Dave the Nomad

Barcelona, the capital of Catalunya, is a city that is in Spain, but it is easy to forget this when you are speaking the native language Catalan, a mixture of French and Spanish. Until 1975, Spain was ruled by a dictator ruthless enough to stop invasion by Hitler, and whose actions are still being contested in court to this day due to Amnesty laws maintained by the government. As Spain’s civil war was ending, the rest of Europe erupted in WWII. During this time, Franco, Spain’s dictator, made a bargain with Mussolini and Hitler: let Spain be untouched, but Hitler could bomb the Basque region, and Mussolini, Catalunya. These areas were strongholds from the Spanish Civil War, and as such despised by the dictator. Franco treated Barcelona and the rest of Catalunya like the British treated Australia, sending criminals and people unwanted by mainstream society there to do as they wished. The city still has a lot of petty crime, but there are many amazing sights to see in Barcelona that make up for this.

One man is more elevated than any other in this city, Antonio Gaudi. He is responsible for the creation of many amazing works of architecture from his first city commissioned piece, a lampost in Plaza Real, to his final work which is still in progress, La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona is filled with homes created by Gaudi, a park on the outskirts of town, a small self sufficient Dr. Seuss-like town, and of course the Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada Familia is unlike any other church in the world. The whimsical, naturist feel of this intricately designed Art Nouveau church leaves you awe inspired. When you start to realize it was designed and began construction before the automobile was invented it becomes even more impressive. The church has a different architectural style on each side, and encompasses unique figures like snails in place of gargoyles, fruit-like balls on top of spires, and soldiers.

The city of Barcelona also has the most walked street in Europe, Las Ramblas. Originally, this was a trash infested sludge like “river” which provided a means of waste disposal into the sea. Nowadays it is a beautiful meandering walkway lined with sycamore trees, shops, newsstands, street performers, restaurants, and artists. This is a great city to visit, just plan on leaving credit cards, ID, etc in a safe.