Plague of Lobsters

Spaniards have parades all the time, holidays too. Spain’s got more official holidays than any other country. Friday was the feast day for Saint Eulalia, one of the patron saints of Barcelona. There were festivites, but I didn’t go to them. I chilled. Saturday, there were more festivities. I went to those.

I met up with a classmate around six-thirty. We were supposed to meet up with his friends. We waited a good forty-five minutes for them. While waiting, the two of us hung out at the main metro station and listened to some live Spanish music. We watched the winos dance with themselves and the old men try to dance with anyone that would dance. There were some old couples dancing. And it was beautiful. The friends came, so we went to Fontana de Magica.

Fontana de Magica (magic fountain) is a huge fountain in front of the Catalunya Art Museum (the building in my FB display picture). It’s like the fountain in the Soo, only five or six times bigger. It lights up and music plays and water sprays synchronized with the music.

I imagine that love birds probably go to the fountain on Saturday nights to re-enact the Boy Meets World "Disney World" episode, that one where Cory and Topenga get back together and smooch in front of the big fountain with fireworks shooting in the background. (Now, I feel like Stuie had something in his blog about Cory and Topenga. Well, either way, shout out to Ruben.)

This was the first show of the season. It was cold, damn cold. And raining. But I couldn’t have asked for a better cold, rainy night.

On a side note: I read about a “plaga de langostas” the other day, a plague of lobsters. Which isn’t really a plague is it? It’s more like a big cookout. But I guess “langosta” is “lobster” and “locust.” So… keep that in mind.

After the fountain, we headed out to watch the parade. We had much hunger and stopped at a Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab’s are all over the place here. They sell Kebab’s, among other things. They’re a good substitute for Taco Bell. I ate a kebab and had a beer and I was happy.

By the time we got to the parade, it was pouring. It was a parade for Carnival, I guess. Everyone was dressed up and dancing in the rain. It was a glorious feeling. And I was happy again.

We bounced and headed for a local concert. It took us a long time to get on a train because everyone goes in the metro when It rains on their parade.

I asked a guy dressed like Beatlejuice where the concert was located. His girlfriend, Cruella Deville, told us. We followed her directions and soon became lost. CRUUUEEELLAAAAA. We went to a bar.

Turns out, the bar was real funky. We found Waldo, and he was playing the guitar, some mean Flamenco. We also found a cross-dressing flamenco dancer. GOOD night.

Sunday, was Correfoc in front of the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia. It was a parade where people dress like devils and dance around with massive sparklers. Drums play lively Carnival-y type music, and everyone gets down.

The children begin the event. They’re real little. Roc, my Senora’s grandkid, started when he was three. They wear fire resistant costumes and little goggles and wander all over the place holding sparklers twice their size. After, fireworks are shot in the air. Then, the adults do the sparkler dance. The sparkler dance is kind of like the Guimond shake-down, only throw some fire-resistant clothing, gogs, and a sparkler in there.