Hot time in the summertime.

Yikes!  We had the big heatwave here, and now it’s in the US. But, not to worry, it’s coming back here next week.

Happy Fourth to all. I hope you all stayed cool.

It’s been an interesting summer so far. I finished my Catalan level 1 and got my certificate. The teachers were smart and nice, but they were clueless about how to teach level 1, where the most important thing is to get students speaking.

I’m now in an intensive summer course, four nights a week, at a different school with a great teacher. Also, the the student who tortured me for four months in the previous class is not in this one, which also makes a huge difference. Imagine no one constantly interrupting instruction and making the class all about him. It’s wonderful.

My health is getting better.  I’m free of the BPV (benign positional vertigo) due to daily repetitions of the Epley Maneuver (thank you, Dean).  I couldn’t find a doctor here to fix it, as I did in CA, so I did it myself. I do have an ulcer, discovered by an endoscopy, so I’m taking meds which are helping. And my joint pain is gone.

I plan to be fully up and running, if not like new, in a month.  It is my power year (eight in a nine-year cycle) which is the most successful year of the cycle.

I had to renew my documents, which required several appointments to places I hadn’t seen (Photo above).  I had to go to a Comisaria (police station) located at the top of a hill, about 20 minutes from a Metro stop. I walk every day, so I thought I could do this. When I arrived, I was soaked in sweat and shaking; the officer helping kept saying “If you need help (as in ambulance), please tell me.”

Ah, ever the glamorous American.

I knew that soccer (futbol) was big pretty much everywhere except the US. (Yes, I know that’s changing.)  With the World Cup in process, the news is full of stories and coverage of the games and home countries.  Here, one can see street cafes full of people watching the games through the windows on the TVs inside. (Spain has a very strong team.) It’s stunning to see millions of people all over the world losing their minds during and after the games, and their joy is genuine. It is a huge deal!

The Sagrada Familia construction is finally coming to an end, after 144 years. It’s been open since 2010; a month or so ago they installed the top piece in June, and Pope Leo came to bless it soon after. (Benedict came and consecrated it when it opened.) It’s the tallest church/basilica in the world. When the architect Gaudi was asked why it was taking so long (more than a century ago), he replied that his client was not in a hurry.

Due to its multiple styles and details, it really is a remarkable and unique sight.

I’m going to have a visitor later this month, who’s coming with a group of friends, so I sent some helpful tips about visiting Barcelona. I’m sharing them with you.

Helpful hints for visitors to Barcelona:

  1. Everyone speaks Spanish. However, they say that they speak Castellano, the local Spanish dialect. They also claim to be Catalunyan, not Spanish. It’s a matter of cultural pride.
  2. 90% of signage (stores, restaurants, etc.) is in Catalan; text is often repeated in Castellan, and sometimes again in English. You will see this at the airport and hear and see it on the Metro. So, when using your cellphone’s translation app, type in Catalan to English. Many of the words are very similar to Spanish, so it’s easy to think you’re seeing Spanish when you’re not. If you have to call an agency here, you will be often be given the option of being helped in Castellan or Catalan. Select Castellan.
  3. Making attempts at speaking Castellan, even a few words, is a good idea. On the other hand, many locals want to practice their English and will switch to it very quickly.
  4. There are bike lanes for various one-person modes of transportation on all streets. Whereas most streets are one-way for cars, this is not true for the bike lanes. It is quite natural to look one way before crossing and risk getting hit by a bike. They also often ignore the red lights, just to make crossing more of an adventure.
  5. There are different periods of the day: la matinada (late night/early morning), el mati (morning), la migdia (12 – 3), la tarda (3-7), el vespre (7-10) and la nit (10 on). Locals lunch, usually in the cafes and restaurants, between 2 and 4, and dinner is during vespre.  I eat between 12 and 1, so they ask if I’m French or American. The city comes alive at night, and some discos open at 2:00 a.m. (Or so I hear. I don’t do discos and, if I did, the only way I’d be there at 2 would be sleeping in a corner.)
  6. Tipping is not expected here. Some of the more touristy places may put out a tip jar or a tip line on a check, but I wouldn’t tip.
  7. Americans are known for being loud, super-smiley, and wearing white socks (?!). And complaining. Keep complaining, even politely, to a minimum. Although it’s one of our natural sports, here it’s interpreted as arrogance and cultural superiority, even if you’re right.
  8. The Metro is great; it’s clean, efficient and easy to use. Taxis are relatively cheap, as are most services here.
  9. It’s bad form to ask lots of questions or make special requests when ordering in a restaurant; they are very proud of their cuisine. It’s fine to ask what’s in something and then order it or don’t.
  10. When leaving any establishment, say adios or adeu (ah-day-oo). Also, gracias or merci (with American r).

Adeu to all.