Today is the Catholic Feast of the Assumption, the day the Virgin Mary's body and soul was taken to heaven. This means that just about everything is closed in Barcelona except for the cafes, restaurants and gelaterias in the more touristy areas. After missing breakfast this morning for some much-needed sleep, I spent most of the afternoon wandering my way down to the port. On the way back, there was a small procession coming down the Ramblas in celebration of the Assumption with musicians and gigantes representing different characters. I left my camera in the room so I don't have any photos. I'll have to start carrying it with me everyday.
Barcelona is a glorious place when the sun is out, as it was today. I've never known a city that changes its personality so significantly without the sun. I mean, Chicago is a dreary, cold city for many months of the year, but it's still Chicago. The weather doesn't seem to change the beauty of the city so radically. It may change the mood of its people but not the city itself. Yesterday in Barcelona it was just dreadful. Ugly, muggy, dirty, grey like the color of soot. All the people seemed strange. Perhaps it was just the jet lag putting a negative filter on everything. Happily, that filter is gone now and the sun is shining brightly.
The Festa Major de Gracia (a cool neighborhood here) is this weekend so I think I'll take a walk up there tonight to see the decorated streets and such.
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