Just googled Rizal and Barcelona and GASP!!! I promenaded at the same La Rambla that he used to perambulate at. The La Rambla is considered the centre of Barcelona which is near Placa de Catalunya; there was a little coffee house, called Cafe del Catalunya that Rizal used to visit to meet up with kapwa Filipinos (compatriots). I had espresso there, it must be a Filipino thing!!! 🙂 We stayed at Rivoli Rambla overlooking the Rambla itself and I can attest that the city never bloody sleep. Last Thursday there was a long parade mostly of students in protests. There were a handful of tents at the Place de Catalunya – their version of Occupy stay-in protest.

Rizal apparently thought at first that Barcelona was dirty and the people rather insular but he changed his mind fairly quickly. I supposed it is different now as Barcelona must be one of the super cleanest city in the world. And their street cleaners are beautiful young girls and gorgeous men. I must say that the Barcelonians are lovely, friendly, helpful and polite people. They offer elderly and those with young children seats in their public transport. Much, much, much better than the French….. Sorry Susie!!!!

If you had to go to Barcelona, make sure to get tickets to their hop-in – hop-off buses. There were so many places to see. I must say my slumbering inner Catholicism is very much awake at the moment. I visited so many churches that I ended up douching myself with holy water and touching feet of statues, etc. The churches are so beautiful, you can see that the state and its people look after the places so well. Even the smallest ones have vergers or sacristans on hand.

We also went to one of the monasteries, not the Montserrat one as the train or tram was out of season. You have to climb the mountains on foot!! eeeckkk We went to Pedralbes instead. It was so beautifully kept. I was thinking all the way the visit that I would really have been happy being a nun in there.

I wonder whether Rizal met or have heard of Gaudi?!!! Gaudi’s work is everywhere in Barcelona. A site that Christians must see is the Sagrada Familia. SF is just like the Collesium in Rome. You come out of the metro and they are there in front of you. I have to confess that at first I found the Sagrada rather alien. Sorry I thought it was rather hellish, it was so spikey, gaudish!!! But majestic all the same, very in your face. Once you get inside the cathedral, it was a totally different story. Very modern and high ceiling. GloriousIly religious with Jesus on the cross floating at the altar!