SANT JOAN & Door Special

SANT JOAN

Door Special

Today is Sant Joan, this morning everything seems quieter than most days, and that’s probably because people are just now going to get some sleep.

Tuesday was our summer solstice, yet here Sant Joan (St John) is celebrated as the longest day, and traditionally burn fires during the night to keep the appearance of day light. It is also known as the night of fire, for some the night of witchest, hey say it is the furthest day from Christmas. Like other festivities, the origin is somewhat blurry, some say it is pagan, others christian, but it doesn’y really matter; what matters is the party. For the kids it’s about firecrackers, and trying to find the right spot to light ‘m up, for instance a pedestrian tunnel, as there are many here with access to the beach, try keeping your ears covered while walking thru one, cause it can hurt it’s so loud. Those who enjoy dancing will attend a “revetlla” which in the towns may be held under a large carp or a large open space, where food is either provided or brought from home to share, and there’s a band playing for everyone to dance. And you know at somepoint during the night or the early morning you want to make it to the beach, even if you do smell the sulfur from the fireworks, because of the many parties, as most “xiringuitos”, which is what the beach bars are called.

The next town over, where I used to live as a child is Vilassar de Mar, also known as Sant Joan de Vilassar; most towns have a patron saint, so the sanctoral calender will determine when each town gets to celebrate it’s “festa major” (the town’s holiday), so in the case of Vilassar, they will be celebrating many fun events for the next 4 or 5 days. As for Premia de Mar, or Sant Pere de Premia, the “festa major” will start next week on St Peter’s day, which I’m looking forward to, as one of their main events is the desembarkment and pillage of the pirates ...I’ll let you know how that goes.

Naturally, with these festivities comes a spike in energy boosting drugs that help your body  thru the night, and because the goverment here likes to copy everything corporate-america does, they also have much to do with the war on drugs; which is why, if you can, it’s preferable to not do any driving at all. Not that you wouldn’t get pulled over even if you’re walking, put at least you minimize your risks.

So, fortunately for me, I didn’t have to walk to far to get home, as I don’t fancy exposing my body to more than it can take in naturally, around 2am I crawled home without having reached our beach party. On the bright side though I feel just fine this morning; and Wilbur will be grateful too, so we can go out for a walk sooner rather than later. But I do confess to waking up covered in sand wondering “how did I get here” on a few occassions when I was younger.

And I must also point out that the economic crisis was palpable during this festivity, particularly in Premia which has a higher amount of working class people, so while the sound of firecrackers was constant, the fireworks displays was not so much; however we went to have dinner at Carme’s in Cabrils, which is a wealthier town, and just across the street from us must have been the wealthiest of all, as we watched an amazing array light the sky throughout our dinner which was already close to midnight.

Since I did not have the camara with me, I thought I may as well use this blog to show off some of those pictures that I have been storing, just need to figure out wether to show the graffitti or the doors, so let me surprise you. And let me know if you have a favorite.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY-PIE!

Jordi one week old

27 years ago today, at SF General Hospital, and with the help of a beautiful midwife, was the most special day of my life, as I gave birth to my favorite person on this planet.






I was clueless and scared, but Jordi gave me the strength to overcome pretty much any obstacle. My whole life has been a series of bumps and obstacles, feeling like salmon, swimming against currents,  questioning myself, looking back, and what ifs; but Jordi has been my anchor, and later has been also a support. I would go visit him to feel reenergized and loved.


And while we continue to see and talk to each other through the marvels of Skype, being so far from him is not that easy.


So in honor of this day, I have one last series of photos that I have yet to share with you guys, from the month of April, when he was here visiting me.

RODA DE BARA


This is a town south of Barcelona, already in the province of Tarragona, which is popular for fine sand beaches with shallow waters, a area perfect for babies and toddlers, they can play in the water without getting carried away by waves. I used to come to one of these beaches when Jordi was a baby.

We hoped on the train with Wilbur, and Esther, who also stayed a few months with me when I lived in Hermosa Beach, back in the summer of 92, which was during the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, where Esther was supposed to be volunteering, and yet she gave that up to be with us. I don't think she regretted a single moment, we had a great time. Only problem I ever had with her was our musical preferences were wide apart, so she had to wear headphones when it came time to that. As I was saying, Esther picked us up at the train station and we drove to her parents vacation home, that has a salt water pool, although it was still too cold for bathing, we did take in a bit of sun just around it.





Esther has two younger sisters, Laura and Sol.  The following summer, just after Jordi's 9th birthday, he travelled solo to Spain for 6 weeks, and he had spent much of that time with the Urue Family, mostly with Sol, who was just a year older than Jordi, and was a little tomboy back then.

Urue Family in 1998

Jordi and Sol rekindled their friendship in 1998, while we visited Barcelona together for a few weeks, but the two of them had not seen each other since, and it was a bit more difficult this time, because of the impediments that come with adulthood and also because Jordi's Catalan speaking abilities are much less of what they used to be.




Esther and Sol took us to visit the town and a town within the town "El Roc" that is very quaint.










We also visited the little church where Esther was married, shortly after coming back from her visit to the US.













Meanwhile Pol had already started cooking, or rather barbecuing his one of a kind "Arros a la Banda", similar to a Paella, but more local to this area; it translates to : rice on the side. Because the rice would be cooked with the broth from the catch of the day, you would serve the fish on the dish, while the rice remained in the large ceramic dish, and each person would eat from this dish with their own wooden spoon.


According to Jordi, the best meal he had during his entire stay, while a close second was that Fideua that Mari had prepared.

CHAMPIONS!!

