Jewish Quarters Field Trip

This field trip was a very special one for me.  I am Jewish and thought it was very interesting to see a place where my ancestors lived many centuries ago.  What struck me most about the Jewish Quarters was how narrow and close everything was.  The windows were very small in these buildings so that suggested to me that many, if not all, activities were held outside in the main square.  I also thought it was interesting how the streets were named “Call” instead of “Calle” in order to indicate that we were in the Jewish district. 

 Another part of this field trip that I thought was very interesting was in the square where the wall was used as for a firing squad during the Spanish Civil War.  It was disturbing but fascinating that no bullet holes have been touched since then.  I also thought that it was ironic that back in the Civil War days that area was known as a place of fear; however, in present day it is a place of fun and joy.  The kids having a great time playing soccer when we were there are a testament to this. 

The last notable part of this field trip was observing all of the architecture.  Wherever I walk in Barcelona I am always taken back and mesmerized by the beautiful architecture.  It is so cool to know that a lot of the buildings, especially the ones on this field trip, have been around for many centuries and are still standing today.  Finding such buildings in my hometown is a rare thing.  I also thought it was cool that we saw the statues on the back of the Barcelona Cathedral that are the same ones from the cover of our book.  

Barcelona: The Beach

The most obvious thing that Barcelona has that my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, doesn't have is the beach.  I have never thought much about living on a beach since I hadn't before coming to Barcelona, but now when I go home that is all I'll be thinking about.  Back in the states I don't have the chance to go relax on the beach after a day of classes or on a nice weekend afternoon, so I took full advantage of doing that while here in Barcelona.  The beaches here are beautiful!  The waves aren't too big and disruptive and the water (at least in the beginning of the semester) was a perfect temperature.  Another thing I love about the beaches here are the guys walking around selling beers for one euro--nothing more relaxing than a cold beer while sitting on a hot beach.  The beach is only a 10 minute walk from my apartment in Poblenou and is called Platija de la Mar Bella.  Our first time at this beach the first thing we noticed very quickly was that almost everybody was half or fully nude.  We didn't think much of it though because we thought it was just the European thing to do.  One time some locals asked us if we wanted to play beach volley ball with them.  Two of the girls were wearing thongs and it was pretty distracting to say the least.  It wasn't until about three weeks into hanging out on Platija de la Mar Bella did we find out an interesting fact about the beach.  We met a guy from the United States on this beach and were having a normal conversation.  He then started to tell us how he just discovered that he was a homosexual.  Though we didn't care what his sexual preferences were, we all were wondering why he was telling us.  That is when he said, "You guys know this is a gay beach, right?"  We all looked at each other first in shock, but then started laughing because we now realized why so many of the men and women were so comfortable laying nude next to each other.  

Once it started getting a little too chilly to go into the water, there was nothing better or more calming than running along the beach for exercise.  I personally cannot run on treadmills because I hate staring at the same wall when I run; it is a lot better to look at the Mediterranean!  My regular jogging route would be from my apartment, to the beach, down the beach to the start of Port Olimpico, and then back to my apartment.  It was a good 3.5 to 4 mile run.  When I go back home and people ask me what I miss most about Barcelona the first thing that will come to mind besides its awesome and unique culture will be the beach.