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Lots of news and lots of photos with this travel update.
First, I'm back in San Diego, I finally left Barcelona in
late March despite a lot of second thoughts and supplication
from friends to the contrary. I plan to be here for a couple
more weeks finishing up some odd web jobs and then probably
move to Boston.
This travel update covers September 2003 - January 2004,
my next one (hopefully out next week) will cover the rest
of my time in Spain.
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Barcelona life,
my brush with fame
I don't have a whole lot of Barcelona photos on this update,
I'm waiting until the next one to recap the tourist sites, friends,
events, and fiestas. But one noteworthy holiday, the Fiestas
de la Mercé took place during my mom's visit in September
(photos to left). This is Barcelona's biggest party all year
(which is saying a lot). Also during this time I met international
rockstar and my idol Manu Chao in a bar below my apartment.
Manu Chao is a French-born son of Spanish parents and legend
has it that he owns a bar and a laundromat a couple blocks from
where I lived. Extremely popular in Latin America and Europe,
he sings an eclectic and politically-infused blend of rock/pop/folk,
in French, Spanish, English, Portuguese, and I think a few songs
in Arabic. Anyway, check him or his old band Mano Negra out
if you haven't already, cool stuff. |
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Constant stream
of visitors
This past half-year has been marked by a seemingly constant
stream of visitors to my little five-person apartment. While
it was great for me, I did feel slightly sorry for my housemates.
First came friends Mika, then Alex and Sabrina, all whom I met
in the international party crowd in Portland (Mika is Japanese,
Alex Puerto Rican, and Sabrina French/Dutch). I also spent a
week entertaining my dear mom, mostly seeing the sites in Barcelona
and also some towns to the north (see below). My Dutch friend
Floor, whom I met in Guatemala also made a couple trips down
and we hit Figueres, Cadaqués, and finally the southern
town of Granada. And in late December my friends Jay and Kim,
good friends since university, visited for a week. Good times
with everyone. |
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Dalí towns
north of Barcelona - Girona, Figueres and Cadaqués
Just north of Barcelona, almost to the French border, lie some
very nice towns steeped in the art of Salvador Dalí.
Dalí was born in the town of Figueres and lived the last
few years of his life here. After becoming internationally successful,
he acquired the town's old municipal theater in 1974 and began
converting it into the Gran Teatro-Museo Dalí. A visit
to the museum is a bizarre, surrealistic roller-coaster ride
through one of the strangest artistic minds of the 20th century.
Within this maze-like structure you will find everything from
paintings to bizarre art installations, incredible jewelry (a
heart-shaped pendant that actually beats), and some of his twisted
sexual drawings.
The coastal village of Cadaqués is a much more tame experience
(unless you decide to visit the Dalí's old home in nearby
Port Lligat). Cadaqués is a gorgeous Mediterranean-style
town famous for its white houses with brightly painted doors,
clear blue waters and excellent seafood. An incredible place
to spend a nice, serene weekend. |
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A visit to Holland
In late October I made a short week-long trip up to The Netherlands
to visit some friends. I spent most of my time between Rotterdam
and Amsterdam. Amsterdam is... well, Amsterdam. Legalized marijuana,
legalized prostitution, hordes of tourists and bicycles everywhere,
and when I went in October, rain and a bitter wind. Rotterdam
is less touristy and more of the working, industrial type of
city but still with some nice areas. Having the benefit of staying
with locals, I was able to see some of the nice hidden spots
and party with the Dutch. |
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Trip to Granada
In early January I took a train trip with friend Floor down
to Granada. Granada is a medium-sized city in the southern Andalucía
region of Spain. It is most well-known for flamenco music, which
seems to pervade every corner of the city, and for its famous
landmark the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a ninth-century Muslim
fortress, built by the Moors and later occupied by the Christians
after their conquest of Granada in 1492. We spent a few days
exploring the winding streets and tapas bars with my friend
Tyson, whom I volunteered with in Mexico and who was studying
flamenco guitar in Granada. |
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