Neighbourhood Events

Returned home after a nice Saturday morning coffee, to a group of people painting on a street corner. The 'Casa de la Barceloneta' or 'CB 1761' as it's also know, was conducting a speed painting competition. When you move to a new neighborhood (Barceloneta) - or country (Spain), it's always nice to know a little bit more about the place. You're likely to find a lot of useful information. 

I was once commuting by an auto-rickshaw in my home town, when I noticed a foreigner- by her rucksack, walking past us as we waited at the signal. This was a July afternoon, and if you're from India, you know that the rains haven't arrived yet, and it's sweltering hot. Why on earth would someone chose to walk? And India's relatively cheaper than the West, even if you're the 'hitchhiker' tourist, you can afford a rickshaw fare! So I got talking to the auto-driver. He told me that, it's likely that the woman knew more about this place, than either of us. How so? Because they're the kind of people, who will translate every signboard and talk to every passer-by to understand the place better. Why? Because that's how they are, curious. 

Not to be philosophical, but there is definitely some truth to what he said. To know, you have to want to know. And translates to, well, walking around talking to locals. That's how I've kept up in my time here, and I've certainly learned a lot about the city and different processes like registering your residence, and applying for your government identity card. (More about that in another post).

CB1761 is a local community center built to specifically for Barceloneta. These paintings will be up for in exhibition tomorrow onwards, and I'll be going to find out more.

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In The Face of Adversity

Dear team Barça, 

A scoring spree in a single game may have been luck, but in two it isn't. Welcome back to your true selves. As an ardent follower of the game, and a supporter of the team, nothing makes me happier than to see you play football with enthusiasm and joy. The unanimous uproar in the dugout when Marc Bartra scored against Deportivo, the beaming smile with which Dani Alves joined him in celebration - that's the reason I and millions of others watch and support Barcelona play.

Football Club Barcelona, Mes Que un Club

The recent blip in your otherwise flawless season, was as testing a time for supporters, as it was for the players, but it also showed how much our paramount position in the game is envied. 

Never had I witnessed the celebration of a stumble with such unanimity in our season. Not just from our rivals, but also from supporters of clubs in other leagues; it seemed as if people were patiently waiting for that very moment. That however is the price of our success; that people will say and do just about anything to bring us down. Some are envious of our continued victories, while some resent our celebration of it, and then there are still those who would like to sow the seeds of discord between us.

Combined with circumstances out of our control, this can wear down our winning spirit, resulting in those rare bad days. There were games in the past where our opponents were the best side and we must respect and accept that. But as our last two games showed, we are a much better side and have a lot more to offer. So let's go out there and win the remaining games, and we would still have a spectacular season that will give us as much to celebrate, as it did to learn.

Barcelona vs Real Betis, League Match 36, 30th April, 20.30 CET

Other locations: FC Barcelona Website