Hello,
I recently found out that I will be in Barcelona on Catalunya Day. There is a large rally of over a million people planned.
I'm a little concerned about safety, considering that the media blows every little hint of problems with American tourists in other countries. Has anyone experienced this event? Should I check it out or should I head to one of the little towns outside of Barcelona?
Any advice is helpful.
Thanks!
... nearly two million, not one. The Day of Catalonia (Sept 11th) is much like the 4th of July in the US or the 14th of July in France, people gather to commemorate our history in a very patriotic ambiance. There are cultural activities all day long in several places in the city, flowers are offered for the fallen defenders of Catalan heritage and culture throughout the centuries, and a huge rally is celebrated in the afternoon gathering people from all over Catalonia that come to spend the day in the capital. It's pretty much a family day. These are some shots from past editions of the rally: one, two, three, four, five, six. ... please note the quasi-absence of police forces -that should tell you something! (they "are" there of course, for common sense protection in front of such huge gatherings, but they're hardly seen). And this is a short video from the one in 2012 so you can see it "from inside". And this is a general view of the rally from last year... and yes, each red/yellow "dot" is someone wearing a red or yellow t-shirt, forming up the Catalan flag: four red stripes on a yellow background.
Over the years, quite a few friends of mine from the US that have been this day in Barcelona have enjoyed themselves very much as anyone is welcome to join in and said you guys don't have anything like this on your July 4th. Don't waste this opportunity and join in!
Frankly, it's quite absurd this paranoia about "American tourists"... you guys are no so important, over here nobody gives a toss about where you come from, be the US be the tiniest island in the Pacific or the remotest country in Africa, you're all going to be treated in the same welcoming manner -providing of course you behave and are respectful to our culture, and in return we Catalans receive any visitor with open arms. We are visited by over 12 million tourists every year -consider that the total population of Catalonia is 7.5 million!!
Enjoy!
Thank you Enric! I appreciate your quick reply.
The Day of Catalonia (Sept 11th) is much like the 4th of July in the US or the 14th of July in France, people gather to commemorate our history in a very patriotic ambiance. There are cultural activities all day long in several places in the city, flowers are offered for the fallen defenders of Catalan heritage and culture throughout the centuries, and a huge rally is celebrated in the afternoon gathering people from all over Catalonia that come to spend the day in the capital.
Enric --
This sounds very interesting. Do you think that the events/activities are something that an traveler/observer could enjoy and appreciate? I ask because I speak no Catalan, and very very little Spanish, and this is very much a local heritage event.
I am scheduled to arrive in Barcelona on Sept 11, but could easily shift that to September 10.
Thanks,
MJ
Hi MJ,
I can't really answer that question for you as it's something you should evaluate yourself. You might not speak the language, but any commemoration day anywhere in the world is rather a visual spectacle so one can enjoy the day even if one doesn't speak the language. Say I don't speak Spanish, would I enjoy the 5 de Mayo Parade in Dallas?, say I don't speak a word of English, would I enjoy the celebration of 4th of July anywhere in Texas, or the HEB Holiday Parade in Houston? I know this might not exactly be the same as ours is not a "parade", yet the underlying concept remains. At the end of the day, for me it's a commemoration that -as you rightly pointed out- carries a heavy charge of heritage because I'm local but for a foreigner it's merely a "party". Same thing goes for me when I've been in the US on July 4th... it obviously means a lot to you guys, while for us visitors is only a party and a way to see how US citizens celebrate their heritage.
Something else of course is how much sensitized is a visitor when visiting a foreign culture. Unfortunately I've known some very selfish visitors that don't give a toss about the people that are hosting them during their holidays and are only interested in material stuff (monuments, beaches...) and in their own self-gratification (good food, good drinks and cheap souvenirs).
As said, that's a decision that only you can take -I can only give you info on what, where, why.
Regards.
Enric --
Fair points. I think this gets to the question of why people travel.
I've enjoyed festivals in, for example, Thailand and Japan where the linguistic divides were deep and in which I certainly didn't understand the complexity and significance of the celebration, but the pleasure/value was in watching the celebrations and traditions, sometimes having helpful conversations with locals helping me understand what was happening, and simply being there, absorbing the excitement, taking it all in.
Only in Russia, many years ago, was I made to feel like outsiders were not welcome to observe at a local celebration. I hope that was not due to prior bad experience with badly behaved visitors.
I think I will change my travel plans, and add a Catalonian history to my reading list for this trip.
