What I will remember most in Raval for all of my lifetime has to be Ovella Negra. But, I know there is more than awesome bars and immigrants. There is history and beautiful, maybe the most beautiful architecture in Barcelona.
Walking through Raval is like walking in Medieval times and it makes you feel like you came from somewhere. The narrow cobblestone streets and the stone buildings are very daunting and are reminiscent of a modern haunted house. At night, walking through Raval is eerie and almost like an obstacle course as you have to avoid the immigrants selling cocaine and marijuana, or 1 euro beers that is probably controlled by the mafia; or so I have been told.
Anyway, Raval is a very intriguing place as it is preceeded by cultural sites such as the Boqueria and various museums and ancient palaces. It was one of the first places I visited when I came to Barcelona so it is one of those things I automatically think of when someone mentions Barcelona. I imagine that it has a lot of meaning for the people of Barcelona because it partly symbolizes their heritage and their history.
To me it is like the North End in Boston because it is an original settlement and is where many immigrants made, and continue to make their homes. It is a place of culture, history, and beauty, which as an anthropology major and photography expert is a perfect place to walk around and explore.
I have taken my friends and family there and did a similar tour with them as they were fascinated as it compares to nothing in the United States. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten any pictures yet, but hopefully I will in the future, and I will surely be back to Ovella Negra...aka my favorite bar en el mundo.
La Ribera was one of the more interesting places I have been as well because of the history and culture that still exists. From the guilds, workshop houses, Santa Maria del Mar, and Canvis Vells, the area is filled with aspects of Catalan culture that have given it identity throughout history and continue to live and flow today.
After being inside Santa Maria del Mar, I have to say that it is the prettiest church I have seen in the world, and after this semester, I think I have seen 50 pus churches at least to compare it to, including the Sagrada Familia. The architecture and location of the church make it, to me, even more important and magical because it is not a huge tourist attraction and represents true Catalan history and true Catalan culture, which as a tourist, is often hard to find.
By far my favorite area in Barcelona for the uniqueness and history combined with the culture and meaning behind the places we visited.
lunes, 25 de abril de 2011
Local News Story
http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/deportes/getafe-confirma-venta-del-club-grupo-empresarial-dubai-984307
Getafe was sold to a company in Dubai.
Well we may son have a third power house in La Liga after Getafe was just sold to Dubai. Once clubs get rich, they can buy players unlike in the United States which has salary caps for most sports.
Look at Manchester City who recently sold the team to a billionaire who proceeded to buy Tevez, Lescott, David Silva, Yaya Toure, and others, who instantly made Man City a top flight contender for the title. Chelsea's owner is a Russian billionaire who has known ties to the KGB and has free reign with the money he has to buy players in recent years such as Ballack, Torres, David Luiz, as well as continue to support high profile players like Lampard, Drogba, Terry, Cole, Czech, Essien, and Molouda.
In futbol its all about who has the most money and if Getafe now has rich ownership the future looks bright. The only problem they face is location because it is not centrally located as Madrid and Barca are. It is close to Madrid, but still, the fan base and area is not conducive to creating a "Mega Team." They have made the first step, but it is going to be hard for anyone to ever reach Madrid or Barca because of the resources they have and the international prowess they have and have built over there century long existence. However, any team that makes it harder for Madrid has my blessing.
Getafe was sold to a company in Dubai.
Well we may son have a third power house in La Liga after Getafe was just sold to Dubai. Once clubs get rich, they can buy players unlike in the United States which has salary caps for most sports.
Look at Manchester City who recently sold the team to a billionaire who proceeded to buy Tevez, Lescott, David Silva, Yaya Toure, and others, who instantly made Man City a top flight contender for the title. Chelsea's owner is a Russian billionaire who has known ties to the KGB and has free reign with the money he has to buy players in recent years such as Ballack, Torres, David Luiz, as well as continue to support high profile players like Lampard, Drogba, Terry, Cole, Czech, Essien, and Molouda.
In futbol its all about who has the most money and if Getafe now has rich ownership the future looks bright. The only problem they face is location because it is not centrally located as Madrid and Barca are. It is close to Madrid, but still, the fan base and area is not conducive to creating a "Mega Team." They have made the first step, but it is going to be hard for anyone to ever reach Madrid or Barca because of the resources they have and the international prowess they have and have built over there century long existence. However, any team that makes it harder for Madrid has my blessing.
Local News Story
http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/barcelona/siete-especies-peces-vuelven-besos-tras-anos-ausencia-983384
Seven Species of Fish return to the river Besós after years of being gone.
I found this article most interesting because usually in El Periodico and other newspapers, the articles that are headlined include sports, politics, international development, disasters, or things that affect a wide range of people. The headline of this article caught my eye because this type of development usually receives little media if any.
