Yesterday, we took a funicular (not pictured, unfortunately) and a cable car up to the Monjuïc Castle fortress. It's an impressive structure with excellent views of the city and there's an active park on the surrounding grounds, but it has a dark history. On multiple occasions, its cannon have been turned on the city below to administer collective punishment for resistance to the crown in Madrid. The fortress has also been the site of numerous atrocities. Look up the Bombardment of Barcelona (1842) for example.
Went for a little 4k run between my hotel and the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. I even spotted some green Monk Parrots, the same as we have back home. They're actually native to South America, but have been introduced to at least two continents, without becoming disruptive to the local ecosystems. One of the first things I noticed when we arrived was their distinctive call, welcoming us. You know, if they can make a home here maybe I can, too, someday.
Today in Labor History November 17, 1947: Revolutionary and author Victor Serge died. Serge lived in Paris in the early 20th century, where he was loosely associated with the Bonnot gang of anarchist bank robbers, and where he collaborated with Raymond Callemin on the newspaper L’anarchie. He was in Barcelona during their anarchist uprising and contributed to the CNT’s newspaper, “Tierra y Libertad.” He went to Russia in 1918, initially in support of the communists. However, he quickly became disillusioned with the repressive, autocratic rule, criticized the party and was imprisoned. He wrote numerous books, including the classic “Birth of Our Power” and his autobiographical “Memoirs of a Revolutionist.”
THE RESIDENTS OF THE SAGRADA FAMÍLIA SAY 'ENOUGH' TO TOURISM: "IT'S A THEME PARK WITH US AS EXTRAS" by Sandra Vicente (ElDiario.es, in Spanish).
""Tourism changes the daily life of the people who live in the city", says David Bondia, who assures that the Sindicatura is receiving more and more complaints related to tourism. "It's not just about one-off problems, but about issues that can impoverish your quality of life," says the Catalan Ombudsman, referring to housing and the increase in prices resulting from the overcrowding of visitors. According to the Ombudsman's report, all the effects of tourism are "interdependent" and must be dealt with as a whole. Particularly in the face of rising figures that augur a record season".
"Meanwhile, local residents like Encarna continue to dodge the tourists to go and buy bread".