place to get crowded until after 2 am, when lines circle the block for most clubs. This can be showcased in Leah Reitz’s Blog “Slow Down” within her description of the differences in nightlife. “ Be prepared to hear noises throughout the entire night, many of the bars don’t get busy until after midnight and clubs don’t get crowded until two making it a late night for many city visitors.”
There are four main areas where nightlife is most prevalent including: Barri Gotic & Las Ramblas, L’Eixample, Maremagnum and Port Olimpic. Below is a map showing the locations of a variety of “night clubs” within these areas:
Each of these areas has unique characteristics, which make for fun and eventful nightlife experience. For more helpful information go to this link: http://www.barcelonaconnect.com/nightlife/


Barri Gotic & Ramblas: This is a great central location with a medieval flair; this is probably near where most of the young crowd will stay. There are an abundance of bars, clubs, and pubs within the gothic area. Be careful about tourist traps as well as pickpocket.
L’Eixample: This area is north of the center of the city, there are a variety of bars, clubs that are pretty far apart; there is also a large amount of gay bars.
Maremagnum: This is a shopping center that includes many bars it is the largest mall in Barcelona. This is near Ramblas and has a lot of bars, clubs, and pubs. There is every type of bar/club you can think of there, but the prices are usually high.
Port Olimpic: This is a long line of clubs that pass the Olympic yachting marina. This is a great place to go during the summer months and includes many open outdoor terraces with bars and clubs. There is a cover charge at most bars and clubs.
Recommendations:

Bars:
L’Ovella Negra:
http://www.ovellanegra.com/
El Monastero:
http://www.connectclub.com/discounts_barcelona/El_Monasterio.aspx
The Chupito Bar
http://www.boo.com/barcelona/nightlife

Clubs:
Razzmatazz:
http://eventful.com/barcelona/venues/razzmatazz-/V0-001-000363032-4
Opium:
http://en.worldpioneers.com/opium
Catwalk:
http://www.clubcatwalk.net/

Pubs:
The Shamrock Pub: http://www.boo.com/barcelona/nightlife/The_Shamrock_Pub

Irish Pub:
http://www.pflaherty.com/
Dry Martini:
http://www.speakeasy-bcn.com/

Outdoor Activities

Fun in the Sun

            Along with all of the monuments, churches, and museums Spain has to offer, there are also a lot of other tourist attractions that are free and enjoyable for all ages. The beaches are definitely the place to go and hang out after a long morning of site seeing. Locals and foreigners are found at the beach till late in the evening swimming, relaxing, and socializing.

            If you are looking for a larger beach that is a lot less touristy and noisy, Valencia is the place to go. There are a number of beaches along the Mediterranean Sea that welcome everyone. They offer umbrellas, chairs, restrooms, lifeguards, and many other facilities that accommodate for everyone visiting.  Along the coast there were many beach huts and places to eat and enjoy a drink while also having a sea view.

            Another popular place to hit up is the beach in Spain is in Barcelona. Barcelona is full of young tourist coming together to have a great time and enjoy the upbeat Spanish culture. The beaches are packed with locals wondering through the sand selling food, drinks, clothing, massages, and anything else you can possibly imagine. The large crowds of people and the local selling strategies tend to take away from the relaxing culture that a beach usual imposes, however it allows for a more recreational and fun beach atmosphere. To read more about the beach in Barcelona, I included the blog “Seaside in Barcelona” written by Paul Gentzler.

            The beach in Barcelona is very easy to get to by metro. It is metro stop “Barceloneta” (Yellow Line, L4.) and then a short ten-minute walk from there. The beach is also in a walking distance from the Barcelona City Centre. It will take you about twenty minutes from the end of La Rambla, a popular tourist street in Barcelona. I personally recommend walking from the City Centre to the beach because it is a great way to see a lot on your way to the coast. Not only will you see the “Monument a Colom” the famous memorial to Christopher Columbus at the City Centre, but you will also get a view of the Port Vell de Barcelona, which is a spectacular view of the sea and marina in the city. 