Topsy turvy as Edward is juggling the move to Premia de Mar, with work, Monica and soccer; all very important. While I have been cleaning, mudding, painting, and waiting to get wifi service. To top it off the TV is not working now either, normally I don’t mind that as long as I can get connected to find out what’s going on beyond my perimeter.

So I needed to focus on viewing the game. Lucky for me Tere lives in Premia de Mar, she had spent a summer with me back in 91, when I was living in Hermosa Beach. I had called her acouple of times before, just so she could help me get accuainted with the town. I had called her about something I had seen in a local paper for Sunday, and before I could say anything, she had already asked if I wanted to go see the game at her daughter’s school, as they were planning to place a large screen outside the school yard.

We met at her home, with Marta, Sofia and her daughter, and off to school we went, where they had been doing activities all day long, and getting geared up for the big match, the Champions League Final.

The first 20 minutes was hard to view, because there was still too much light out, but eventually it became very clear, and it was great to see on such a large screen, and more fun to share the excitement with a larger crowd.

Manchester United started the first ten minutes as if they were bulls, very strong. But they burned that energy quickly, and Barcelona, or as we call it here Barca, was able to take control and play their game, take control of the ball and not let the opposite team touch it.

Everyone jumped in excitement when Pedro scored the first goal, and we wre all pumped, looked like the second was close behind; and it was, only this time it was Rooney who scored for MU, the play had been offsides, but nevertheless a nice goal.

Barca continued to play their game, and in the second half came two more goals, first Messi and then Villa. A great game, and victory, followed by fireworks, honking, singing for the next few hours.

That thing that I had called Tere about, I saw in the paper that they were country line dancing in the Placa de la Sardana, Sunday from 12pm to 2pm. So here I am, line dancing in Premia de Mar. It just amazes me that I couldn’t find a place in Marin. I had done classes and had brought friends with me when I lived in Hermosa Beach, and it was fun and great exercise.

And just one more thing I wanted to share, as one of my friends here, Maite, share a 360 photo of the Placa de Catalunya link; unfortunetly I wasn't able to follow up this weekend, last I saw was all the other cities, like Madrid, wher every person was armed with a flower as a weapon in support of "indignats" in Plaça de Catalunya.

SPANISH REVOLUTION

one way to fight the system is to not consume
that what they lead us to believe is necessary
to be better, more beautiful or more masculine

FRIDAY 26
chalkboard with scheduled events

So, yesterday I went to the local library in order to use their wifi and post another blog with cool photos; and as I was waiting for them to upload, I began to scan over my long list of emails, looking for any personal ones, friends and family. I came across one from our dear friend Deborah (Mack and Stella’s Mom), I was surprised because I don’t get many, and when I do, usually a one-liner, because as you know, and we have a saying in spanish “en casa del herrero, cuchara de palo”, translates to : in the blacksmith’s home, wooden spoon; so as a professional writer, she does not have time to write.

Anyhow, this one read: what’s going on in Spain? with the attached link..http://acampadabcn.wordpress.com/

education is a right, not a business

For those of you who read “alternate” news sources, you may have come across this Spanish Revolution that began on May 15, and is ongoing, and from the looks of things is not leaving anytime soon.

no cut is negociable

I was curious myself, so later in the day, after I left my English students at the Port Olympic, I made my way to Placa Catalunya to see for myself, and since I had a half hour to spare before getting on my 9.30pm bus to Premia de Mar (and letting Wilbur out to pi), I walked around in amazement of this new settlement. It was very well organized chaos; at first I was reading all the different signs, that pretty much cover everything, from politics and corruption, education and enviroment, health and human rights, you name it. 

Politicians and Bankers
Money thieves

Artur Scissorhands
Artur Mas is the President of the Generalitat (like the Goverator)

center camp

thinking of The Earth

There are large chalkboards with scheduled lectures, forums and discussions all day long and everyday. There are tents to protect from sun, actually the tented area reminded me of Burning Man’s Center Camp. They have even converted the surrounding grass areas into food gardens.

"V" for Vendetta

And the sculptures were wearing “V” masks (as in V for Vendetta)

Permaculture

Unfortunately though I only had my old iPhone with me to takes pictures, so they are not good, and it was already getting dark, but I will translate in photo captions some of the signs, as they are most of them written in Catalan, so even those of you who understand Spanish, may have some difficulties. 

top sign : where is the left?
down the hall and to the right
lower sign:no to cuts, public university for all

And keep in mind this is not just here in Placa Catalunya, it is in most spanish cities, even smaller ones like Mataro, and even in some towns. You will see signs posting some needs, like blankets, water and food. The people are here to stay, and it’s powerful, I feel proud and I may even join them once I finish painting here. Stay tuned.

it is best to live one day as a lion
than 1000 as a donkey

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

HOLY SHIT!!!

Ok, so after writing the above this morning, I went to the library to post it, but the library was closed. Around 2pm, Edward and David show up, and ask me if I have seen the news. And this is what we are watching...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Geg_6Xoy04s

have we suddenly woken up in Libya this morning?

if you fight you may loose
if you don't fight you already lost

And the most surreal part of this is the motive the government is giving us, what the few tv stations are commenting on, is the fact they they need the town squares to be free of "indignats" people in order to allow the space for the people that will come to celebrate the victory of Manchester United vs FC Barcelona tomorrow night…and suddenly I'm reminded of Lewis Black shaking his head in disbelief!

free and quality public education 

Remember I told you a while back about soccer being very big, but this is bullshit, and people are mad as hell that they would use that excuse. they had talked about removing the people on the weekend before the elections, as they lied about it being a political influence that could jeopardize the outcome. That was last weekend. And now this? progressives are soccer fans too! how dare they!

This may very well blow up in their faces.