Day 283 - 287 : Celebrating Catalonian Style
Trip Start
Mar 23, 2010
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88
114
Trip End
Mar 23, 2011
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Thursday, December 30, 2010
We arrived in Barca, full of wonderment and excitement for what would come in the next few nights, NY's being right around the corner. We set up in an amazing hostel, a former palace, getting straight into the swing of things with some Don Simon (1.50 Euro = 1,5L Sangria - Sold).
This set the trend for NYE, which was spent wandering Las Ramblas and other areas of Bacelona; periodically stopping in the mini-markts to re-stock our Sangria supplies, chatting with the crazy locals, and of course feasting on tapas all night long. Before the clock struck 12, we were out on the streets singing and dancing, watching the atmosphere build until it was time…to eat 12 grapes. A local tradition of disputed origin, for every chime of the clock at midnight you eat a whole grape in one swallow. Good luck for those who manage it, not so much for the others. Fireworks were not too visible from our vantage point, but we were drawn to part of the square where everyone throws their empty glass bottles. Another local tradition it seems, which is a rather noisy – yet strangely fascinating - affair. I pitched in by throwing some cardboard on the floor and stamping on it (two feet in the air) repeatedly. Many perplexed looks were received. The night continued on, with more tales of hijinx and lack-of-sobriety, ending at some unknown hour. I do recall the sun was certainly streaming at full strength through the blinds before it was time for 2011’s inaugural sleep. And, we had to check-out at 10am. Blah.
We did however, after changing locations (and taking a nap), spend some more time in Barcelona and this was also great. We covered the markets, saw the sights (particularly the work of Gaudi) as well as indulging in some more sangria and tapas.
Now the bad; On the way down south, Fiddy was starting to show more signs of stress and it was becoming apparent that the severe cold had gotten to him. We took him into the mechanic, got some work done and an assurance in broken English that all would be well. A sigh of relief as we left, although it wasn’t long until we worried again about how he was sounding.
