Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Ho Hey Rome


Welcome to the city of Barcelona.

So it has been 4 days since I first arrived in Barcelona and I can tell you that is has been full of adventure.  I cannot believe I am finally in Spain; enjoying great tapas, meats, wine, beaches, and language. I have been wanting to be here for as long as I can remember, growing up it was definitely a country I thought about a lot, even though it took me a long time to actually realise that Spain was in Europe and not in South America (Amateur mistake, being young and naive). I think the reason I thought about Spain a lot, was because Spanish of course is a major world language (Hence the South American mistake), and as a kid I always thought about people in Spain; did they do things differently to us? To me Spain was a huge country that had a rich and influential place in history, yet they do not speak English. This fascinated a young kid growing up far beyond a major city.


Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Park Güell 
Barcelona, Spain

 Barcelona Beach 
Barcelona, Spain

 Barcelona Beach 
Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona Beach 
Barcelona, Spain

Earlier in the week I managed to take a bus up to the mountain area of Montserrat, a sacred pilgrimage area which is situated about 1 + hours outside of Barcelona. This is the site of the 'Black Madonna'; a wooden statue that was believed to be found around 885 A.C or so. The legend goes (this is the story that was passed on to me, and I'm drawing this from memory, so my apologies of any misleading or incorrect facts of figures) anyway the story goes that two shepherds attending their flock around the mountains of Montserrat; witnessed a phenomenon that involved lights shining from a cave deep in the mountain.  Unsure and unfamiliar with the lights shining brightly during the night, the shepherds went out to seek the advice of a priest who was brought up high into the mountain; he too witnessed the bright light phenomenon. The priest therefor declared the statue a miracle and be brought down form the mountains so that the Catalan people could worship the Black Madonna. However, as the shepherds and priest carried the statue down the mountain, it suddenly became very heavy and the group carrying the wooden object could no longer hold the statue up. The Priest then said that the statue does not want to be moved, and from there a marvellous and spectacular church was built on top of the 1236m tall Mountain. This is a small part of the story, I wont go into it all that much as I would take an eternity to complete it, but look it up if you are interested. It was defiantly a must do while in Barcelona, the pilgrimage on top of that mountain introduced Spain to things like books, farming techniques, architecture and appreciation of saints.
 Montserrat
Barcelona, Spain

 Montserrat
Barcelona, Spain

 Montserrat
Barcelona, Spain

Montserrat
Barcelona, Spain

I won’t talk too much about every single aspect of my travels, but there are defiantly two mentions that I need to put down.

Over the weekend I managed to jump aboard a hostel pub crawl, just like a typical hostel pub crawl; it involved a number of different hostels joining up together and going out to have a good time. Amongst them was possibly the strangest encounter of my entire trip so far. Upon meeting everyone in the pub I met a pair that was staying at the same hostel, I have used the word 'pair' as they were not a couple, nor did they know each other very well.

pair |pɛː| noun
a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit:
an article consisting of two joined or corresponding parts not used separately:


Strange right? well imagine a pair who were both international students; learning and living in the French capital of Paris. There was something even more compelling, it is that these two; Sergio and Melody, were in fact Mexican and Chinese. You can work out which one is Mexican and which is Chinese I’m sure. Well I guess the story could be quite common, but it seems as though these two who were attracted to breaking the norm, as at the first bar they both ordered Guinness. So there I was, drinking and enjoying myself in Barcelona, while sitting with a Mexican and a girl from China, both studying in Paris, drinking a pint of Irish beer, while in Spain. I really got along with Sergio, practising my Spanish and discussing reggae ton; hope both you guys are doing well in Madrid. The second thing I would like to mention is my encounter with a champion by the name of Raymond. Now Raymond and I did not know each other, nor did we meet at any regular point. Raymond actually caught my eye as I watched him escort patrons into a bar that he was employed. He would hustle people passing by just like a lot of Barcelona street merchants. Raymond however did not use techniques employed by other merchants; such as bright lights or funny sounds. Instead; Raymond used his charm and kind nature to make a quick rapport, and talk to them like he was their actuall tour guide, and then would get them into to the bar; increasing the bar's patron numbers. At first I had no idea what Raymond was talking about when he approached me, saying something about he 'knows what he sees, and he has always known things and that it's a gift'. Confused? yeah I was too, anyway he did like the Cohiba Cigar I was happily enjoying with my expresso, he mentioned that he knows the smell of a good cigar. Raymond sat with me for a while (at the bar restaurant for who he was working for), apparently he called his boss to let him know that he wanted to sit with me, his boss works on the second or third level on top of the restaurant overlooking the beautiful enclosed courtyard of great restaurants off Las Ramblas. The boss so powerful in fact, that Raymond has never seen him since he began work there over a year ago. We got talking about all things close to him and his story, and we spoke of mine. Raymond originally from Puerto Rico but growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He actually left the United States after he was diagnosed with cancer, the treatment in the U.S was far too expensive as he required vigorous chemotherapy. According to him, his chemotherapy was free in Spain (while lifting his hat to show me his shaved head), he had left everything behind to fight his cancer. We talked for a while longer, I gave him my second cigar for him to celebrate on his fiftieth Birthday, and now I have just got off the phone to him, having a quick chat while he prepares to smoke his cigar today.


