Day 77 Dancing in La Rambles

As the temperature again peaked at well over 35 degrees we decided that we needed some help to see more of Barcelona so we signed on for the ‘hop on hop off’ Barcelona Bus Turistica. As Barcelona is quite a large city it was a perfect way for us to take in more of its highlights, which are quite wides-spread, and difficult for us to explore on foot.

Highlights of the day were the Olympic venues from 1992, more of Gaudi’s strange and incredible architecture, the home ground of the famous Barca Football Club, Barcelona University, which is over 400 years old, and the beautifully restored beach-side area.

Before the 1992 Olympics Barcelona had a huge derelict beach area, which were probably little better than slums. This area gave way to the Olympic village, which later was sold off as upper end private housing and has become the seed of a redevelopment that is now a modern and architecturally impressive area. Although the beaches are not really up to Australian standards they are pretty good for Europe, with sand and beautiful clear warm Mediterranean waters. The crowds on this hot Sunday afternoon were much like a mid summer day at Bondi, huge!

Speaking of crowds, on Day 55 we mentioned that we were in Geneva for the first night of soccer’s Euro 2008. For the last month we have followed the fortunes of many of the countries involved as we have travelled across Europe. We cheered with the Italians in Florence when they beat France. We cried for Gus ( the ex Aussie coach) when Russia was eliminated. We were a little terrified when the orange army of spectators from the Netherlands ( or as the Italians call them ‘Olanda’) passed us in a train station in Bern. Incredibly on Day 77 we found ourselves in Spain on the night of the final with Spain, the underdogs, set to do battle against the mighty and invincible Germany. After Spain had scored in the first half, the whole city held its breath and the streets were deserted as the crowds in the bars stood in silence watching the match, fearful at any time that Germany would equalise. With the final whistle Spain had defied the odds with a stunning and historic victory. They had not won an international football tournament since 1964. Within minutes of the victory the whole city erupted as people poured out onto the streets in their thousands, the lads were dancing without shirts on their balconies, on the streets, on top of trucks, and even up the light poles. Flags, horns, home made fireworks, explosions and euphoria flowed through the streets. It was great to be adopted into this scene and to share the joy of an unexpected victory. Espanol, Espanol, Espanol Oi Oi Oi ( or something like that! )