Riding on the Metro Train

L7 Brown line. Av Tibidabo

mood: defeated,

isolated YET UPLIFTED

I hate to say this but I think one of the places that I have learned the most is by simply riding on the metro! Not only is the convenient but also it is exponentially better than any public transportation I have ever seen in the United States. Not that the United States doesn’t have a public transportation but it simply is not as extensive and accessible. When I first came to Barcelona I quickly became familiar with the metro. I bought a T-joven and soon realized that the T-joven would become my best friend! I take the metro everyday for 20 minutes to and from school. Along my journeys around the city I have gotten the opportunity to observe, talk and interact with many Catalans. Whether I may strike up a conversation with the people sitting next to me or just simply sit back and observe. I have become very familiar with the Catalan language in the metro. I try and decipher what people are saying but I am always content with just observing peoples facial expressions. I have also been exposed to the typical style and clothes that many Catalans wear. As well, as family dynamics including how parents talk to their children and interact. I have also had a few instances where Catalan men will try and approach and talk to me. I find it way more aggressive than the U.S. however; I have grown to deal with it. Many times I don’t even realize how exciting it is to ride the metro because if you look and listen closing there is always something new to see. One instance on the metro I experienced the most heart warming Catalan hospitality I have ever experienced in my life. I was having a HORRIBLE day, everything seemed like it was going wrong. I was 6,000 miles away from home and never felt so far away and alone in my life. I was looking out the window listening to my ipod with tears running down my face. It was about 8 o’clock at night and woman came over and sat next to me. She began speaking Catalan to me and soon she realized I did not understand. She then did something heartwarming and amazing. She just stop talking, read my facial expression and put her arms around and me and hugged me. Eventually, I found out she spoke English and we chatted and made me feel significantly better. However, in that moment I don’t think I could have ask for anything more. Even though I felt so isolated and alone and separated from everyone around me there is no language of love. Catalonia really was there for me in a way I could have never expected. I am almost crying writing this journal entry. I will never forget my Catalan hug.

Mirablau

Mirablau-Peu del Funicular

C/ Manuel Arnús 208035 Barcelona, Spain

I have to say that Mirablau is my absolute favorite place that I have been to in Barcelona. I have been there multiple times and Mirablau acts as an escape for me. I live on Carrer de Crinwickel located off the Av Tibidabo metro stop so it is not too hard to get up to this bar. Sometimes when I’m feeling really homesick, lonely or just stressed I hop on the tram and head up the Mountain. Mirablau is a cocktail bar located on the hill of Tibidabo. It offers one of the most beautiful views of Barcelona Sagrada Familia the sea and Montjuic. The food and cocktails are very pricey and not very good however; I don’t go for the food. I am always drawn back by the breath taking view and open light environment. When I walk into the Mirablau my problems and concerns seem to disappear and are minimized by the irresistible view and millions of citizens of Barcelona. The firstweek that I was in Barcelona I explored Tibidabo and discovered Mirablau and the spectacular view. I started my trip to Barcelona and I plan to end my trip in Barcelona at Mirablau with a large cervesa! I took my parents here when they cameto visit and I’m pretty sure that they feel in love as well. I think this place may lack good food and charm but no one will ever complain about the view and excellent location.

Roman Barcino

September 24, 2009

In session 4 our class took a little trip to the Roman Barcino and the Museu d’Historia de la Cuitat. We focused on the Romans in Catalonia and the major impact they had on the way of life. The notion of the Romans conjured up imagines of life an enormously long time ago. It almost felt impossible to get a mental grip on the way of life and epochs from the Roman culture but this field trip forced me to use my imagination. The hub of Roman Barcelona, known then as Barcino, is in fact today's

Ciutat Vella or Barri Gotic. The inhabitants of Barcino decided to build the center of the city right around the Cathedral and religious center. The center of the city was the forum, a space for commerce and meetings to occur. I made connections with this notion of the forum or center of the city with other ancient Roman cities I had seen like Girona for example. Girona had a very
similar set-up originating from it’s Roman roots as well. I thought it was really interesting that the forum area was located in Plaza St. Jaume where the council and local government buildings are still positioned today.

Most of the ancient city is now buried deep underneath today’s city center. However, the City History Museum in Placa Del Rei had a great deal of excavated ruins. My favorite part of the museum was the “time-traveling” elevator. The elevator goes down into the vaults of the city while a digital year display counts down time in big red flashing numbers. We crammed into the elevators and 2 minutes later the doors opened at 600AD. We stepped out and began to explore the ruins! The ruins included a sweet drainage system, which was just another example that helped paint the picture of life in Barcelona. They also had what it looked like a trading area where they made salted fish and wine another important cultural good of that era. Not only did this field trip help me discovered and make connections of Roman life but also it showed me a new and unexplored part of Barcelona. The Barri Gothic has now become my favorite part of the city and I have a deeper understanding of the history behind it!

