Barcelona - Jewish Quarter - History Class

          For my History of Barcelona class we had a field trip to the Jewish Quarter, which made me feel right at home. It looks amazingly like Fair Lawn. All kidding aside, El Call, which is what the Quarter is called is actually a beautiful area of Barcelona with narrow maze streets. 

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            The Jewish Quarter dates back to the 9^th Century when, before the Jews were expelled and killed, they were important members of society. The Jewish people during this time were very important in the trading community and were the only people allowed to trade with Africans.

           Above is a picture of the oldest Synagogue in Europe, apparently it has only been up and running for a few years now, after being used over the centuries for other things. It is pretty interesting because you could see all the old stone walls and artifacts. The whole Jewish Quarter, along with the rest of the Gothic Quarter is just an interesting area because of all the history associated with it. As we were walking we would randomly see parts of the old Roman walls, which can be seen below. 

         The picture below is of Plaça Sant Felip Neri, which may just look like a door and an old crumbling wall, but in reality those holes in the walls are remnants of a bomb. During the Spanish Civil War a Fascist Bomb killed many people including 20 children that were seeking shelter in the church in this square. The strangest part about this story is that nowadays there is a school in this square.  

             This last picture below is of the City Hall of Barcelona, which is directly next to the Jewish Quarter. Since the Jewish People in the 9th Century were the bank rollers and in charge of trade, they needed to be by the King and rich in the community. Something else that is really interesting about the building is that the three flags on top are the Catalanian flag, Spanish Flag, and then another type of Catalan flag, showing how independent Catalan actually is. 

 

Ireland

This past weekend I had the best trip and went to go visit my best friend, Corinne in Galway and made a few other trips while over there. I was picked up at the airport by my cousin Dervla and from there we went to eat at a restaurant called Farmer Browns, which was so cute and the food was amazing. I had a chicken breast and the chicken was so delicious, I loved it! Afterwards Dervla took me to a bar for a comedy show, but it ended up being a Jazz show, which we seemed to be the only ones who thought the band was not that amazing! Derv is going to Australia for a year or so, so it was nice getting to spend some time with her!

The following day I took a bus from Dublin to Galway. I read, slept a little and stared at the beautiful green hills and valleys. It was just so beautiful I love the random rock walls and old buildings everywhere, it is amazing. When I got to Galway Corinne found me waiting at the bus stop and then we immediately went to eat at a placed called The Cellar. It was delicious like all Irish food that I love. After she took me around Galway and around her campus, which was beautiful of course!
We then went to Thomas Dillon, which is the original store claddagh jewelry, and I got my ring shined for free. I love talking to the people their and just to all people in Ireland they are so fun and just so nice.

That night we met up with my daddy. I was so so so happy to see him, it was just icying on top of my weekend haha! He took me and Corinne out to dinner, which was so good of course and I had dessert! After we went for a drink and then ran back to Corz for an ABC party, where I actually wore clothes, two scarfs together if that counts. It was a lot of fun and her friends were fun as well. Afterwards we went to a club called Karma and I literally thought we were in the Jersey Shore it was so funny and ironic. We danced and drank and just had fun!

The following day my dad and I went up to Ballina to see my cousin Olivia's pharmacy, which was so cute! It was unlike other pharmacy's and more open and unique! I loved it! After we met up with my cousin Conal and Jim for lunch and then headed back to Galway. When I got back we were all tired from the night before, but went to eat at Corz's friends house and then went to a pub where I got Hot Whiskey, and liked it. I don't like Whiskey in general, but Hot Whiskey is actually really good.

  Before I left to go back to Barcelona my dad took me and Corz Falconing at Astor Castle in Cong, where Quiet Man was filmed. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. I wish I could post a video, but it won't let me! Basically we got to have pet Harris Hawk for an hour and feed them and have them fly to us and off of us. They loved Corinne (it was weird). It was such an amazing experience. Thanks Dad!  

I cannot wait to go back to Ireland for Easter! And to add another place to the list of places I have been for Easter!

Barcelona City Museum - History Class

 

For History Class I had to go to the City Museum of Barcelona and look at the Roman Architecture that was their long before Guadi was even a thought in someones mind.  It was actually really interesting because I got to see the original foundations of what Barcelona was and how the Romans built their cities. While I was also by the museum, I went to the Cathedral, which was amazing because you could go on the roof and just relax and take pictures. That was probably my favorite part about the cathedral. 

 For the Field Assignment I had to look at the original foundation that was their during the Roman times and compare it with modern Catalan architecture. What is so insane is that randomly throughout the city, specifically in the Gothic Quarter, Roman architecture is still prevalent as seen above with a part of the Roman wall (Right) and Column (Left)
 














Another intersting part of the Roman section was the Roman sewage system, which seemed pretty advanced for the time period. The pictures above show two examples of what the sewage system looked like and were pretty much drains that look like the ones we have today. 

 The two pictures above are examples of everyday items that people would use in their households. The first is detergent and bleach, which would be used in the laundry mats. The Laundry mats were so interesting and it was amazing to me that they existed over a 1000 years ago. The picture below that is perfume bottles, which were used exactly like perfume is used today, to make people smell good.

 

These two pictures above are religiously based pictures. The one to the left are columns from an original Church, when the Roman Empire was first becoming associated with Christianity. The picture to the right is a funeral head that was used in ancient times as a burial statue for a tomb if someone was to pass.

This last picture is probably one of the most interesting things about the tour. This is a picture of the wine cellar of a Winery that was used in Roman times. It shows just how important wine was thousands of years ago, just like it is today. Wine is still made in this regions of 100s of centuries.

