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Buen Nuevo Año - Bon Any |
Click Our Links
Welcome to the holiday issue of the Barcelona Picayune. It has come to our attention that some people are not clicking on this page's links; not
realizing that behind almost every article there are more pictures and witty
repartee to be had.
Unfortunately we have also discovered that few people actually
read this first article and we therefore
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Go Back And See
still expect to have people wondering why we don't include more pictures.
If you didn't realize that there were more pictures in previous issues
go back and see (Issue #1,
Issue #2).
In this issue you can expect to see: the Spanish Inquisition, a singing dog, and Romantic Sunsets.
Brian and Lynn
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A Very Spanish Christmas |
-- Traditions --
Part of the fun of living in a foreign country is the discovery of its holiday
traditions. Interesting, amusing and sometimes puzzling
we were definitely not disappointed with Spain's. As you
are reading, if you notice a thread that runs through these traditions,
it is not of our making.
El Pesebre: An Elaborate nativity scene of the holy nuclear family is displayed
in every town hall and every home. What is unusual about the Spanish take on
the manger is that their enormous scenes include the
entire town; complete with rivers, bridges,
blacksmiths, roasting pigs and an unusual character called
'el caganer'.
El Caganer: Translated directly as 'the crapper', this character is usually
found off to the side of the pesebre literally with his pants around his knees
and taking a…well, a 'caga'.
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"we're not making this up!"
The traditional 'caganer' wears a red cap
and peasant's clothing, but you can also purchase a modern one using a cell
phone while going about his business.
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Click here to see More »
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How We Spent Our Holidays
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-- A Quiet Romantic Holiday --
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We initiated the season by attending a performance of Handel's Messiah
in the Medieval basilica of the Gothic quarter.
It was to that Basilica we returned for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. We
spent Christmas morning leisurely opening gifts over mimosas and the
'Christmas Wife Saver' (a recipe clearly named prior to Eighties).
For our turkey fix, we went to the Cafe de la Princesa for a traditional
Catalan Christmas meal.
In a turkey and cava induced haze, we returned
home to spend time visiting with family and friends por Telefono.
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Photo Essay #3 - The Buskers of Las Ramblas |
Buskers, Con-men, & Apes
Oh My
One the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona is what's known as
Las Ramblas; a wide Pedestrian street that bisects the old part of Barcelona.
In this issue's photo essay we've documented some of this things you can expect to see
on Las Ramblas.
Click Here to See the Pictures
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Lynn Gets A Job In Business
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After six long years working in the public school system where one can
only dream of such concepts of 'going for an extended lunch' and
owning an ergonomically correct padded rolly chair (adult size at that), I have finally
done it. I got a job in business!
"It's more than just eating candies and chatting on MSN"
I'm working for a software company as their in-company language assistant and teacher. I spend
most of my time teaching English to the CEO and CFO, but I also translate the odd document and
power point presentation from Spanish or French to English.
Although some of you will be disapointed to hear that I've given up my life of leisure,
I'm happy to have more on my 'to do list' than taking vitamins and going to the gym.
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You're going to make it after all...
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Click here to see Full Picture »
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How to be Really Rude in Spanish
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-- Spanish Swearing School --
As happens to most Extranjeros learning Spanish in Barcelona,
our initial lessons did not arm us with a complete vocabulary.
For example when ripped off by a taxi driver
our only reaction would be:
"It does not please me what you do!
You are a very bad man! Very not good! This does
not make me happy very much!"
Fortunately we were able to find a school that was willing to teach
us some real vocabulary. At the Speak Easy Language School here in Barcelona
we learned things like the real words for body parts, colourful insults, and how to
say to someone that "your friend is a total hottie."
It is not that we now possess Spanish pottie mouths,
but we have found that we understand 80% more of what people are actually saying.
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-- New Contest --
In the last issue we held a contest asking people to write a caption
for the this picture.
Our thanks and 250 Picayune points go to Graham Booth who submitted
"Behold I am the Greek God Viagoras!" Special mention also to Patrick Booth
who submitted "Quick Brian, take the picture before something else happpens!"