Drugs in Catalonia

Desciende el consumo de alcohol y cannabis en Catalunya y sube el de cocaína

8/12/2009 | Ciudadanos Lavanguardia-Article from Monday

While reading the Lavanguardia one article caught my eye in particular. This article spoke about drug use in Catalonia. This is an issue that I have been very curious about for the past 3 months while studying in Barcelona. Coming from Berkeley, California I have a very liberal point of view on drug use especially Cannabis because it is practically legal and EXTREMELY common. For some reason people seem like they do a lot of drugs in Barcelona. I also have been curious because I feel as if talking about this with teachers or older Catalans might be rather taboo. The article says that in recent years there has been a decline in the consumption of alcohol and cannabis in all age groups - 67.7% of the population that consumed it in the last month for alcohol in 2003 to 61.9% after four years and 11.4% to 9.7% in the case of cannabis - while slightly increased cocaine use - from 0.7% to 2.6% -- According to data from the Regional Ministry of Health released today. I found this a little bit confusing. But, possibly with the economic recession people have less money to spend on buying drinks in bars and weed in the streets. However, I would still think that WITH the recession and unemployment rates many people would turn to drugs and alcohol use.

Before I came to Barcelona I was talking to a family friend who travels the world to work in fashion and hair. She had traveled to Barcelona many times and was offering me tid-bits of advice for my travels. The one thing that scared me a little bit is that she said there is a lot of heroin in Barcelona especially around the Club scene. However, in my experience thankfully I have not encountered this. This article presents a relevant fact that cocaine has replaced heroin use. I have run into some cocaine in my experiences in Barcelona and with the club scene I can see why it is rather prevalent.

"El tió corre peligro y nos necesita"

Lavanguardia JOEL ALBARRÁN BUGIÉ | Barcelona | 10/12/2009

Abandonan 500 mini-tiós para que pasen de mano en mano y crean una web para revitalizar esta costumbre navideña

HAHAHA this was the greatest article ever! Not only was it completely relevant to ideas and traditions we have talked about it class but it is a brilliant idea. The article talks about a local companying that has created a webpage and campaign to take in tio's unto local Catalan families and house's during the Christmas season. The campaign mixes Tió Catalan Christmas traditions with new technologies such as Facebook and Twitter. The article says that over 500,000 people have become a “fan” of this movement on a group created on the web. Caja Tio is a Catalan Christmas tradition in which a trunk shits gifts after being fed for days. Not only is this tradition interesting and different to me but I just think it is humorous and fun! I want to beat a log and then get presents instead of them just secretly being placed under the Christmas tree. The main point of this article however, is not about uncle Tio; it’s about the tradition and history involved. The Catalan ways are losing popularity and it is essential to maintain this heritage. Not only in Spain but all over the world young children are losing touch with traditions and becoming hypnotized by consumerism. Which is a very depressing thought that spending money and presents are beginning to be more valued that traditional family bonding activities. I really think this is a great article and that Catalans need to hold on to this wonderful tradition and save uncle shitter!!!

Quote this!

Just something I stumbled upon in my readings that caught my attention

"Those who visit foreign nations but associate only with their own countrymen change their climate, but not their customs and with their heads as empty as their pockets, return home with traveled bodies but untraveled minds"-anonymous

"Do not grieve over your departure, for you have to drunk your death in one gulp, wheras we have to stay behind among these wicked people, receiving death from them everythingday"

-Juan de Leon of Aranda 1492

current mood: contemplative

current music: John Mayer-Slow Dancing in a burning room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX-nuY9LJAs

Cerveceria Catalana

Mood: full, content, huggable

weekend travels: Paris <3

Cerveceria Catalana is a beer bar and a tapas restaurant. It is considered one of the best places in the city to try the more tasty tapas. I have been here 3 times during my stay in Barcelona. The first time I went to Cerveceria Catalana was in October with my parents. The hotel we were staying suggested that we try the resturant and I absolutely loved it. I had eaten a good amount of tapas by this point but the atmosphere and crowded ambiance really won me over. The food was delicious! I had a difficult time explaining to my parents that in Spain, dinner is usually served between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. I know I speak for myself as well as my parents when I say I had a little bit of a difficult time adjusting to the eating habits of the Spanish. For example, I am used to

a very hardy breakfast and a light mid day snack which holds me over until an relatively early dinner. While, in spain lunch is usually served between 1 and 3 p.m. and dinner is much later and lighter. However, I absolutely love tapas especially because they are often very strongly flavored with garlic, chilies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and usually plentiful in olive oil. My absolute favorite tapas Tortilla with fried chunks of potatoes and onions. I also love Pincho moruno and off course, pan amt tomato and patatas bravas. I basically love all tapas and I wish I could take the yummy assortment of tapas home with me. I just love to eat J I would say possibly one of my favorite hobbies. I’m really going to miss Cerveceria Catalana and the light on the go bar atmosphere of food in Spain.