Amsterdam

For my first trip out of Barcelona I went to Amsterdam, which was amazingly beautiful, but also freezing cold. It truly made me appreciate the Barcelona weather! I got there a day earlier than the rest of my friends and got to explore the city and get to know how to get around rather quickly. 

The first day I went to Rembrandt Huis and had the most amazing sandwich across the street at a Cafe called Cafe Tisfris. It was a bri, walnut, spinach, and chicken sandwich and when I say it was one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten I mean it! In love with it. My favorite part of the Rembrandt Huis was the beds, which were in cupboards and the tiny spiral staircase, which was similar to the one in the Anne Frank Huis. 

That first day we basically walked everywhere, passing the Royal Palace in Dam Square and walking through the Jordaan. We ended up that night by Leiden Square and ended up eating at a local restaurant. I had mustard soup, which is literally what it sounds like, but tastes really good! 

 The following day I met up with my friends and we went to the Anne Frank Huis, which was so interesting. I was surprised and amazing at how big the secret house actually was and the fact that the Frank's and other families were able to stay in hiding for 2 years. It is also amazing that only one person out of all of them survived. Afterwards we went to the I AM AMSTERDAM sign, but it was so so cold we could not stay for long. We went back to the Hostel, which was really nice, but far and had Guhlwein, which is Port Wine and was delicious. 

 That saturday we woke up and went to Bagel & Beans and then went on a canal tour, which I think was really cool, but don't think the others enjoyed it as much. It was snowing and freezing that on some canals people were ice skating! After we walked to the Heineken Experience, which was so much fun and I took two glasses from it. We ended up going to Leiden Square for dinner and then to the Red Light district after and I saw some Prostitutes in the windows. It was so strange and weird to think that people actually go to these women. 

The next morning we went to Van Gogh Museum, which was interesting and I liked that I got to see all of his self portraits because each was done differently with him wearing a different type of hat or outfit. 

It was a great, but cold start to my travels! 

WEEK 2

Tomorrow will mark my second week being in Barcelona and this weekend I am going to Amsterdam with my friends. The start to my traveling Europe! 

This past week I went to a lot of new places around Barca. Last Thursday night I went to a local Japanese restaurant right by my apartment that ended up being really good. Then after that I went to this local bar off of Las Ramblas called L'Ovella Negro (Black Sheep). It had such a fun and local atmosphere and the drinks were so cheap. You could get a tower of beer or sangria and split it with like 5 people. Since I only went with four people we only got a pitcher of Sangria, but it was so good and sweet, I can't wait to go back.

The following day we went to El Born, which is next to the Gothic District. It was really cool and reminded me a lot of the streets in Italy. We walked around and got Gelato, which was amazing and then went to this Cathedral (seen above) and went to the train station which was close by. That night I went to a bar called Dow Jones, which was so much fun! The price of drinks are based on the New York Stock exchange, so if people are buying one drink a lot other drink prices will be low and when the stock market crashes all the drink prices are at there lowest and everyone rushes to the bar to order drinks. 

This past weekend I also went to the Sagrada Familia with my friends and it was even more amazing inside then it was just from looking at it. The inside had beautiful stained glass windows and wavy walls and spiral staircases. The ceiling looked like some kind of spider web and you could not help but always look up! We got to climb to the top of one of the pillars and see sweeping views of Barcelona. We had to climb a spiral staircase all the way down from the top and it was insane. At the end I was so dizzy.

WEEK ONE

The first week in Barcelona was a complete blur. I seriously can't believe I have been here for that long. I met some pretty nice people and got to explore the city. I went to a club called Opium, which was really expensive, but still lots of fun. I learned from that experience to never buy a drink when I am out because at most places drinks are very expensive. I also went on a city tour of Barcelona where I got to see the Sagrada Familia for the first time and went to Mountjuic and got to explore a little around there. 

 I went to the aquarium with my friends this week, but there were no dolphins, guess they have none in the Mediterranean. The area the aquarium is in is a really pretty and nice area, there is a mall, Imax theater and the aquarium. We also got to see the Face of Barcelona and the statue of Chris Columbus, which is pointing in the wrong direction. After the aquarium we went to the beach area by the clubs, which was so beautiful, but had sketchy Indian men trying to sell beer and drugs to us. 

I also had class for the first time this week and so far so good! I had photography, which seems like it will be really fun, but I don't like my class. I also had Lit, History, and Global Comm. My history teacher is cute and my roommate and I call him the Spanish George Clooney! My Lit class seemed interesting, but I feel it will be boring and my global Comm class seems all right.

Oh and another club I went to called Otto Kutz is where Loco Lunes is held every Monday and is huge. I had a lot of fun there and met some more people that seemed nice. The clubs are crazy, but the ones we go to are mostly filled with only American people. 

The Plane

The trip from Newark to London was amazing to say the least. I got to travel first class and be treated like a celebrity. The British stewardesses treated me like I was better than all those people down in economy, just showing that class structure can even transfer to a plane! I was not complaining though! I got yummy food, some pajamas and a nice bed to sleep in whereas my friend in Economy had to sleep in a small chair next to two heavy set Jamaicans. Once off the plane, my upper class perks continued and I got to go in a fast pass line (YES jut like at Disney) through customs, this time I let my friend tag along! 

That was where my celebrity status ended sadly though because on the plane to Barcelona I was back in ordinary economy. 

The trip was nice, but long having left New York on the night of January 8th and not arriving in Barcelona until the night of January 9th.