Barcelona: Capital of Catalunya, Host of the 1992 Summer Olympics, and “Home” for the First Few Days in Spain

HERE WE GO, INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
On Tuesday at 13:30 (9:30 AM for all the folks in the U.S. EST time zone), our group arrived in the airport of Barcelona! We were met by Jorge, our resident director for the program and loaded out luggage onto the bus. Now before I proceed, I must make one important note in reference to my last posting. I tried my hardest to pack everything into one suitcase before I left home, but upon checking my bag at JFK, I learned that my suitcase was so far over, that I had to go off to the side and transfer some of my belongings into my carry-on bag and then check both suitcases. I was so overwhelmed by my foolishness and I was mortified as I threw things from one bag to the other right between the check-in desk and the security gate. Ultimately, I sent some books and shoes home with the mom who drove me to the airport. It was not the most enjoyable experience nor am I proud that I was “so well prepared,” but it was followed by a rushed but successful trip through the security checkpoint.

OVERCOMING THE LAG OF THE JET
We all pulled our luggage into the hotel and prepared to eat lunch. My roommate Rebecca and I, along with the four guys on the trip, walked around the major streets near the hotel and strolled down Las Ramblas, a long and entertaining road. Geared for tourists, there were vendors, restaurants, and most exciting of all, people dressed up as elaborate statues, complete with face paint, props and costumes. In the early evening, Jorge took the whole group down Las Ramblas until we arrived at the waterfront. There, we rode an elevator to the top of the 40m statue of Christopher Columbus and saw an amazing view of the city. Jorge bought us café to give us a bit of a boost and then he showed us how to take the Metro around the city. We returned to the hotel and a few hours later at 22:30, we went out to dinner (translation: 10:30 PM—my kind of meal time)!

WHAT IS ART?
Over the last two days, the group walked through town, rode on a tour bus through various parts of the city (with a headset giving a guided tour in 10 different languages) and visited several cultural destinations. On Thursday, we saw the Museu D’Història de Barcelona (History Museum of Barcelona), the Cathedral Gotica, and the Museu Picasso. On Friday, we boarded the tour bus and headed toward the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalunya) and the Museu Miró (Joan Miró Museum). We hopped back on the bus after more café and agua (water) from the museum shop and saw the waterfront, various statues and sculptures of the “modern” sort, and the Olympic Village from the 1992 Summer Olympic Games (finally I made it to an Olympic city)! In all of this though, I struggled with the various perceptions of art, from Picasso’s shift through impressionism to cubism and Miró’s passionate depiction of a black line across a 20-foot white canvas. Indeed, I was puzzled until I saw Sagrada Familia, the cathedral designed by Antonio Gaudí, with its height, intricate curves, swirls and sculptures. Following that architectural marvel was the Park Güell, also designed by Gaudí. I cannot express how extraordinary the brightly colored mosaics, columns and stone sculptures appeared against the park’s gardens. Indeed, I am satisfied with Barcelona’s cultural presentation in all its forms.


THE “NEAT, NEW, AND NOT SO NIFTY” OF SPAIN
The Neat
1. Think you can parallel park in the city? Try putting your SUV into one of the many Vespa spaces lining the streets. Not only do Spanish commuters drive smaller automobiles and motorcycles, but Barcelona has bicycle lanes right down the middle of every street for those oh so fuel-efficient two-wheelers.
2. Tapas and paella are phenomenal! The finger food or small dishes known as tapas provide a meal with multiple options. Paella, the famous Spanish rice dish, is filling and is also available in various varieties (seafood, chicken, you name it, they make it!)
3. There is very little traffic at 9 AM on the city streets. Surprisingly enough, the morning commute is not as crazy as it is in America. I personally attribute this to the fact that in Spain, everyone is a bit more relaxed and probably don’t rush to work at the crack of dawn.
The New
1. The architecture in northern Spain is breathtaking. Barcelona was primarily influenced by the Roman Empire up through the conquest by the Arabs around the 8th century. Finally everything I learned in Art History comes to life!
2. In Barcelona, they have two types of Spanish: Castilian (what we learn in Spanish class) and Catelán, which is influenced by France from the north.
The Not-So-Nifty
1. Spaniards in large cities like Barcelona assume that if you are American, you cannot speak Spanish. Thus, our Spanish-speaking is limited while in restaurants and other public arenas (translation: EVERYWHERE). Also, we don’t very often speak Spanish together in our group, except for talking to our tour guide and Jorge. This has me a little bummed out as I would love to practice more and it would be fun to really perfect the language while I am here! Several of us ladies have decided that once we are in Granada and everyone feels more comfortable with their host families, we will make sure that our conversation is entirely of the “Spanish” sort.
2. Garbage anywhere on any street smells like fish. I suppose that’s what you get when you are in a city with a port!
3. The Spanish like to smoke a great deal, and it is pretty much guaranteed that anywhere there are people, an ash tray is sure to be found.

OFF TO GRANADA
Tomorrow, we leave the hotel for Granada, where I will finally meet my host mother. I do not know what Internet access will be like once I arrive in my new home, so I will leave you all guessing about my next adventure. My apologies now for being so verbose in my updates, but you knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed onto this blog. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you start new jobs, take classes and enjoy being home, close to family and friends.

Hasta pronto,
Diane