 (http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-spain-beaches.html)

Las Ramblas

            Las Ramblas is one of the major tourist streets in Barcelona that you will pass on your way to the beach. It runs 1.2 Kilometers through Barcelona, starting at Placa Catalunya where all of the major department stores are located. It then continues down to Port Vell and the marina district. The crowded street of locals and tourists consist of all sorts of vibrant street performers dressed up in costumes ready to entertain and take group photos. There are also birds and ferrets, artwork, and many other souvenirs that represent Barcelona that are sold on the Las Ramblas. The street can be quite hectic, but it all ties into the friendly and lively atmosphere of Barcelona. Las Ramblas is definitely the walk to take while visiting Barcelona.

Seaside in Barcelona

Paul Gentzler

It was a sunny, beautiful day in Barcelona with barely a cloud in the sky. Never before had I been to a Mediterranean city during any of my travels to Europe. So what would I do on such a gorgeous day? Naturally, I wanted to go to the beach! To hear the waves, to swim, and to bask in the sun would be the key to a perfect afternoon. I made my way to the Metro, situated right on the crowded La Rambla, and navigated my way to Barceloneta, the exit closest to the beachfront. At first, I had in mind that Barceloneta Beach would be a reprieve from the crazed, touristy area near Placa de Catalunya, but I was most definitely wrong.

As I was nearing the shore and caught my first glimpse of the sparkling Mediterranean waters and palm trees, I also noticed the mass of beachgoers crowded onto the seaside expanse before me. Not to be deterred by all of these people, I removed my sandals and stepped onto the sand, scanning for a place to lay my beach towel. When I finally laid my towel down, applied my sunscreen, and sprawled out, I felt the overwhelming sensation of what it was like to be on a truly European beach. In the distance behind me, mountains loomed on the upper landscape and on the horizon in front, it was water as far as I could see. Everywhere around me, there were topless women, comfortably baring their skin in public, men in tight Speedos, and groups of people of all nationalities carrying on with their friends in many languages. This was a first for me, considering the extent of my beach trips have only been on American shores, where the atmosphere is so different. 

I began to think about how Barcelona offered so much for the traveler to find when he or she visits. All kinds of tourists come to Barcelona on a regular basis to revel in its cultural and environmental diversity. Therefore, it’s no small wonder why I didn’t find the beach scantly populated. With the unique culture of the city, Barcelona is a destination for people around the world. For a better idea of why Barcelona is a focal point for tourists can be found here: http://www.bcn.es/medciencies/latalaia/n1/eng/printable-tribuna.htm.

Taking this into consideration, I probably shouldn’t have been taken aback about all the people crowding the beach.

On this stretch of beach, locals compete for space with the throngs of tourists. To add to the mix, there are many people hawking services and goods to try to capture any available money from the beachgoers. And at the same time, the invisible threat of thieves is ever present as well. This creates an unstable dynamic on Barceloneta Beach. The politics of space require everyone there who wants to relax in the sun (local and tourist alike) to share very limited room and not aggravate those around them. Also, the number of merchants competing for scarce money that their potential customers are willing to spend makes them very aggressive. It seemed every moment, you heard an Asian woman offering someone a massage in broken English or you were offered some “cerveza, aqua, Fanta, Coca-Cola…” by another vendor. And with the threat of thievery, you always needed to keep your valuables close by or to have someone you know watch them while you took a stroll. A review of Barceloneta beach’s sights, atmosphere, and activities can be found here: http://www.partyearth.com/index.php?section=locations&subsection=place_details&city_id=11&place_id=618.

