Musica Viva's best band for me

Having spent the weekend watching various Spanish and Catalan bands and hip hop artists i decided on my favourite.  The best of them all was actually a local band who i was introduced to by my friend Irma, their name eludes me at the moment but i will remember.  Their final song of the night was simply devine on the ears, a beautiful mix of vocals and guitar building in to a goose bump finish.

A Realtime tour of my town independència de Catalunya style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muTMLuGWrp8

Grafit/Graffiti

Just came across this awesome graffiti on my way to the supermarket.

Musica Viva

Setting up yesterday for the big event.

More pictures of Beautiful Vic

Stay Awake

So it took a week but my body clock is shifting!  Do you as a guiri understand the concept of time shift??   Seriously!  If you are Catalan, you can stop reading now because this does not apply to you.  I started here going to be at 23:00 on time every night, now i find myself at 00:47 sitting here with the whole house like its seven........  No wonder they need siesta, they are always knackered.   I will write more tomorrow........  Apparantly there is a music festival  Musical Aviva.  (pronounced music-a-bib-a)

Just cant stop smiling

After spending to morning finding a good milk shop because they drink UHT here i realised that i really have not stopped smiling since i arrived.  From the moment i stepped of the plane untill now i have this insane grin on my face.

On a side note i bumped into a Catalan who had been in Middlesbrough last year, although he knew i was here, he looked shocked that i was.

Fun English World

Free Drinks or Theft?? You decide.

This is an unusual part of living here, everywhere you go you pay for drinks and food post service.  Having spent my whole life in the U.K this is only usual in restaurants, however here in Catalonia it’s for any food service situation.  On my arrival night out I left 4 bars and a cafe without paying and being pursued by angry owners unable to understand that when you’re a little drunk you forget these things simply thinking you have paid already.
One guy actually shouted “The Guiri" as I was walking away which rather upset me, but after some laughter a few slaps on the back we parted on good terms.



Note to self; you must instil the idea of paying after soon, or it could land you in bother with the Fuzz.

Els meus amics - My Friends

Jesus

I actually met Jesus when he moved to Middlesbrough on an Erasmus exchange.  He is as Catalan as can be apart from when his tan gets dark and he grows a beard,,,,  then he looks middle eastern lol.  Jesus has been so important in my catalan education helping me with the common problems english people have pronouncing the double L's to the Carrer's  (the word for street) and such.   To onlookers we probably look like some weird anglocatalan lovers as we flick our tongues around and peer deep into each others mouths as he teaches me.  He smokes like a Frenchman I think.

Viki

Viki is my camel lover, and we pray daily to the alpaca gods.  People may think this is unusual and they are probably correct but we find some solace from our problems by dreaming of living the dream.
Viki is not just Catalan, she also has German roots. These roots manifest themselves when you leave her in charge of your beer and return a short while later to find it gone.  She is a little impatient at times, and decides to watch films by herself instead of waiting for you as you may have planned, but these things have to be forgiven when she smiles.  The only way i can describe her smile is if the Greeks had Viki in their midst they would never have had to build that big wooden horse to defeat the Trojans,  they could have just sent Viki over and the Trojans would have gladly opened the door to her.

Sacha

Sacha, is a party animal, but also a dedicated teacher of English.  When he talks about his classes you can see how passionate he is, and as like most Americans he works hard and plays hard.  He is from Huntington New York but is not your typical New Yorker, he is a little quieter and not as brash.  With all his experience of teaching i'm hoping he can become something of a mentor to me, although i have failed to mention this to him yet.  Unfortunately for me Sacha is not a fan of American football which is a shame because i don't seem to have anyone here to share that passion with.

Josh

Josh is quiet.  I dont mean this in a bad way, he is very methodical in his choice of words and speaks with a tone that Morgan Freeman would be proud of.  He is a thinker and a listener in coversation, books and music.  I really feel i would have struck a very strong friendship with him but the bastard is moving to Turkey in two weeks so thats that!
I hope he finds what he wants in Turkey though he will really fit in there I think, I just hope we continue to share our musical tastes via facebook and when he returns to Catalunya for holidays.

I blog in the sun

In it for the long haul.

If you are wondering what a "Guirri" (pronounced (Giddy) is, it is a tourist, usually of English or German decent, spotted easily by their pink to red skin and socks with sandals.  It was created i believe after english people realised what gringo ment.

After a long day yesterday because of the heat in the night and the ridiculous humidity, i travelled up to Vic this morning to meet my new flat mates, i will post pictures of them later.

First thing on the agenda.....  Shopping.  Yes i know its boring, but you must understand i only traveled over with two suitcases and they mainly had clothes in, so the first thing was to buy bed sheets.  I have quickly realised that my view of prices is going to need re thinking, things that cost £10 in england cost 25euros here.  Whilst other things that cost £5 in the UK are 1euro.  This is really going to test my value of things i want.

However the beer is cheap, as is the Tequilla.  Veggies seem a good price and they only sell cheese in a wheel (RESULT)

On the agenda tomorrow is to start advertising my classes and maybe attend the Catalan version of a pub crawl (shots only)

Also not advertised in the advert for my flat is i seem to live next to a social club for people who build human towers and have a penchaunt for blowing horns which sound like bagpipes.