Regards,
MJ
As said, we're a very inclusive people and expats and visitors are always welcome into our celebrations, be patriotic be religious or be simply folkloric. Just join in ;)
Just in case you're interested in reading more about Catalonia, aside from the many books you're bound to find with a simple Google Search, here have some more material you might find interesting if your passion, like mine, is History and Politics:
Some background in three short videos totalling 15':
A brief stroll by Catalan History: part I - From the Greeks to the Bourbons, part II - From defeat to democracy and part III - 30 years into democratic transition
Then, if you're interested in the why and what, here some videos and also here. I'd especially recommend these: one , two and three. This one is an interesting conference given by a British expat here in Barcelona to a group of visiting US students in one of the business schools in the city.
Places to visit (in Barcelona), especially during Sep 11th:
El Born Cultural Centre -the remains of the defeat of the War of 1714, which ended Catalan self-rule.
El Palau de la Generalitat - our "White House" so to speak and the Museum of the History of Catalonia
A short list of recommended books. Also there's a good book that tries to summarize the grievances of Catalonia with Spain that's freely downloadable from this address. Her author is Liz Taylor (not the actress, of course, LOL!)
During the "Diada" (Day of Catalonia on Sep 11th), there are also different small parades of the "coroneles" here and there across the neighbourhoods of Ciutat Vella (the Old City). The coroneles were the militias from the different guilds of the city from the 10th to the 18th centuries that fought alongside the regular army whenever the city was attacked.
Enjoy!
I wrote to our RS hotel in Barcelona. We, too, will be staying in Barcelona waiting for our RS tour to start. Their reply,
The rally it will be celebrated from 22nd until 25 th of October in Costa Dorada, so it would be in Tarragona.
Otherwise, for the sighseeing it will be like a normal day in Barcelona, this city has a lot of tourism almost all year. If you want to visit something special, its better you book trought internet, so is better when you arrive to the monuments, maybe you don´t need to do a queue.
Sounds like it will be just another day, but maybe a few more flags.
"Sounds like it will be just another day, but maybe a few more flags"
... thanks for your trust in my answers. It seems a standard reply from a hotel has more weight for you. You believe it's going to be "just another day"... suit yourself :))
Enric --
Thank you so much for the all the references and links above, and for taking the time and effort to put it together. That is not trivial, and I very much appreciate it.
I am currently reading "The Story of Spain" by Mark Williams, and dabbling in "Discovering Spain" by Penelope Casas. (My interest is primarily 19th and 20th century history). Your references will make a very good complement to balance the picture.
I have booked Barcelona for October 9-15, and and very much looking forward to my time there as well as a couple of daytrips, as yet unplanned.
Regards,
MJ
Not at all MJ, my pleasure. A shame you won't be able to be there on Catalonia Day though.... I suspect you might have enjoyed it ;)
Another year!
Hello,
I was just wondering if you know if most museums and shops will be open that day? I am thinking some will be and some won't. We were hoping to go to Picasso Museum and do a walking tour of Barri Gotic but may have to change our plans.
Thank you!
Indeed, some will others won't, but the majority will because as I explained earlier, that's a day where a lot of Catalans from elsewhere come to the capital and they visit our museums as any other visitor would :))
If anything ensure you pre-book Picasso online because it's always very full, and that day more so. As per doing the tour... Barcelona has as many people in the street that day as it has many other months in summer, spring and autumn so I wouldn't worry too much. I know that Runner Beans for example they do offer their tours almost every day of the year, including Sep 11th, rain or shine, as their motto says. During that day people are spread across the city as there are different activities happening, and in the afternoon lots of them will gather for the rally in one of the main avenues of the city (Avinguda Meridiana) which stretches for over 5 miles and it's located to the east of the centre.
For shops that's another matter, except for a few souvenir shops I would expect the rest to be closed as if it was a typical Sunday. If anything, perhaps the Maremagnum Shopping Mall, located at the Port Vell (Old Port) area might be open as it's located inside the port and opening hours there are are governed by a different set of laws than those outside the port (that is, in the city). But again, I'm only guessing here.
As per restaurants, I hope to clarify some misunderstanding some visitors have: the city has over 15.000 eateries, some have their day off on Sunday, some on Monday and a few on Tuesday; some have one day off each week, others two. In short, you ALWAYS have a lot of restaurants open, maybe not the one you specifically wanted (if it happens to be their day off that day), but there'll be a wide choice to choose from.
Great, thank you so much for your prompt reply.
I think we will do our walk a different day, it is not that we really want to "shop" but more to explore and you can't explore if everything is closed. We are trying to narrow down our list of "must sees" and I am sure the special events of the day will probably be pretty entertaining. Possibly just do a brief tour in the morning and then celebrate with the locals later in the day.
Thank you!