Not only is the beach an exciting and relaxing way to spend an afternoon, but has a lot of cultural relevance for the Catalan people. Perhaps this may explain why locals are drawn to the beach to be close to the sea. I believe that tourists spend their day on the beach perhaps to find out a little more of what it means to be a resident of Catalonia as well. Barcelona is, after all, a Mediterranean city and the Catalan capital and has been shaped over time by its ties to the water. During the time of the Catalonian Empire, the Mediterranean was the way to spread Catalan culture and conduct trade throughout this part of the world. This seafaring culture has remained to this day with those who believe themselves to be true Catalans. More on the history and ties to the sea that Catalan culture has can be found here: http://www.soulofamerica.com/barcelona-history.phtml.

As I went to take my first swim in the Mediterranean (which was ice cold but refreshing), it kind of made me envy the life that some people have in this place. It’s a sun-soaked, mountainous region by the sea which offers a lot for people of diverse interests. I’ll certainly be back one day, but will perhaps next time go to a beach that isn’t so overrun. Regardless, it was definitely worth at least one visit.

Don't leave Spain without....

While in Valencia...

Visiting the City of Arts and Sciences

After spending a whirlwind weekend on our study tour in the high-energy city of Barcelona, my friends and I were unsure of what to expect upon arriving to Valencia. We knew we were expecting a more mellow night life and relaxing days on the beautiful, less crowded beaches but did not grasp the great cultural lessons we would learn by e

xploring the city's most well-known sights. The incredibly modern Ciudad de las rates y las ciencia (The City of Arts and Sciences) as well as the diverse and bustling fresh markets make perfect day trips and after visiting these sights I gained a deeper understanding of everyday life in Valencia and also of its rich and complex history.

I remember arriving to Valencia with my friends on MUDEC busses and I was struck by the modern and abstract buildings that stood in the center of the city and towere

d over all of Valencia. The CAC is in itself an architectural masterpiece and if you are

particularly interested in finding out more about its architecture before visiting, read further in Wendy's art and architecture blog. The city of Arts and Sciences offers several main attractions. The Hemisferic is an IMAX cinema that offers different virtual 'adventures' to view. There is also a science museum and The Umbracle which is a massive bridge that covers 17,500 square meters upon. Venture to the top and gain a fantastic view of all of Valencia's buildings, lakes and walkways. (http://www.cac.es/hemisferic/). The massive opera hall known as Palau de les Arts is another impressive building within the center. My favorite sight to see within the CAC was the Oceanografic, or the aquarium, which is the largest aquarium in all of Europe. My friends and I entered buildings shaped like igloos to get a peek at the penguins and spent way too much time watching the highly entertaining dolphin show. While the CAC is a beautiful and luxurious sight, I quickly learned that the center was built more for show as Valencia poured millions of dollars into its construction to prove its modernity.

"Through a word of warning, some of these magnificent buildings were

built more for splendor than purpose, the Agora has yet to be completed

and apparently most of the money for the science museum was spent on its

construction so unless you are very interested in the subject it offers its best

view out doors." (Catie Krassner)

Take a moment while wandering around the CAC and look across the street. If you are lucky you will see farmers tending their vegetables while you are standing beneath some of the most modern architecture in the world. To me, this experience defines Valencia. A blend of tradit

ion and modernity makes the city unique and beautiful.

Click Here to Read Catie Krassner's blog to discover more details about Valencia's CAC!

Click here to see a map of the CAC in Valencia!

While in Barcelona….

I'll admit, when we first arrived to Barcelona I was looking forward to a weekend of beautiful beaches, clubbing until five in the morning and authentic Spanish cuisine. While I did party until the wee hours of the morning and also enjoyed the beautiful beach and ate the fresh seafood paella, I took away so much more from my stay in Barcelona. I am not an expert on art or architecture and yet I could still appreciate the beauty and unique design of Sagrada Famillia and Park Güell. However, if you are interested in learning more about the artistic details of these tourist attractions read Wendy's blog about art and architecture. Of course you should hit the clubs and experience Barcelona's night life at its finest. Just make sure that you take one or two full days before the party starts to visit Park Güell and the Sagrada Famillia. Barcelona is rich in culture and beauty and these two sites reflect a Barcelona that is much deeper than sandy beaches and bumping night life.

