Author: Tom Cross
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The Catalan referendum – a view from Gràcia
I realised that in a way, the view from my balcony that I had admired so much had also been like a view of Catalonia itself. Of the changing political landscape.
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The light of Barcelona
Now, when I’m not there, I miss the light of Barcelona too. If you live in the city, you get used to waking up to an apricot glow, squeezing through the shutters and slowly creeping up the walls of the flat.
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The Festa Major de Gràcia – Barcelona quirkiness at its best
The more the world shrinks and everywhere begins to look the same, the more I think we should celebrate quirky, local customs. And Barcelona has plenty of those.
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1992 Barcelona Olympics – The games that changed a city “para siempre”
Barcelona was fundamentally changed by the 1992 Olympics. “Para siempre”. The city still feels those changes to this day.
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Top 5 places to escape the tourists in Barcelona
There might come a point where you want to escape the tourists in Barcelona. And if that’s the case, these places will happily offer you a bit of a refuge.
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The high summer of the Catalan Independence movement
If I block out the other sights and sounds on my balcony, it’s the Catalan flags that I notice. There must be about 30 within view, fluttering in the summer breeze.
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Is Barcelona sick of tourism?
In the summer months in Barcelona, a message is sprayed in English onto walls and floors next to metro stations and tourist sites. In recent years it has become harder to miss. “Tourist go home”
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London and the sun – an uncomfortable relationship
I’ve often said that there’s no better combination than London and the sun. People are excited, spilling out of pubs, and running around parks like little kids.
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The other football team in Barcelona
Espanyol – the other football team in Barcelona. Yes, there is another team. Not that you’d know it from walking around the city. I normally do a double take when I see an Espanyol shirt.
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Amidst the ruins of Pompeii
Walking around the ruins of Pompeii, the volcano, Vesuvius, is a constant presence. You see it beyond the crumbled columns. Then it appears through an old doorway.