We have a new contest this issue, relating to our recent Spanish lesson. We
ask that our readers try to guess the meaning of the following phrases:
- No tocas mis huevos
- Tu opinion me la paso por el culo
- Es de Puta Madre
Bonus question: What key street phrase would you teach a Spanish person
learning English?
Send your submissions to:
brian@pooladdict.com
and win 250 Picayune Points.
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Click here to see More »
-- Thanks for reading --
That's it for this issue. As always we welcome all emails telling us about what's
going on in your part of the world and anything you would like to include in the
Picayune. Send them to:
brian@pooladdict.com
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-- In the next issue ... --
Carnaval!
Spain's first curling league
Bonspiel in the French Alps
A Bevy of Visitors
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Click Here to see a Larger Picture
-- To see back issues click on the Archive Links in the left column --
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Living in fashion conscious Barcelona we constantly re-evaluate our
wardrobe and make the necessary adjustments in order to fit in. In the on-going
objective of not looking like a dreaded 'guiri' (fanny-pack toting tourist
with a farmer's tan and bright white running shoes)
we recently purchased comfortable 'Euro Zapatillas'. The kind of thing
known as 'Peter Pan Getaway Shoes' back home.
Qué más?
We're also becoming hip to the beat when it comes to choosing our work wardrobe.
The very convenient Spanish custom of unabashedly wearing the same clothing in consecutive
days, has made life much less complicated.
It is completely acceptable to wear even the most obvious outfits (such as yellow pants with
a wildly checked shirt)
until they are actually dirty.
Although you may find this odd, you have
to wonder if this method doesn't make more sense than putting a not-quite
dirty shirt back in the closet to pass another day's
pit-sniff. You all do it ...
Dec. 13
DPA Christmas party at El Mussol
Dec. 14
Brian wins 'El Desconocido' certificate at Fonocom Christmas party
Dec. 15
How To Swear In Spanish Class at Speak Easy Language School
Dec. 15
The Messiah at Santa Maria del Mar
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve mass at Santa Maria del Mar
Dec. 25
Traditional Spanish lunch at Cafe de la Princessa
Dec. 28
We fly to Palma, Mallorca to celebrate the New Year
Jan. 5
Three Kings parade
Jan. 14
Lynn starts working at Thales
Feb. 2
We attend the founding meeting of Spain's 1st curling club
Feb. 17
We begin curling in Barcelona!
Mar. 29
Curling trip to the French Alps planned
Apr. 5
Pat and Jen arrive!!
Apr. 28
Max and Christine arrive!!
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Otoño
Weather -
High 35ºC (early Sep)
Low 12ºC (end of Nov)
Sun and Rain
Events -
Sept. 11 - Catalunya National Day
Sept. 24 - Festes de la Mercé
Visitors -
Kaylie and Anthony Oct. 17 - 18
Invierno
Weather -
Low 5ºC (mid Jan)
High 16ºC (end of Feb)
Rainy and Cold
Events -
Dec. 25 - Feliz Navidad
Jan. 1 - Any Nou
Jan. 6 - Epiphany, when kids here get gifts and when the 3 kings arrive in Barcelona
for parades (not Marky Mark and Ice Cube the other ones)
Feb. 13 - Carnaval (lots of Merry-making)
Feb. 17 - Festes del Tres Tombs
Primavera
Weather -
Low 12ºC (early Mar)
High 25ºC (end of May)
Beaches open towards end of March early April
Events -
March 24 - 31 Holy Week (Easter)
We will be in the French Alps curling!
May 1 - Labour Day (working holiday)
May 11 - Holy day of Irish-Canadians
May 31 - Corpus Christi, Celebrated with a mysterious "Dancing Egg"
Visitors -
Pat and Jen visiting from April 5-14; Christine and
Max visiting from April 28 - May 8; Jane and Don Booth visiting in late May
Verano
Weather -
Low 19ºC (early June)
High 37ºC (end of July)
Hot and Humid
Events -
June - Celebration of Electronic Music
June 28 - Pride Parade and holy day of French-Canadian Women
Aug. 15 - Fiesta Mayor de Gracia
Visitors -
Wide Open
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