Sunday...

Ahhh, it is Sunday. I never really thought much of Sundays back home. In fact, they were usually filled with running errands and doing last minute stuff to prepare for the upcoming week. Things are a little different in Spain. As I found out one of my first weekends here, Barcelona nearly shuts down on Sunday! Well, not really everything, but it shuts down everything that could enable you to be consumeristic. At first, I didn't really like the whole idea, but now that i've been here a few weeks, I really like the sleepy Sunday kinda motto.

As a result of no real stores or shops being open, I have found myself looking outside of the box to find cool things to do on Sundays. Just because things are closed, doesn't mean people stay inside. Sunday is the day where many museums and parks are free. As a result, it is common to see people outside with their families enjoying one another's company. Whether heading to a museum or strolling through a park, it is refreshing to see this sort of activity going on. The focus is really brought in on friends and family, and it is nice to see a day devoted to one another.

Consequently, I have gone on many neat adventures on Sunday. Last weekend I went to Montjuic. Simplified, Montjuic is a hill overlooking the city and harbor. As a result of being home to the 1929 World Exhibition and the 1992 Olympic Games, the "hill" offers some awesome features. One is the Palau Nacional. This building is really cool, and takes a long time to hike up the steps of it. Once you get to the top, though, you can see an amazing view of the city. From there, you can enter the MNAC (National Museum of Art of Catalunya). It is a beautiful museum, and was free! (due to the fact that it was free the first Sunday of the month. Score!) The museum included many sections featuring various Catalan works from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Modern eras. It was very interesting, and combined with the stunning views and building, an overall great place.

After the museum we wondered around Montjuic, through some various gardens, and up to the Olympic Stadium. We were allowed to enter the stadium, and I was kinda surprised at how un-grand it was. After further investigation, I found it was built back in 1927 for the '29 Exhibition. Barcelona tried to win the 1936 Olympic bid as well. As a result of the age, the stadium seemed outdated. After the olympics it housed the RCD Espanyol football team (the 2nd team to FCB) but the team was moved in 2009. The 2010 European Athletics Competition is supposed to be held there, but it looks to me like some work is needed before that can happen.

After the stadium, we wondered down the main road of Montjuic, past the Olympic Museum and Miro Museum and past the Olympic diving pools. They were so gorgeous, and featured a beautiful view over the entire city! The pool is now open to the public. I hope I can swim there before the semester ends. It looks like it would be quite the experience.

Later, we climbed a hill up to a small and absolutely gorgeous park overlooking the city and harbor! It was so spectacular. There are gondolas that run up and down the park, but it seems like a waste of money, if you ask me. It is a fairly easy walk up the hill, and not worth the 9E. There is, however, a gondola that goes from Montjuic over the ocean to Barcelona. I definitely want to go on it, maybe once it warms up some more. There are also plenty of other things I still need to see in Montjuic. It is such a cool area though, and I'm so glad I got a taste of it.

This Sunday, I went again to Montjuic, this time with Ana and Jose. They showed us a "secret" place. Also in Montjuic, is the palace where the royal family stays when they come to Barcelona. Ana got invited there for work one time, so she knew where it was. Otherwise, they try and not overly publicize the location of the palace. It was very beautiful, and had very nice views. Too bad the weather was kinda stinky this morning. It was still a fun adventure to go on with my "family." Almost as fun as seeing the palace was driving in the car. I have missed riding in cars, and it was fun to be in a car jamming out to techno tunes with Ana and Jose.

I guess what i'm saying, is unlike at home where Sundays are go, go, go get ready for the upcoming week, here it's more of a relaxed, one last family moment of the week.

Tomorrow, I shall write more about this weekends festivities. They were crazy, to say the least! Happy Valentines Day everyone. (Here Valentines day is inexistent, and that is more than ok with me :)