BE BARCELONA
  • Your Barcelona, now! Live Barcelona. See Barcelona. Be Barcelona.

Observations from an Expat

Cupcakes in the sky.

1/22/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Ensanche, Eixample in Catalan, is the expansion of the city from it’s medieval center in the late 1800s.  It was a utopian plan, with wide streets for public transport, open intersections, big interior public gardens inside the four walls of every block, trees everywhere and limited building height.  Socially and environmentally friendly, way back then.  Not much of the plan ever came true except the distinctive grid and apple shaped blocks. So, looking down from high above and far away is its popularized and famous angle.

The cupolas of the Ensanche...cupcakes in the sky.

0 Comments

FC Barcelona. It's our club, and you can't join!

1/20/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today the youngest in our family received her membership credentials for Barcelona’s infamous soccer club.  But not us grownups.  If you are an adult and you have not lived here your whole life, it is pretty much impossible to be one.  Here FCB membership is DNA.  Anyone under 18 can join, anyone over 18 has to be directly related to a current FCB member.  So now us two can wait for 6 more years so that our daughter can pass down her status to us.  But the good news is, their tough rules mean games are family friendly and hooligans not welcome!  Go Barca!!!!  http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/

0 Comments

Up, up and away

1/15/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Moving day.  Again.  And again.  Almost two months to the day our sea shipment arrived from home.  Most impressive...movers magic...they got our garden furniture onto a rooftop terrace!  From the inside you can only get to the top by a nautical spiral staircase.  Have no fear, send anything and put it anywhere!


0 Comments

Why my skinny jeans don't fit.

1/15/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of my favorite things to do is choose a way home down a street I haven’t been to before and cruise for the surprise of pastry and bon-bon shops.  They are decoration, design and desire all in one.  An art show you can eat.  And eat.  And eat.


0 Comments

Poop.

1/9/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, I met a man outside my door, a door that opens right out onto the street in a paved pedestrian zone.  His dog was peeing on my front wall, and he greeted me with “hola,” without a downcast eye or any other hint of embarrassment.  On Sunday mornings when I walk to the bakery early for our weekly splurge on butter croissants, I am alone, but for the men of the family walking their dogs and stopping to watch said dogs poop on the pedestrian streets.  Without a downcast eye or a hint of embarrassment.  In fact the inevitable pause in the dogs’ excited walk allows for a chat with the neighbor or a glance down at the newspaper in hand.  This would be downright gross...well still is, but made less so by the fact that the street cleaner comes EVERY single day, even on Sundays.  One person drives the truck with the water and brushes and another person walks ahead doing the pre-scrape.  I don’t want to ask who pays for this service, but love for our dogs, poop and all, seems well integrated into Spanish law and city budgeting.


0 Comments

Gossip girl.

1/7/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
How I practice spanish.  Now addicted to “Hola!”  That’s my excuse anyway!  Getting to know all those obscure royals from countries that don’t even exist anymore, local TV personalities, wealthy euro business heirs and other non-hollywood personalities!

0 Comments

Amusement.

1/1/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Parc del Laberint d’Horta, gorgeous garden in the north of Barcelona, in a creative collaboration between three artists -- Italian, French and Catalan.

Walking through layers of gardens, listening to the birds, breathing the flavor of eucalyptus, tilting my face in the sun.  An amusement.  Figuring out the maze, easing up the steps, fingers skimming the pool, jealous of the people who really lived there.  Amusement, delight, diversion, frolic, hoopla, merriment, mirth, rejoice, riot, romp, treat, whoopee.  Parc del Laberint, a bit of New Year’s fun.  www.barcelonaturisme.com


0 Comments

    By Maia Pay Ozguc

    Barcelona Impressions.Be curious. Be present. Be Barcelona! 

    Categories

    All
    Best Beaches
    Eat
    Everyday Life
    Go And See
    Kid Stuff
    Moving To Barcelona
    Shopping
    Things To Take Home
    Travel: Around Spain
    Travel: Costa Brava
    Travel: Islands Nearby
    Walking And Biking

    Archives

    December 2018
    February 2016
    December 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

  • Your Barcelona, now! Live Barcelona. See Barcelona. Be Barcelona.