Circuit de Catalunya: Formula 1 test days and a Le Mans race

Circuit de Catalunya is in Montmelo, about a 30 minute trip by train from Barcelona. In this small town is the car track, used for events like Le Mans, Radical European Masters, CEM, and most importantly Formula 1. Though a seat during a Formula 1 race can sell for close to 600 Euros, there are plenty of other events that are cheap or even free.

We went to an F1 test day a few weeks ago. These aren't official races, but they are a chance for the teams to test their cars and drivers. Full speed, some famous names, free seating... lots of fun.

(click to enlarge, especially the Le Mans images)

The Grandstand and entrance

Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari F60

Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren Mercedes MP4-24. I might make Spaniards mad... but this is definitely the most impressive car to me. :)

Pit crew for Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1.09 (I think)

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1,000 Km of Catalunya: Le Mans Series

April 4th and 5th were two days of Le Mans events. Included was the first leg of the Le Mans series, a 6-hour race around the track. Other classes of cars were able to race or have other events as well. Overall winner was the Lola Aston Martin.
Tip: The tickets were supposed to be 15 Euros a piece, but on the site there was a downloadble ticket for free entry for two days.

Starting lineup

Here you can see a few classes of cars sharing the track during the race.

nice day for a race
We walked around the entire track to kill some time, even though we only came for the last 3 hours of the race. The landscape is really nice and during this time of year, the weather is great. Lots of trees and flowers to contrast the sound of jet-engine cars - fun for everyone right?

Ha! I don't think we were supposed to be up here, but a smile will get you far.
Here you can see the multiple classes of cars again - check out the little green guy in front of the others. I think the driver is just having a good time with the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, the Saleen, etc.. what is this car?

I will have that Aston Martin.

I cannot tell you what this car is... but here it is!

Access to the paddock was included in the ticket. Very cool to see all the people and equipment behind each race. Aston Martin's trailer was the most impressive. It expanded into a two-story restaurant/conference center. I will have that Aston Martin..

Winner!

What's a win without Champagne?

Lots of winners, lots of Champagne

For people travelling to Montmelo and the Circuit by train:
It's a long walk from the station to the track, don't let the maps provided by the track fool you. Just follow the sound of the cars..
Round trip from Passeig de Gracia's Renfe Cercanias is 3 Euros a person. There are plenty of trains, at least 1 every half hour that will go in your direction.
You are (usally?) allowed to bring in your own food and drink, as long as it's not in glass bottles. I saw people having beer out of cans so I think alcohol is OK too. Bring some bread with meats and cheeses and you can make a day out of it.

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!

One night in Gracia, wine, and 50s ads

It was a late Tuesday night. Carlos and I were out of wine and headed to Gran de Gracia to see if we could get anymore from the Opencor store, which is open later than regular grocery stores. On the way there, we came across a pile of decades-old belongings that someone had thrown out onto the sidewalk. I can tell you that because of the wine, we picked up most of it and took it back home (without more wine in hand). Now with a clear mind, I find that our late-night pickup is pretty interesting:



Old suitcase, full of books. Dates range from the 30s to the 80s, most of them from the 50s. National Geographics in English, Readers Digests in Spanish, La Hora XXV which seems to be a medical magazine, some trashy comics, catalan comics, and a few random letters, stamps, language books, etc.

The arithmetic book is from 1933.

Honestly I'm more interested in the ads and logos of the time. Here's what I found:

Reader's Digest is full of alcohol ads like this for Gran Garvey Brandy. Most are for brandy or sherry.

Guess the year! go!!

An old map with Diagonal's old name, Generalisimo Franco. Very cool because the street we live on now is included in this small section.

From Reader's Digest, the olivetti 84. Hm... modern magnetic typewriter something?

hahahaha this car is HUGE

THE BEST LIQUOR ALL THE TIME!! (or so they say)

Modern diagram for a watch

This picture for the Vespa ad could have easily been taken last week, but it's from 1954.

I just really like the logo - Jabon Maja (Soap)

"The Intellectual Capacity of a Negro."
uhm... Reader's Digest, 1954.

Minolta auto zoom 8E!

Philips sho' went all out.

Firestone logo hasn't changed much, nor have Pirelli, Special K, Del Monte, or Sherwin Williams.

Beat Anorexia!!
He did it. No worries here! This one is from a medical magazine.

The man with the... Black Pruritis!!

Panemón Forte..

!!!!
From the other side of the map.