ok, let’s back it up a little here…

———————

September 11th is a National Holiday here in Catalunya. Nationalists rally behind their flag, the plight of their people, and push with more fervor than any other time throughout the year for an independent Catalunya. They see 2014 as a good year because it symbolizes 300 years of ’suffering’ by their people.

In 1700, Carlos II died without a successor. The Catalonians supported a successor from the Habsburg dynasty and the rest of Spain backed Felipe V from France. All hell broke out and fierce fighting in the streets ensued and finally on September 11, 1714 the rebel troops of Catalunya finally fell in what was called the Siege of Barcelona. As punishment of the regions support for the wrong successor, Catalunya was stripped of its political and cultural autonomy.

In fact, it is said that the last Catalan rebels fell in an area which is now known as Fossar de les Moreres memorial. A constant flame burns in memory of the fallen soldiers.

And that, ladies and gents was the War of the Spanish Succession.

This is also a part of the fantastic and historical view which we are lucky enough to appreciate each and every day from our apartment. It provides a perfect vantage point to the various Catalan events that happen throughout the year.

Anyway….where was I going with this? Oh yes, after the holiday a large group from a local barrio put on a massive lunch for themselves and filled the alley towards the rear of our apartment with tents, tables, and a paella pan which could easily double as a NASA satellite dish it was so big. In fact, this dish is called a Fideuà which uses noodles instead of rice, a Catalan spin on traditional rice paella.

Shanti and I in our broken Spanish politely asked if we could enjoy some of the dish and they said “sure go get a plate”! We ran back home and grabbed 2 of the largest plates we had and received 2 heaping spoonfuls of noodles, calamari, and mussels.

Shanti, with her eye on the prize.

(plate is hidden behind her back!)

In addition to a National holiday here in CAT, a horrible day for the US, Sept 11 is also the birth date of  Stan Laursen. Sorry you don’t get your own birthday post like Rick and Max did but hey….we are going on a bike trip and you’ll be the focus of many posts soon enough!

</end of historical lesson>