John : Catch Up Blog About Barcelona

First of all apologies for my lateness in writing a second blog. However as Jullie has kept you up to date, I might just add a few bits and pieces that I know some of you like to read.

So, Barcelona. I wrote that we stayed in our usual hotel in Bruc Street (or as a it is now known by its Australian name, Bruce Street). 

The photo above shows Bruc the drummer boy. Bruc was/is a hero of Barcelona and Catalunya because of his inspired use of psychological warfare against Napoloean and his invading army. Bruc marched around the mountains that surround Barcelona beating his drum. Because the mountains echoed so much Napolean's army believed that the Catalunya army was huge because they only heard the drum beats echoing and rolling around the mountains. 

There is quite a recent film of this true story simply called "Bruc" which turns up on SBS every now and again, it's a nice way to pass an hour or so. 

The Cuban and Catalunya flags were still out, just as they were the last time we were here.The Cuban national flag is the one with the star and the blue and white stripes. The Catalunya independence movement simply borrowed the Cuban flag, and changed the stripes colours to red and yellow which are the national colours of Catalunya. So now it has become a flag for independence. Much like the Australian Southern Cross flag has become the flag for the independence for far north Queensand movement. 

Julie has told you about her gallant the resultant injuries. She said it was an accident but really it was a diva temper tantrum tactic, just to become the centre of attention. Presently her bruises are going a sort of black deep purple colour. It looks as if she has been a rather brutal State Of Origin Game.

The Festival Of Mercy parade that we ran into is an annual parade held in Barcelona. It is to celebrate and give thanks, that by praying to the Madonna, the city was freed from a pestilence in the year sixteen hundred and something or other

The photos above show how big they are. I surprised to read that these big figures are made of paper mache. 

In the evening of the second day, we went to flamenco concert which I will write about next.