DAY 192 - Market & Mimes

Sept 27 - Barcelona:  A City With Many Faces

Barcelona  is the capital city of Catalonia in Spain, and the second largest city in the country, with a population of nearly seven million including the urban area oustide the city limits.  It is the 4th most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion.

Since the Spanish transition to democracy (1975–82) Catalonia has recovered political and cultural autonomy and is now one of the most economically dynamic regions of Spain. The Catalan government has announced its intention to hold a referendum on possible independence from Spain in this year (2014).

Panorama view of the city

The founding of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to the mythological Hercules. The second legend attributes the foundation of the city directly to the historical father of Hannibal, who named the city Barcino after his family in the 3rd century
BC.                                 

Arc de Triompf

The Palau de la Música Catalana is a concert hall in Barcelona. Designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was built between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeo Catala, a choral society founded in 1891 that was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement that came to be known as the Renaixenca (Catalan Rebirth).  It opened on Feb 9, 1908.

 Today, more than half a million people a year attend musical performances in the Palau that range from symphonic and chamber music to jazz and Cançó (Catalan song).



 

 

Notice to my daughters, who learned the pasodoble in their ballroom dance studies.

The Parc de la Ciutadella is a park in Ciutat Vella. After its establishment during the mid-19th century, it was for decades the only green area in the city, and the most popular.

Beautiful Bride-to-Be

Gorgeous fountain in the middle of the park

 

I know....another silly photo, but I just had to mimic the silly lions shooting water from their mouths.

Some important Roman ruins are exposed under the Placa del Rei; the typically Roman grid plan is still visible today in the layout of the historical centre, the "Gothic Quarter". Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral. The cathedral, also known as the Basilica La Seu, is said to have been founded in 343. The city was conquered by the  Visigoths in the early 5th century, becoming for a few years the capital of all Hispania. After being conquered by the Arabs in the early 8th century, it was conquered in 801 by Charlemagne's son, Louis.

La Boqueria is a large public market in the Ciutat Vella district.  It is one of the city's foremost tourist landmarks, with an entrance from La Rambla, far from the Liceu, Barcelona's opera house. The market has a very diverse selection of goods.

The first mention of the Boqueria market in Barcelona dates from 1217, when tables were installed near the old city gate to sell meat. From December 1470 onwards, a pig market was held at this site; at this time it was known as Mercat Bornet. Later, until 1794, it was known simply as Mercat de la Palla, or straw market.

It was not until 1826 that the market was legally recognized, and a convention held in 1835 decided to build an official structure. Construction began on March 19, 1840 under the direction of the architect Mas Vila. The market officially opened in the same year, but the plans for the building were modified many times. The inauguration of the structure finally took place in 1853.

Which one of you guys should we choose for dinner?

 A new fish market opened in 1911, and the metal roof that still exists today was constructed in 1914.

ME...ME - pick ME!!!

3 'itta fitty and a mommy fitty too!

"Boop boop dittem dattem watum...choo!"

There's ALL kinds of fishies here - take your choice!

...and other creatures from the sea, too.

Then there is calf stomach and other yummy stuff. ewww!!

"Gootchy gootchy Goo."

The Christopher Columbus Monument was constructed for the Exposicion Universal de Barcelona (1888) in  honor to Columbus first voyage to the Americas. The monument serves as a reminder that Christopher Columbus reported to Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V after his first trip to the new continent.

 

Lion is at the base of the monument

We were looking up at the reflective windows in this cool building, so we took our own photo.

"What do you mean we're all out of money?  We still have two weeks to go yet!"

Now this guy has class...mmm!

Time to go to the beach!

Perfect weather and awesome sand to go wading in.

Looks like my feet need a little sun after wearing sandals for 7 months.

Such a great architecturally amazing city!

 
La Rambla is a street in central Barcelona, popular with tourists and locals alike. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, it stretches for 1.2 kilometres connecting Plaça de Catalunya in the centre with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell.

The costumes and makeup must take hours to do.

 The thing we found most interesting was the scores of mimes or "Living Statues" that sat there entertaining us tourists all day long.  They worked in shifts.

 

This guy just kept talking on his phone - never did get dressed up.

 These are REAL people getting paid tips - what a job!

 

"Getting ready for my shift."

                                          

 Then there were the amazing street artists.  They were great at capturing other's identities.

 


 The Barcelona Cathedral was constructed from the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloister, which encloses the Well of the Geese  was completed in 1448. In the late 19th century, the neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the exterior that was common to Catalan churches.The roof is notable for its domestic and mythical gargoyles.

 The church, like most of the European churches we've seen was simply gorgeous inside.  We really enjoyed seeing all of the sculptures and historical relics.


 

 

Time for a scrumptious Spanish pastry.

The port where Christopher Columbus sailed out of.

 The Africans have come over here and Italy and Greece in hords.  They are here to sell their wares and the Police DO NOT like it.  They would line up on the bridge and the minute they caught wind that the police were near, they would hurry and pack up and become just a man on the street.

This BIG lobster is after me, but I have no worries!

More European Dreadlocks on the street.

  This day was packed from morning until night, but that's what it is like here in Barcelona...always something to do and somewhere to go.  Luckily, we have several days yet to share with you from our stop in this interesting city.