Barcelona the City

Persevere
Pat and Bruce
Sat 20 Aug 2011 19:13

20 August 2011

 

Barcelona is part of Catalan the north eastern part of Spain and it tends to include the Balearic Islands.  This region has been trying to be separate for well over a century.  So they fly a Cataluña flag next to the Spanish flag on most boats and office buildings. Speak Cataluña which is different than Spanish but everyone also speaks Spanish.   The museum next to the marina, built inside a 100 year, provides a very detailed and complete history of Cataluña from pre-historic times.  Three floor of details to educate the visitor in more detail than I could take but well done.

 

Prehistoric times in fossil evidence show that humans were here at least 450,00 years.  During 5,000 BC agriculture began.  The Greeks and Phoenicians came 700 BC and began the Iberian culture.  In 218 BC the Romans landed north of modern Barcelona and change the language, law and religion.  The Romans were defeated by the Visigoths (from France) in the 5th century and they established Toledo as their capital.  In 711 the Muslims began to fight the Visigoths and took control for four centuries.  The Catalan counties slowly formed and fought for independence with the House of Barcelona being top dog.  Feudalism came in the 11th century with nobility and the Church.

 

In the 13th century Jaume I conquered Mallorca and Valencia and expanded through the 15th century.  Trading, arts and craftsmanship flourished.  Then the famine of 1333 and Black Death in 1348 changed things.  Peasants revolted and the entire country was drawn into a civil war between 1462 and 1472.  In 1479 Fernando II married Isabel I to join together Castile and stopped the fighting.

 

Catalonia remained a statehood but now under the Habsburg Empire in the 17th century.  Border fight became normal with France the Barbary and Ottoman Pirates.  The Reapers war (1640-1659) and the Spanish Succession (1705-1715) we large course changing events.  Felipe V, first king of the Spanish branch of the Bourbons, issued the Decree of New Plan and abolished the constitutions and institutions of Catalonia.

 

Then modern inventions changed the area.  First was steam power and the Industrial Revolution.  Alongside wineries became very important.  Cotton and calico mills grew and exports to the new America helped the area.  This was a period of growth in cities and at the end of the 18th century the Catalan language re-emerged.  Then came electricity in the 20th century and industry diversified.  But Catalan was resource limited and needed imports to supply its industry.  The Spanish American war had a large impact on future imports.

 

Politics continued to be a major issue.  During WWI Catalan hoped the allies would help them in independence.  Not so.  Then the Second Republic was formed.  A civil war soon followed and a military coup in 1936 with three years of civil war ended with Franco’s dictatorship.  Economic collapse occurred.  Some opening of restrictions helped foster some new growth but not until Franco’s death did a new democratic constitution and self government become into place.

 

But now the tourist sees a well groomed city that benefited from the 1992 Olympics and funding since then to restore buildings and grow the infrastructure.  The subway (Metro) is very clean, timely and runs all through the city.  Formula 1 comes here every year to the Circuit del Cataluña just outside the city.  Of course Spain is way overhead in debt following Greece, Portugal and Ireland.  But for now it is great.

 

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Typical plaza inside the old town.

 

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Great statues on this government building near the port.

 

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For all the sites to see there always seems to be a hot dog and popcorn vendor.

 

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Museums for everything from Mastodons, this one, to art.

 

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Front of the art museum.

 

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Nice aquarium with the local sunfish.  We see these fish all the time floating at the surface with one fin waving around.  Slow fish that seem to be half asleep all the time.

 

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Feeding time for the hippos at the zoo.  They just sit there with their mouths open while the staff throws in apples, carrots and some other good stuff.  In fact one must have a cut on its gum and the caretaker reaches in to apply antibiotic.  Then comes the real feeding time and the hippos emerge from the water and head over to the food trough.  The caretakers get behind a steel fence for this.  Never trust a hippo.

 

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Lions roar, or not.  Really a yawn.

 

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The 1992 summer Olympics were held here and it still impacts the hill above the city with tourist and museums dedicated to the event.

 

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Michael Jordan foot print in brass.  Not so big shoes to fill.  This was the original dream team Olympics.

 

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Still building this church after 100 years from the start.  Sagrada Familia designed 150 years ago and with several breaks in construction still being built using tourist gate receipts amongst other funding.  Most bizarre structures with 18 spirals when finished.

 

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Guy with a great view of Barcelona and the changes that occur.