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
1 a set of two things used together or
regarded as a unit:
2 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.
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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