Environmental issues are usually looked passed unless they deal with global issues such as pollution or global warming or something of that nature. However, the fact that the University of Barcelona biology field team discovered recently that seven species of fish have returned to Barcelona is something that is so arbitrary in the realm of things, I was shocked to even see it mentioned.
As an anthropology major, this article intrigued me, but I know that for many, especially those who read the paper, do not care about things like this and instead read the newspaper for other reasons. I doubt many people stopped to actually read this article, but I still think it is good to see in such a big newspaper. In local newspapers in the US you can find these types of articles, but not in newspapers like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, or even the Boston Globe, so to see it in such a reputable paper as El Periodico was a sight for sore eyes.
As far as the article is concerned I think it is a very interesting topic and I know that this is actually a big deal because it means Barcelona is not becoming so miserable environmentally that it is driving away or killing all marine inhabitants. It says a lot about the city, which I don't think people even realize. I am very surprised that this has occurred because it is not often that a species leaves its habitat for years and then returns. Very interesting article.
Seven Species of Fish return to the river Besós after years of being gone.
I found this article most interesting because usually in El Periodico and other newspapers, the articles that are headlined include sports, politics, international development, disasters, or things that affect a wide range of people. The headline of this article caught my eye because this type of development usually receives little media if any.
Environmental issues are usually looked passed unless they deal with global issues such as pollution or global warming or something of that nature. However, the fact that the University of Barcelona biology field team discovered recently that seven species of fish have returned to Barcelona is something that is so arbitrary in the realm of things, I was shocked to even see it mentioned.
As an anthropology major, this article intrigued me, but I know that for many, especially those who read the paper, do not care about things like this and instead read the newspaper for other reasons. I doubt many people stopped to actually read this article, but I still think it is good to see in such a big newspaper. In local newspapers in the US you can find these types of articles, but not in newspapers like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, or even the Boston Globe, so to see it in such a reputable paper as El Periodico was a sight for sore eyes.
As far as the article is concerned I think it is a very interesting topic and I know that this is actually a big deal because it means Barcelona is not becoming so miserable environmentally that it is driving away or killing all marine inhabitants. It says a lot about the city, which I don't think people even realize. I am very surprised that this has occurred because it is not often that a species leaves its habitat for years and then returns. Very interesting article.
International News Story
http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/internacional/cerca-500-presos-talibanes-escapan-una-prision-kandahar-por-tunel-983756
500 Taliban escape from Kandahar prison.
After 500 Taliban escaped from a Kandahar prison after reportedly tunneling a 360 meter escape route, I am left feeling a little uneasy. If these guys can brea out of a PRISON that has GUARDS, they really have skills, and better yet, now they have a second chance to do what they either did or were planning to do, which means there are 500 more huge threats out there....perfect.
I can't say that I am surprised that they managed to escape because they probably had inside help, as usual, and were able to keep the operation under wraps. The world is becoming so dangerous and so corrupt that we have to be ready for things like this and know how to respond.
I just read in TIME magazine that 3 of the most dangerous extremists in the world control militia and other forces that make it nearly impossible to find them and or kill them. However, I think that once we find them, or 500 of them, we should do our very best to keep them locked up. This news is very disturbing I must say, but not unexpected.
500 Taliban escape from Kandahar prison.
After 500 Taliban escaped from a Kandahar prison after reportedly tunneling a 360 meter escape route, I am left feeling a little uneasy. If these guys can brea out of a PRISON that has GUARDS, they really have skills, and better yet, now they have a second chance to do what they either did or were planning to do, which means there are 500 more huge threats out there....perfect.
I can't say that I am surprised that they managed to escape because they probably had inside help, as usual, and were able to keep the operation under wraps. The world is becoming so dangerous and so corrupt that we have to be ready for things like this and know how to respond.
I just read in TIME magazine that 3 of the most dangerous extremists in the world control militia and other forces that make it nearly impossible to find them and or kill them. However, I think that once we find them, or 500 of them, we should do our very best to keep them locked up. This news is very disturbing I must say, but not unexpected.
Local News Story
http://www.suite101.net/content/el-real-madrid-gana-al-barca-la-final-de-la-copa-del-rey-2011-a49677
Barca Loses 1-0 in Copa del Rey Final against enemy Madrid.
With a 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou in November, and a sweep of last years trophies, Madrid finally had its glory with a Cop del Rey victory against Barca on a Ronaldo header in overtime.
First of all, I am not happy, but I feel that this is good for the team as they approach the Champions league semis against Madrid. I would much rather take Champions League than Copa del Rey because I knew that they wouldn't be able to take all four Clasicos so close together.
