Christmas in Barcelona
Everyone is talking about tomorrow’s “the end of the world”,
what are we going to do if it’s really a last day and all that but since I think
the 12.21.12 is just another day, maybe we should prepare for Christmas,
after all it sounds more positive and fun.
Many
countries have its tradition for Christmas and I think
the most different one by far is the Caganer – a pooper .., a Catalan
Christmas
tradition, the first time I saw it in Barcelona, I was shocked. Because
this traditionally dressed little figurine of a man or woman with the
pants down -
pooping. This little guy is usually
placed in the Christmas nativity set and you find the “caganer” hidden in the
back amongst the donkey in the barn
while Jesus is being born, or be hidden behind the bush, this is the part of the fun of the great
Christmas humour, kind of like Where's Wally?
They are not trying to mock, just that “someone got to go, even in this special
day, every body poops"… this someone could be anyone from Messi, Michael Jackson to prince William and his wife, even the
pope. Some people say that the Caganer
is “fertilizing” the ground which brings more crops and good luck. Other said
who buys a Caganer, will have lots of good luck for the upcoming year. No matter reason
it is, poop never has so much fun. 
Beside Caganer the Catalans also have a log of wood standing on either
two of four legs painted happy face on
one end called Caga Tio - a pooping Christmas log.
On the December 8th Catalan families will buy a Caga Tio like a little pet and the children will leave the Caga Tio food to eat
while they sleep and eventually this
Caga Tio will grow from eating the food the children leave out – the parents
change it from the small one to big one (behind the scene of course), some parents just buy the big one in the
first place to save money. Traditionally on Christmas eve, the family puts a
part of the log into the fire place and on the other side the children
beat the tío with sticks and sing songs to entice the Caga Tío to “poop” gifts
like sweets, fruit and small toys. In
modern days Barcelona, considering that fire and children don’t go well together, they cover the Caga tío with a blanket and the
children will sing and hit the Caga Tio:
Caga tió - shit Log
Caga torró - shit
nougats (turrón),
Avellanes i mató - hazelnuts and cottage cheese,
Si no cagues bé - if you don't shit well,
Et daré un cop de bastó - I'll hit you with a stick,
Caga tió - shit
log
After hitting it softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the words Caga tió! Then the parents secretly hide the toys under the blanket when the children are not looking and still hit the Caga tío with the stick so that the Cago Tio can poop out the gifts.
Anyway , that’s about it about the pooping Christmas. There
are quite a few traditional celebrations in Spain like the Three Kings and Dia de los Santos
Inocentes – Day of the Holy Innocents, its kind of like the April Fool’s day. Spain
is a fun country and one of the things I like the most is that local people like to enjoy life and to have
fun. People in Barcelona have
dinner after nine and go out drinking after mid night and back to work
as usual the next day, I like it about them. But one thing that
“shitting“ me is that they are sometimes too slow and
everything is manana (tomorrow), especially when it comes to telephone company, it really
makes me want to be one of the Caganer,
and I can hide myself in one of their shops and do it. I just hope that no
one gonna find me.
Now you are reading this blog meaning the world doesn’t
end, so I hope you will have a Merry
Christmas, to care and love each other and cherish everyday.
Barcelona - Casa Fuster
One of my many reasons to fall in love with the magical Barcelona is because of Casa Fuster. But I like Casa Fuster not because Woody Allen stayed here while filming Vicki Christina Barcelona or plays the old Dixieland tune with his clarinet in the stylish and elegant Jazz lounge.
This incredibly beautiful and charming hotel is in the city center on Passeig
de Gràcia, is the work of a remarkable modernist
architect, Lluís
Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923), he also
designed the famous Palau de la Musica Catalan. Hospital de Sant Pau and a mail
box of Casa de l'Ardiaca.
It was a pleasure to be able to look around Casa Fuster
for her restoration, it is a cross over between the new and old, like a conservation
with the past. Talking about the past, the history of this hotel also has an
interest story: A gentleman name Mariano Fuster ,a wealthy man from Mallorcan
high society, fell in love with Barcelona, also fell in love with the daughter of a Barcelona marquis. After they got married, Fuster wants to build a house, not only to her but also dedicated to Barcelona. The house became the city's most expensive house because of the
quality of the materials used.
Between 40’s to the 50’s Casa Fuster ‘s lobby banquet
hall was a popular meeting place for the
rich and famous. Around the mid 50’s Fuster’s business failed , he had to give up
his business and the building and on his deathbed he said he was sorry to his
family but he wasn’t sorry to Barcelona because of the building.
In 1962 the electric company bought the
building and was going to demolish it to build a skyscraper, but the whole city
rejected this so the electric company had to give up the idea and back down, in
2005 this building became the Hotel Casa Fuster.
In now a days. there are many modern hotels
around the world. Sure they all look good and comfortable to stay but one thing
they are lacking is a story. Many people said, usually there will be a ghost in
an old building because they don’t want to leave.I have not see Fuster’s Ghost but I am sure he must be somewhere here , listen to Woody Allen playing and slipping a glass of Cava, and think to himself, I am not sorry Barcelona and I will never leave this beautiful house because it is Casa Fuster.
