Barcelona, Spain
Friday, December 14, 2007
Just some thoughts about this city where I used to live some 15 odd years ago as a university student. At the time I had no money, was slightly frustrated that there was no bottomless cups of coffee, and was unnerved by how often I stepped in dog poo. Things have changed in many ways since 1991. The Olympics that same year seemed to put
Barcelona on the map in a big way. Then the European Union and the opening of borders created an even more cosmopolitan feeling here, bringing foreigners from the rest of Europe to Spain for studies and work opportunities and a lot of late night partying on the beaches (which, now clean and inviting were at one time filled with used needles and trash). And then there are the more recent immigrants who are returning to Spain after generations from places like South America, Philippines, and North Africa to work in all sorts of jobs - the local convenient stores are usually operated by Indians and Pakistanis and lovingly referred to as "el paki" by locals (vamos al paki a comprar leche, por ejemplo) and the Chinese families running Japanese sushi restaurants, next to the Central American girls running the "locutorios" where people from every corner of the world congregate to use Internet and make long distance phone calls
. And in between all of these are the typical Spanish bars where soccer is always on, men are always smoking and debating about politics while sipping a brandy or a beer, and the older generation sit with their dogs and shopping carts next to teenagers with piercings in their cheeks and eyebrows who sip Estrella Damm beer from the bottles until they have to return to work or class. The city has a pulse that is totally distinct from any other place in Europe, from any other city in Spain.
Other observations:
There are recycling containers for paper, plastic and glass on almost every corner and the slogan
Barcelona Neta (clean Barcelona) can be seem in many places.
Every metal garage door that serves as an entry to a shop is usually covered in graffiti - some of it really very good art.
Lunch is usually from 2 PM until 5 PM and in most places the typical plato del dia will set you back 10 Euros - this includes, a first plate, second plate, drink, bread and dessert. (and nobody tips more than a few cents)
AND...you still need to keep one eye on the ground at all times when walking around the streets; la caca de los perros si que no va a cambiar nunca. Cuidado!