Exploring Park Güell

My most memorable experience in Barcelona was our group hike up to Park Güell and exploring the incredible park and soaking in the breathtaking scenery and views of the Mediterranean. The park features the stunning architecture of Antonio Gaudi and I felt almost like I was walking through the pages of a Dr. Seuss picture book with glittering multi-colored giant lizards irregularly shaped houses. Pack a picnic and eat lunch on the terrace at the top of the park and enjoy the traditional Spanish guitar music playing.

Below: A picture I snapped while in beautiful Park Güell

Visiting the Sagrada Famillia

Do not leave Barcelona without paying twelve euro to experience the grandeur and dist

inct beauty of the cathedral, Sagrada Familia. The church is still in construction and it began in 1882 under the direction of Gaudi. (www.sagradafamillia.org)

You can't miss the church as it towers over downtown Barcelona and serves as a universal symbol of the city. Despite the fact that I know next to nothing about architecture or art history, I was struck by the intricacies of the church and

its distinct style.

Catalunya's national identity is largely connected both to Park Güell and the Sagrada Famillia. I was able to sense the immense pride that those living in Barcelona hold for the history and culture that are attached to these historical monuments. If for any other reason make sure to visit these sites simply because they are just so unforgettably beautiful.

Image to the left found on Google Image

Awe-Inspiring Architecture

Art and Architecture of Valencia:

Spain is full of impressive art and architecture. While in Valencia, a must-see attraction for the remarkable architecture is The City of the Arts and Sciences. This modern “city within a city” is composed of six feautures: El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía-Opera house and performing arts centre; L'Hemisfèric-Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium; L'Umbracle-Walkway / Garden; El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe -Science museum; L'Oceanogràfic-Open-air oceanographic park. This futuristic complex has a nautical theme and was created by the architect Santiago Calatrava, costing Valencia billions of dollars. The clean lines of the buildings and grandiose scale will amaze those with no interest in architecture. These building are one of a kind! Below is Ben Hettler's blog about his reaction to these incredible structures.

The Ever Changing Valencia

The city of Valencia is a truly remarkable city by the sea. After spending three days there I experienced the city life, spending time at the beach, as well as seeing vast crop lands. The physical geography of Valencia is completely different than any other city I have visited in Europe. The city of Valencia has been changing significantly since the 19th century. It is apparent where the old medieval city was located within the city walls due to the unorthodox system of streets. Once one exits this confusing street system it is much easier to navigate because the streets appear to become more orderly. This is a similar case with almost all major cities throughout Europe which were founded during the early Roman Empire. Most medieval cities were clusters of streets with little to no order located around a central town square. Although the city has been expanding throughout the past hundred years there has been very significant changes which have occurred in only the past 20 years.
The most significant changes which have occurred in Valencia have been the urbanization of crop lands and the futuristic buildings by the architect Santiago Calatrava. These new and unique buildings were built in order to put Valencia on the map with the other larger cities of Spain. They built these structures for different reasons, such as to show they had the power and money to do so as well as to attract people from all over. Santiago Calatrava was an exceptional architect with a strong background in engineering which allowed him to build these magnificent structures. Here is a site which may be useful when traveling to Valencia and attempting to visit these structures http://www.valencia-tourist-travel-guide.com/. The people of Valencia now feel that these unique structures are the new symbol of the city rather than the crop lands which dominated the terrain for so long.
Due to the rapid expansion of the city, Valencia does not completely urbanize all of the croplands surrounding it. This is another reason why this city is so unique. One can be walking through the city near a large mall and before you know it you are standing in front of a large field. It is almost like a line which separates the city with the crop lands. These lands have become increasingly more valuable because they have been becoming smaller and smaller. It is amazing that even after hundreds of years the fields are still fertile. This is largely due to the magnificent irrigation system which was initially designed by the Romans but has been improved to perfection. Valencia is an extremely unique and diverse city which continues to grow and may become one of the major cities of Europe.

