Barcelona Riots - Oct 2010

When Mum and I were leaving Athens to fly to Spain, we had been told by cousins that the very next day there were to be union strikes on transport across the EU, so we were very lucky we were booked on flights that day before! People had suggested riots etc but I really didn't pay much attention. So that second day in Barcelona we decided to walk from our hotel into the city (20 min walk) and soak up the lovely scenery on the streets of Barca – in particular the gorgeous building facades. We arrived in town and Las Rambalas was a ghost town. It seemed everyone knew the metro, taxi and buses were not working today so spent the day lazing in their hotel room. There were a few stores open but all had security guards that were not normally out the front.

The golden rule when you need to use the bathroom when travelling – you can always rely on the golden arches (Mc Donalds). But even they had their roller doors half down at 10.30am. The word on the street and we had seen it on the news that morning (albeit in Spanish but we got the jist of what they were saying). So everyone was avoiding Las Ramblas fearing a riot would break out. It seemed all peaceful but with only a couple of shops opened we headed down to the beach for a stroll. A couple of my friends live in Barca and were expecting to have a baby any day whilst we were there. We arranged to meet them that evening in Las Ramblas at the Zurich building cafe shop, which apparently is the meeting point for most locals. A few hours before we were due to meet I received a text message from my friend advising that it would be safer to come to her apartment near Station de Sants as the riot was expected to commence at our agreed meeting time.

So we agreed and slowly walked back up to Las Ramblas – the scenes that we were greeted with was crazy. We realised that something wasn't quiet right when we saw the huge bins they have on the roadside for residents to use – tipped over in the middle of the main street which was now very empty. There were police absolutely everywhere! Some were trying to pull the bins off the road and back into an upright position – the rubbish spilling all over the roads was disgusting.

People were picking up the pace with their walk and getting where they needed to go fast. The closer we get to the centre of town the more damage we see. It wasn't just the rubbish bins blocking streets, but smashed shop front windows and an awful lot of graffiti across shop windows criticising capitalism and corporate greed. Shop window after shop window the paint cans had sprayed their messages loud and clear for all to see. I was turning into a journalist as I was madly taking photos -
I couldn't believe my beloved Barca had turned into the early stages of a war zone!

By the time we got to the top of Las Rambalas we met the riot police and there was an overhead police helicopter watching the crowd. Somehow mum and I were right at the front of the group of police in riot gear armed with tear gas, rubber bullets, shields, helmets and batons and there is me and a little 70 year old! I couldn't help myself and took a heap of photos just in-case they attacked the crowd when no-one was actually moving. You could actually see in the crowd the young trouble makers who were just there so they can be violent and a nuisance. I decided it was not safe for us there and that it was time to head home, so we weaved our way back through the crowd and continued down the street to our hotel. The destruction was everywhere and by now all stores were open before were quickly shutting down after hearing that the protesters had gathered nearby.

Things calmed down that night but watching the news we discovered that whilst we were strolling down at the beach, revellers had set alight a police car – it was very chaotic and we seemed to be just behind the excitement all the way. It was certainly a side to Barcelona that I never imagined possible – my mum got to see European passions flare and got to experience Barcelona with no shopping :(

Next blog... Madrid

Barcelona again...

Apologies its been a while since I last wrote but I have been trying to catch up with the last few months of life. Here we go again... more travels....

Back in early October my Mum and I decided to make a side trip to Spain thanks to the el cheapo fares on offer with Vueling airlines (love you guys!). First stop as usual... Barcelona!

After finding my way through the airport for a 2nd time in 3 months it was back on the Aero bus and on our way to town. A couple of stops before we hopped off as per our accommodations instructions we found ourselves standing outside what looked like and old warehouse. To my regret at that moment I see that there is in fact a doorbell which reads “Barcelona Rooms” I'm kicking myself for booking a hostel thinking we were about to walk into a rat infested building.

We are greeted by a lovely Asian lady who is also fluent in Spanish (im jealous of this fact). She checks us in at a temporary table (no office) and up we go a few flight of stairs to our level. We are pleasantly surprised at the sight of a clean entrance, smiling faces and a surprisingly quiet and non “backpacker y” looking place. As I mentioned it's in a old warehouse looking building and the owner has taken one whole floor which looked like an apartment before (a typical huge Catalonian one) and sliced the rooms to private accommodation. We booked a private double with our own shower and toilet – I didn’t think mum really needed to share bathrooms at her age.

Our room was at the end of the hall way and so cute! Inside a double bed, flat screen TV, side tables, clothing rack, electronic safe, our own private balcony and the coolest jet hydro shower!!! Mum absolutely loved sitting out on the balcony which over-looked the neighbourhood – she felt like she was back home being able to spy on the neighbours – ha ha – but in this case we looked into everyone’s balcony within the neighbourhood block.