Ray

Ok so here I am in Rome, Italy. Wow! this place has lived up to every expectation that existed before arriving; seeing the colosseum as I flew in has defiantly electrified the visit. The first day I managed to hit up a bus tour as I am only here for a few days and there is no way I will be able to see everything in that time. The city itself is full of life, although I have been worried around the traffic; I don’t know how they do it; its like giving ancient romans motor cars and them keeping the same roads and crowded areas. I managed to see the sights such as the Colosseum  The Vatican and the Wall of Rome before having a quick micro sleep so I could head out and have a few drinks. The Hostel pub-crawl lived up to the expectation of a good time that is for sure, there was no Mexicano or china this time around though. Met a gorgeous couple from New York, who happen to live in Soho and Chelsea; anyone with a keen mind on NYC would know the significance of this, possibly living in the two most exciting suburbs of the greatest city on earth and only being in their 20's. They have given me a list of things to do in NYC, things that locals do, and things that I would never have known about if not for those two. Much Love! Was a crazy good crowd though, full of Montreal - California - Minnesota - Melbourne - New York - Brazil and others; the hour of absolute free drinks defiantly helped along with flip cup. 
 Hostel Pub Crawl
Rome, Italy

  Hostel Pub Crawl
Rome, Italy

  Hostel Pub Crawl
Rome, Italy

 Hostel Pub Crawl
Rome, Italy

Now we are up to today, Wednesday the 17th. This morning I took off and popped in to the Vatican to visit the Sistine Chapel and all of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simini's glory.  Walking into the Sistine chapel for the first time was amazing, the work so vibrant and rich, the giant piece behind the Pope's alter was astonishing. The patients and detail to complete the Chapel's painting is truly remarkable, even so; that Michelangelo was 68 when he did it. This reminded my of one of my favourite movies, and reminded me once more why I am here. I remember watching 'Good Will Hunting" for the first time, changed my life. This one scene I want to share is that of Robin Williams speaking to Matt Damon about life, and how that you can have all the knowledge in the world, have all the facts, have all brains, but it takes something truly pure like seeing the Sistine Chapel and looking at Michelangelo's masterpiece to realise life and what it has to offer; something you can't attain from a book. I remember watching that movie and wanting to experience something as great as that, I wanted to learn but I also wanted to experience wealth through culture. The things Robin Williams mentions, accumulate over a lifetime, so it's great being here in Rome witnessing greatness through  art. It was also great to see the historical pieces of art that Michelangelo used as inspiration to complete Jesus in 'The Final Judgement', defiantly something that everybody should do while in Europe. 


Good Will Hunting



 The Vatican
Rome, Italy

 St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy

 The Vatican
Rome, Italy

 St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy

 St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy

 Pietà
Michelangelo - completed when he was 23
St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy


 St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy

 St. Peter's Basilica
Rome, Italy

 Staue believed to be of Hercules (around 1000 B.C), indicated by the lion skin that he sits on.
Michelangelo used this as inspiration for the torso of Jesus, in 'The Last Judgement, when asked by the Pope to repair the statue, Michelangelo said "you cannot repair something that is perfect".
Vatican Museum
Rome, Italy

'Laocoon and His Sons'
Michelangelo used this as inspiration for the arms of Jesus, in 'The Last Judgement
Vatican Museum

Rome, Italy



Apollo Belvedere
Michelangelo used this as inspiration for the face of Jesus, in 'The Last Judgement'
Vatican Museum
Rome, Italy





 Vatican Museum
Rome, Italy


 The Vatican
Rome, Italy


 Vatican Museum
Rome, Italy

Rome, Italy

The Vatican 
Rome, Italy

 The Vatican 
Rome, Italy

The Rome Wall
Rome, Italy

 The Colosseum

Rome, Italy


Rome, Italy

Rome, Italy 

Rome, Italy

Rome, Italy 

Rome, Italy

Another great piece of art is most definitely the Pietà, completed by Michelangelo at the ripe age of 23. Look it up!
So there is a quick update from Rome, it has been a real struggle to actually find the time to get in on this, but it is finally done. I am off to Florence 



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