http://www.whatvalencia.com/history-valencia.html

http://www.valencia-tourist-travel-guide.com/history-of-valencia-spain.html

Check out the official website for The City of Arts and Sciences to learn more: http://www.cac.es/?languageId=1

Art and Architecture of Barcelona

One hasn’t truly visited Barcelona until they have experienced the unparalleled bold organic architecture of Antoni Gaudi. Spectacles such as the expansive Park Guell, whimsical Casa Batillo, and the infamously incomplete Sagrada Familia are just a few of Gaudi’s architectural marvels that will not disappoint. One can also visit the intrepid Casa Vicens or layered Casa Mila for more of a look at Gaudi’s less touristic works. There are many smaller projects Gaudi completed that are equally as engaging, just off the beaten path. Depending on your length of stay, you can alter how much architecture you want to see and visit, but a trip to Barcelona is never forgotten once you’ve visited one or more of these fabulous structures. If Gaudi’s architecture doesn’t fulfill your hunger for the arts while in Barcelona, a visit to the Picasso Museum, Fundació Miró, or Museuo de Ceramica, may be just the ticket. Whether you visit a museum, tour a cathedral, or stroll down Las Ramblas, you will undoubtedly experience the rich art and architecture of Barcelona.

Some useful sites for looking up further information on art and architecture in Barcelona are:

Museums in Barcelona: http://www.aboutbarcelona.com/barcelona/museums.asp
http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_directory/museums

Gaudi:
http://www.red2000.com/spain/barcelon/gaudi.html
http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/docs_serveis/informacio.php
http://www.gaudiclub.com/ingles/i_vida/i_menu.html

Art and Architecture Tours:
http://gospain.about.com/od/guidedtoursofspain/tp/art_architecture.htm

Map of Major Museums:
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=art%20and%20architecture%20in%20barcelona&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Finally, check out what Marilyn took away after experiencing the works of Gaudi, both at Parc Guell and La Sagrada Familia!

More Than Just Art



While many college-aged kids travel here for its never-ending night life, the topless beaches, and the excitement of strolling along Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s culture, values, and geography can be seen in a different light through the art and architecture of Antoni Gaudi. While I had studied the work of Gaudi in high school Spanish class, no class can amount to visually seeing it and understanding its monumental meaning to the people of Barcelona.

As a group we hiked up what seemed like an infinite amount of stairs followed by a dusty path to one of the topographically highest points of the city, the top of the hill El Carmel, which houses one of Gaudi’s most famous projects, the Parc Guell. Inspired by the English Garden City Movement happening around the same time period as the Spanish Renaissance and industrialization of the local textile industry, the Parc Guell was funded as an urban planning project by a man named Eusebi Guell. It was intended to be an upper-class garden city with mosaic stairways. Only two houses were ever actually built, one of which was a model home for interested buyers to tour. No one purchased any of these homes in the area, so Gaudi moved into the model home with his father in 1906.

After Gaudi’s death, the Parc took on a different meaning to the people of Barcelona. Rather than a segregated community for the wealthy, it lost its invisible borders and became a municipal garden for the public to share. In a crowded city like Barcelona, stacked with apartments upon apartments, there is little personal space. The Parc Guell, with its modernist mosaic serpentine benches, has become a place for people to enjoy space, nature, and conversation with friends.

Walking through the terrace I passed by numerous street vendors and picked up a necklace or two. I also heard local musicians looking to make a few euros by serenading us tourists with some local tunes. The souvenir vending also speaks to how the people of Barcelona look at the Parc Guell. Not only do they see it as somewhere they can relax, but also appreciate it as a globally respected monument that tourists will come to visit.



Before walking down the stairs to the symbolic lizard fountain and Gaudi’s house (which is the only part of the park that costs money to enter) I took a peek over the terrace overlooking the entire city of Barcelona. I was able to see in the distance another work of Gaudi’s, La Sagrada Familia.