By the time we settled in it was late afternoon with only enough time to take mum for a walk to las Ramblas to find dinner. I was on a mission for paella and sangria – embarrisnly they bring us 1 litre pints full of sangria with these huge ass straws - mum posed well for a pic with this. Of course no visit to Barcelona in my opinion is complete without a trip to my fav. Gelato store with the guy who works in there comicly known as my boyfriend between my friend and I who became locals in there for a few weeks – hey it meant we got served faster! Ha ha

We only had a couple of days in Barca then and again at the end of our trip but mum agreed its beautiful. My favourite was definitely strolling down to the beach with mum, sitting on the board walk and resting our tired feet in the sand while we watched the world go by, ate more gelato and had a great mum and daughter DM about life. A special moment that I wont ever forget.

Next blog Barcelona Riots.....

Barcelona

Last time I was in Barcelona was my first trip to Europe as part of one of those bad rep Contiki tours (which I quiet enjoyed!). At the time I was 19 and when I set foot in Barcelona then it was love at first sight and along with the girl I befriended on my tour from Newcastle, we looked at each other and said "I want to live here". A few minutes later we found ourself in a African music store in the middle of Barcelona talking to the owner whose son owned an apartment that was up for rent - needless to say we were all talk and chickened out when it came to going to see the apartment.

But I felt it then and when I arrived back in Barcelona to meet my cousin before heading off to the Canary islands - I felt it again AND still even moreso when I got back from the Canary islands to catch up with some friends from Australia.

I think I have actually met a person who claims that Barcelona was the worst place on earth for her, but it seems that its a city everyone falls in love with. For me its not just the amazing architecture but the beach right in the city, the brilliant food (of course), the language, the people, the awesome fashion and mostly the fact that the Spanards seem to embrace multiculturalism in Barcelona with food from around the world and huge interest in international travel and music. Maybe Im looking for excuses to love it, but thats really how I feel.

So in the first few days there I did the tourist thing on those huge embarressing buses, but I really think its a great way to orietate yourself. We paid a fortune to eat and watch the world cup which had just started when I arrived. Coming back from Canary Islands I was lucky enough to have two friends in town that I stayed with. One couple from Australia who rented an apartment in the Gotic part of town - right near my favourite church St Anna and of course the St Caterina food markets cant be forgotten, more local and less touristy with delicious food.

Gelato became a daily affair in Barcelona (evident by the weight appearing around my belly) and thanks to the good looking guy serving us who embarrisngly recognised us as regulars! One night we watched Ghana vs USA in a bar which was packed and we werent too sure just who they were supporting until the USA scored and of course it was all of them and 3 of us supporting Ghana. We did a little bootie dance to celebrate Ghana's victory as we watched the most silent American crowd I have ever witnessed depart the bar >:)

Las Rambalas - some people hate it being so touristy but I think its the heart of Barcelona - its where people from around the world converge and you can feel the electric charge in the air from the eateries, bars and stores as tourists buzz realising they are in Barcelona. Not to mention the number of Zara stores within a 1km radius and my newly discovered Fnac store AND my favourite - Mango.

Day 2 on my second visit I decided I needed sun and quick, so walked down to Port Vell with my ipod on David Guettas tunes and was psyched for a brilliant swim. The beach at Barcelonitas is definately touristy but its the beach I cant complain and again I was loving the buzz. There's a guy whom Im told has been there for years walking along the beach with a board on his head and donuts piled high in a pyramid and when he arrives you hear him before you see him - he plays a trianlge and sings to the crowd encouraging people to buy the donuts. He's a young blond French guy by the look of it - some people are obviously too embarressed to buy from him, whilst the heavily curvacious Spanish women lying next to me abruptly order him over to devour his treats. The Indians walking along the beach selling beer, soda and if you look like the right kind of customer - marijana.

The chinese and Thai ladies walking along the beach saying - "massage madam" and the Africans selling beaded necklaces, bracelets and offering to do hair braids. The bars that line the beach - totally overpriced but perfect to enjoy a cool beer whilst watching Spain qualify for the World Cup semi-finals! I realise quickly that this beach is exactly what I think Miami beach might be like - there's even rollerbladers and rollerskaters all along the boulevard.

The other thing I love about Barcelona is the bikeways - bikes are a huge way to get around and I manage to score my friends Bicycle card which allows locals to unlock a bike from one point and ride it to another within the hour. So easy to get around.

One observation that my girlfriend and I notice is that all the shoe stores in central Barcelona sell leather flats mainly and for good reason.. you walk so damn much in this city it just wouldnt be practical to where anything but!

One night there's a Michael Jackson memorial vigil taking place in Placa Catalunya and the next day there is a festival with huge puppets walking down the street - this town knows how to party! And lets not forget the afternoon siestas that help you party the night away.

My other girlfriend whom I used to African dance in Brisbane with has returned to Barcelona to start a family after previously living there for 8 years. So Im very lucky to have such a great host to show me around town. We travel one afternoon to a beautiful beach that is a 20 min train ride from De Sants main train station. It's nearly empty this beach and again its calm and beautiful!!!

We do the compulsary waterfall visit which suprisingly I think to be quiet romantic - if you ignore the few thousand tourists around you. Im not one for water fountains, but the lights, the music and the fact its Barcelona - Im sucked in.

We visit a friend one night who is renting an apartment downtown and climb around 6 flights of stairs to her tiny apartment that has the most brilliant rooftop terrace thats privately her's - im hooked!

I definately love Barcelona and will be back hopefully soon!

Next Blog.... Andros Greece