Life is short, hotel like this might not exist
for long, I hope someday you can spend sometime here to be part of the romantic history and
you might meet someone here and never want to leave, after all we all have our own
Casa to build for love.
Barcelona - Sagrada Família
If possible, everyone
should pay a visit to Sagrada Familia, at least once in a life time. This is
not just a building or a church but it represents our dream and to make it come
true and yes, even if it has to take 100 years.
If you have a
chance to come, you will be amazed with Gaudi’s imagination and vision. No
matter he was crazy or not. He was a man ahead of our time. He was living
outside the square and dare to challenge the limitation of human mind .
Gaudi's designed the Lanterns and lamps in Plaza Reial, Passeig
de Gràcia and some part of Las Ramblas , he also designed the fountains
and gates for Cuitadella Park, "the garden of Barcelona" and don’t
forget “ La Pedrera” - Casa Mila. Many of his works has became a part of Barcelona
and also changed how this city looks. Some of them were funded by his friend Guell,
included the famous Parc Guell. His style is unique and easy to recognized,
such as the blue lizard. I always think the Catalan people are more cultural
and romantic than the Spainish because of Gaudi.
Ok , I don’t want to write a report about
Gaudi and I am sure everyone can google it. What I want to say is what if I invite
him for dinner. What will he want to eat? seafood? Since he was a Catalan…Seafood
paella? Imagine having dinner with him and listen to him to talk about his
work? Do you think he will ever work in the movie as a set designer? Did he
talked about women? But I am sure that he had no interest in fashion and I will
not mention Tram to him.
Gaudi set in front of me and looking at the
glass of wine I poured for him
Gaudi: You should know that I do not drink.
Me: I am sorry I can’t believe everything
that Google said about you , Do you like your paella?
Gaudi: The seafood in my day tasted much better
and this muscles reminds me of my design..
Me: I know this sounds a bit strange but do
you know the color of the taxi in Barcelona is black and yellow because they
are grieving for you?
Gaudi: If they are grieving, then why there
weren’t any taxi stop for me still?
I looked at his old clothes and think he
must wearing the same thing since 1926.
If you visited Palau Guell, you must
noticed that Gaudi loves details, everything from a door handle to a rooftop.
Me: Can you design my new home? I know you
did it for Guell, I don’t need anything fancy just a few touch of you and I will
be very happy.
Gaudi: Jajaj, ok , just let me finish
Sagarda Familia first, then I will help you to do yours.
Barcelona - La Rambla 2012
If Paris is beautiful like a mature woman
with Class then Barcelona will be like a woman filled with curiosity and
enjoying life. Barcelona is unique and special, compared with many European cities.
I have been living in Barcelona for quite
some time now and I noticed this city is like a treasure waiting to be discovered,
to me this is a city of Art if you open your eyes and look around . Barcelona
is a city that belongs to Catalan people, they don’t agreed with the Spanish Government
and want to be independent. I am not going into it because politic can be quite
boring for some.
La Rambles is a famous street filled with
different people from around the world . it’s also a heaven for pickpocket,
often you will see women crying because their handbag has been picked ; perhaps
men cries too ,only they can’t show it and at night you will see some “working
girl” stand around the beautiful and classy Liceu theater or at one end of the
rambles but lets not talk about that because it sounded a bit negative .
So, lets talk about the good things . I love
this street because its full of energy and it have all the little kiosks that
sells souvenirs . ice cream, flowers or even mini rabbits . Along the street
are the highly entertaining street cafés , even though the price is a bit higher
and the food is not so good – unless you enjoy frozen paella - but will be all worth
it because watching people walking in front of you like fashion show is just
plain fun. You will learn most people doesn’t have much fashion sense but every
now and then you will see either a female or male walked passed with some kind
of style or confident and that’s such a breath of fresh air.
You
can also see
the punk , the drunk ,the hipster the hippies , the rapper, the gays or
lesbians, the fat and the slim. the suit . the young and the old , the
tall and short , those guys trying to sell the annoying bird whistle,
the guy wearing pink short , I mean everyone .. some look
like models and some look like homeless and that girl just walked in
front of
me must be an American.
What a show... Street performers, Human Statues , Restaurants and Shops, you can stop by “Plaça Reial” and have a quick look at
the lantern designed by Gaudi. If you love food, you can walk into “la Boqueria
“get a juice and taste some Jamon,you are in one of the best market in the
world might as well just grab some lunch “Taktika Berri "and "El Quim de la
Boqueria” actually is pretty good if you don’t mind to wait..
Everyone
can get what they want and They're are all on this one Street. This
miles long street is busy from the morning ‘til late
,just like that song “ All day, All night ….” and a bit touristic but
that’s just
what is it, just like the strip in Las Vegas or Canton Road in Hong
Kong.
So ,have some fun , buy a beer and find
somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. You might think it's just a street
but I'm sure you will regret if you didn’t spend anytime here.
Don’t worry so much just enjoy your life and
I know you are curious .
Welcome to Barcelona and I better put my
sunglasses back on because someone is watching.
Restaurant that worth a go :
Attic Restaurante , La Rambla, 120 Barcelona
Bar lobo ,Carrer Pintor Fortuny, 3
Barcelona
http://www.grupotragaluz.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment