Graffiti

Yes, I am home and settling in, but I have so many posts I did not get to. I will try to finish up in the next few weeks before I look at the pictures and wonder what they are from, just like I have forgotten my Spanish!

For example, I have written a bit about graffiti, but there is more.

This anti-Nazi, pro-independence, and pro-squatter (the sideways N in the circle) graffiti was at my language school. I admit that I am the one that wrote to the city asking that it be removed.

Not long after a truck showed up

and it has been blank ever since.

Here are samples of other graffiti around town.

The 33 refers to the letters cc, which is racist shorthand about keeping Catalonia Catalan and excluding others. The symbol next to the 33 is the Catalan flag with a star, which represents Catalonian independence.

"Young people from Sant Cugat support the PAH (the right-to-housing group that helps people who have been evicted). Bank criminals are guilty!"

"Twenty years of fighting," followed by the symbols for the youth independence movement.

Because this is in purple it is a feminist message.
"Aggressors, you are not welcome here."

"Less jingoism.
More socialism.
Sant Cugat expelled residents."

"The independence we want is rebellious and disobedient."
This spot is very popular for graffiti. I saw it repainted several times.

"Freedom for Catalan Countries."

More squatters symbols.
"They won't be able to evict popular culture."

"Give life to dead spaces."

This is related to the one above, encouraging empty buildings (e.g. former slaughter house) to be used as a place for young people to make music and hang out. 

This one is more universal.
"Against the increase in public transportation fees."

I could not have understood this without out the help of J., who came over about once a week to practice English. His translations of the culture all year long were invaluable!

More fest

On our way to a fire event 

We came across a go-cart type race. I am so sorry I don't have a picture of the hill,

but maybe it is like Cain Park, my childhood sledding hill? Pretty exciting!

Today in the sporting park we saw beach volleyball, bubble

football, and badminton in addition to the games from the day before.

I was most looking forward to the junior version of
the fire devils and the accompanying drum corps.

I was not disappointed.

The truth is I could do many more blog posts about the festival.

Instead I'll give you a few more pictures to wrap it up.

Not shown are Sunday morning's bastoners, the stick dancers.

Dancing in the pop-up restaurant near us.

Traditional Catalan sardana dance.

Loud music and lots of color - popular event with teens and adults, too.

Human towers - like nothing I have seen other places.

My favorite - the devils dancing with fire!

Another excursion

The language school, which includes all levels of classes for Castilian, Catalan, and English, organized a trip to Tarragona (Tarraco in Latin). The English students and beginning Castilian students were put in a group with a guide who sometimes described things in Castilian, sometimes in English, and sometimes both. I sometimes understood her!

The town is a port city but is most famous for its Roman ruins.

We spent our time at 1, 2, and 3, which were the remains of grand plaza, the circus ("(in ancient Rome a rounded or oval arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games"), and the amphitheater. 

Beginning our tour along the outer walls. I love the river rock patterns.

Minerva Tower

The lower part is about 2200 years old the relief on the left and the inscription below are believed to be the oldest outside the Italian peninsula. There are also remains of gargoyles and loopholes (slits for shooting arrows). The picture does not quite capture it, but it good to see in person.

It was sweltering hot at midday, but I could imagine what it might have been like many years ago.

Old and new. As building crumbled and new ones were built, people took stone from anywhere to put into their houses. As you walk around town you can sometimes see houses with stones that were originally used in other structures.

I like the Tarragona flag, the one with wavy lines on the far left, a lot.

I did not see as many independence flags, maybe because it is on the edge of the region?
Maybe because people from outside of the region have moved to the area?

I got to see a bit of street art, including this mural that depicts different members of the town, including a captain, soldier, and doctor, but also the artist and his family. The open cage on a top terrace represents freedom.

I also got to see some guerrilla art! From what I have
read no one knows who painted these bollards.

 We finished the day with a three-hour lunch to complete the true local experience! I did not have coffee or a cigarette afterward, though!

So lucky!

Barcelona has many fantastic events, museums, and beaches, but I love living in a smaller town that hosts events that I can walk to and don't have to fight the crowds to enjoy.

This weekend was the 42nd Meeting of the National Bastoners of Catalonia. I tried to capture the variety among the 55 groups,

There was definitely an independence theme among the groups.

Some groups have several musicians, one had an amplified
violin player, but this group had a single musician.

An unusual title for a piece!

The range of ages among the performers was large.

but you can find a lot more amazing pictures of the 1000 bastoners here.

You might also enjoy this video.

Lucky to be able to live here!

Cycling trip, the coast

Maybe D. will write more, but this is my final post for the trip.

Cala S'Alguer
Maybe you can see the colorful fishermen's huts?

A little farther is Platja Castell.

Looking the opposite direction down the coast.

The small town of Calella de Palafrugell.

Just past the beach shown above we found this little
cove where we had a swim and scenic lunch.

On my last day riding with D. we had a lot of climbing but it made for great views.

Our destination was Tossa de Mar with the ancient citadel to the right of center.

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar from the citadel

One of many, many coves we saw from the road.

What an amazing tandem team!