Fiesta de San Medir, Gracia

This is a festival that happened a few weeks ago in my neighborhood of Grácia. We were shook awake by what we thought were gunshots at 8am -- these turned out to be firecrackers being shot from plaza Rius i Taulet, signaling the start of an all-day fiesta. Streaming through the streets are parades of colles, which are different groups of people in open trucks which represent various groups in this part of the city. In the end, they all have one thing in common -- throw as much hard boiled sweets as you can to the people in the street. I've read two versions of why this festival goes on, but the common answer is: the parade originated in the 16th century as a pilgrimage in honor of Sant Medir, the patron saint of broad beans. What?? Ok! Street party all day til midnight!

Plaça Rius i Taulet, with its regular patrons on the benches

Entering the plaza

The local government building

Very Catalan

Kind of like birds in a nest!

Definitely the momma bird

Street cleaners came by 3 times that day.

Shoulda stayed on the ground!

I told you this was an old festival right? Everyone takes advantage of the candy!

Every 20 minutes a new band would come by.

In between the bands, horses!

Barcelona after Spain wins the Euro2008

A little late coming, but here are some pictures and videos.
. . .
The UEFA Euro 2008 is a football (soccer) competition between European national teams. One team per country of the best players, and Spain won it for the first time since 1964. As you can imagine, the country is still exploding (literally...) with celebration.

Here are some really terrible night pictures. Sorry! Videos will show you better.

Spanish pride!

On Las Ramblas right after the game.

night videos!!

click play!


This is right after the game, when everyone spilled out onto Las Ramblas. People were climbing the light poles, waving flags, taking pictures...


And of course they had to sing!!

Here is a link to some professional photos of the team and Madrid after Spain won.
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=729558.html#worlds+best+bring+madrid+standstill