A tie at Bernabau was a good result away from home last week, and I think the final loss will spark the team to perform better in the Champions League. Psychologically, I think Madrid thinks they are better than they actually are at this point and are probably too pumped about the Copa del Rey title. I think it will make them more prone to mistakes in the CL and I really do think Barca will take them down.
Barca is clearly the much stronger TEAM as per usual and as history shows us. Even when Franco was in power, the nation or TEAM of Catalonia stuck together, worked hard, and overcame the ordeals. This is why I feel and know that Barca will come back on Wednesday and show why they are the best team in the world, just as they fought for there freedom decades ago.
To me, Real Madrid is a unch of very talented players who don't get it wrong, play very well together, but they just don't have the genuine passion and TEAM that Barca has. It is almost impossible to have that with the likes of Ronaldo, who, after being in Lisbon this passed weekend, I can truly say is a pre madonna and although is an unbelievable player, would never be accepted in a Barca uniform because of the way he acts and cries. Do you think the Catalan people whined and complained when Franco was in rule? No, because if they did, they would be killed. They simply went along with their business while knowing inside who they truly were, and even after 35 years of suppression, emerged victorious as a culture and as a nation, and most importantly, as a team. BARCA
Barca Loses 1-0 in Copa del Rey Final against enemy Madrid.
With a 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou in November, and a sweep of last years trophies, Madrid finally had its glory with a Cop del Rey victory against Barca on a Ronaldo header in overtime.
First of all, I am not happy, but I feel that this is good for the team as they approach the Champions league semis against Madrid. I would much rather take Champions League than Copa del Rey because I knew that they wouldn't be able to take all four Clasicos so close together.
A tie at Bernabau was a good result away from home last week, and I think the final loss will spark the team to perform better in the Champions League. Psychologically, I think Madrid thinks they are better than they actually are at this point and are probably too pumped about the Copa del Rey title. I think it will make them more prone to mistakes in the CL and I really do think Barca will take them down.
Barca is clearly the much stronger TEAM as per usual and as history shows us. Even when Franco was in power, the nation or TEAM of Catalonia stuck together, worked hard, and overcame the ordeals. This is why I feel and know that Barca will come back on Wednesday and show why they are the best team in the world, just as they fought for there freedom decades ago.
To me, Real Madrid is a unch of very talented players who don't get it wrong, play very well together, but they just don't have the genuine passion and TEAM that Barca has. It is almost impossible to have that with the likes of Ronaldo, who, after being in Lisbon this passed weekend, I can truly say is a pre madonna and although is an unbelievable player, would never be accepted in a Barca uniform because of the way he acts and cries. Do you think the Catalan people whined and complained when Franco was in rule? No, because if they did, they would be killed. They simply went along with their business while knowing inside who they truly were, and even after 35 years of suppression, emerged victorious as a culture and as a nation, and most importantly, as a team. BARCA
Parc Guell
My trip to Parc Guell was one I began with limited expectations due to a lack of knowledge surrounding Gaudi besides Sagrada Familia and a few other buildings of his creation. I went on a nice day knowing that it would be crowded as I hoped to enhance the experience. 
As I walked up what seemed like miles and miles of hills, I finally reached the famous Parc Guell. As people flooded the area and pictures were being taken from every angle, something that people usually don't say suddenly hit me. What is all the hype about? Not to say his work is unimpressive, but I was sadly unimpressed. The combination of hype and everyone constantly saying, "How have you not been to Parc Guell yet??" all culminated in my mind and I thought, "Well apparently I wasn't missing much."
I walked the park trail up to the top where the cross overlooks the city: still unimpressed. The view was decent, but as I looked to the right I saw an even better view from Tibidabo. Personally I found Montjuic a much better view, and can imagine that if Tibidabo is that much higher, it must be more spectacular.
I continued to walk around looking for art and what not, but from what I could tell, most of the park consisted of trees and paths rather than sculpture and art. As I walked through the main structure, I enjoyed looking around and seeing the tiles and colors, but it was nothing jaw dropping. I was thinking that I had missed something, but apparently not.
I know many people would say, "You don't enjoy art," or, "You don't know how to enjoy art," but honestly, it is my opinion that Parc Guell is all hype and if it had been created by someone besides Gaudi, it would not have the prestige it does today. Just like any artist, once Gaudi became recognized and the popular society reveled in his work, everything he did was praised, maybe incorrectly.
I am not trying to disrespect Catalan or Spanish culture because I sense that Gaudi has a big part in its recognition, but as a site, and as a place where all of the travel guides peg as a must see, I think it is highly overrated.
My opinion, Parc Guell is all hype.
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