La Sagrada Familia is a sight to see from far away, but even more of a spectacle up close and inside. After seeing the Parc Guell, it is just a bus or a metro ride away to this magnificent unfinished cathedral. Rather than the modernist architecture that was observed at the park, La Sagrada Familia is built in Gaudi’s gothic style including vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. As I approached the Cathedral, having only seen it in pictures, I was astounded by its massive size and intricate detail. The tickets to get inside is a little pricey, but if you have enough time I would purchase the ticket as well as the lift pass which can take you to the top of the towers. The ticket also allows you to see the museum in the Cathedral basement which describes Gaudi’s plans as well as what the future holds for the church.



I waited in a sizeable line, amongst other fans of Gaudi, to enter the cathedral, the whole time my excitement growing. When I entered, I found that the inside was simply a construction zone, but an amazing one at that. There is still a lot of work to be done on the interior before the projected grand opening in 2026, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s accidental death by tram. While Gaudi was alive, of the three faces of the church, only the side with the nativity scene was completed. After his passing, Jordi Bonet became the new leader of the architectural team.

Once it is completed, La Sagrada Familia will be the largest cathedral in Europe. This is a testament to the strong Catholic faith that pervades Spain. Spain is nearly 75% Roman Catholic, so this cathedral is a national symbol of faith and religion of the region.

Some may come to Barcelona blinded by the excitement and completely miss Gaudi’s architecture. Some who see it may consider it “just art”. However, from a geographical standpoint, Gaudi’s works are so much more more than just beautiful things to look at. They represent a culture, a history, a religion, and a way of life.

Posted by Marilyn Wickenheiser

Kickin it in Barcelona

Americans always assume all the talk about football is about the American kind with the 300 pound men running at full force into one another. Rarely do they think of the sport soccer which is what football is to the rest of the world. Football is the number one sport in the world and this year was a great time to be in Europe in the summer. Every four years the World Cup is held and it is a time when country’s people really let their patriotism hang out. In Spain, particularly Barcelona football takes on a whole new meaning.

The slogan of the FC Barcelona is Mes que un club, which means more than a club. This in its four words entirely sums up the way that Catalans feel about their football team. As describe by FCB’s official website the club is more than a club because it represents the true sport of the Catalans and it is something that all Spanish from around the world see as a staunch defender of rights and freedom. The club is now working to become more globalized and take their popularity and values around the world. The clue was started to serve that Catalan people and preserve the way of life that was disappearing.

These ideas are stated into the articles that govern the club second objective is “complementarily, the promotion and participation in social, cultural, artistic, scientific or recreational activities that are adequate and necessary for maintaining the public representation” http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/club_avui/mes_que_un_club/mesqueunclub_historia.html.This is something that is not taken lightly for the people of Barcelona or the Catalan area of Spain. Most of t he movement gathered force in The Spanish Civil war which was when ruler Francesco Franco allowed FCB to stay on as a club even though it represented ideals that were very different from those that he was promoting. Franco was a supporter of Real Madrid club. Because of this there has developed one of the largest rivalries in Europe between these two teams. The game that is held between these two teams is called “El Clasico” it is one of the more popular games in the season.

It is highly recommended that if you visit Barcelona to go and see Camp Nou, which is the stadium that FCB plays in. This is the largest stadium in Europe and the 11^th largest in the world. The stadium can seat 98,000 people. It is a sight to see and it reflects the uniform of the FCB players by having

the seats painted in red and blue strips like those that are on the uniform. It appears to be a really eye opening experience into the lives of football players and all of the fans that support them. This place would be one that would help any visitor to Barcelona or the Catalan area to better understand why football is such a huge passion to the Spaniard and the world. This year during world cup I was able to get a first hand view at how seriously fans take football and it appears that most American football fans( that of the non soccer kind) would not be able to understand why Spain loves this sport so much without seeing it for themselves.

If you would like a firsthand experience of a visit to Camp Nou see Taylor Stephens blog athttp://barcelonamudec.blogspot.com/2010/06/barca-mes-que-un-club.html for more information and travel ideas.