When I think back of La Merce, I can’t believe we were in Spain for a total of just 4 days and only for this festival! Of course, that was not how we planned it but nature had a different plan for us with the floods in the south of Spain causing us to divert our plans entirely and move to South America just within days.
While we were just in Barcelona for 4 days, it was an absolutely magnificent 4 days! We walked over 20,000 steps every day (even Coco#1, he’s such a trooper!).
This post is going to be a visual feast!
Free activities for the kids included a selection of quirky exhibitions that the kids could play with and learn about the movement of the different parts, how it is built from ‘trash’ or ‘junk’ and generation of electricityA little rain killed no one, right? Midway through the urban dance and live music performance by the Iron Skull co which was phenomenal, we had heavy downpour! We didn’t have all our raincoats so we had to make do with what we had! The kids were real champs, sitting through it all.
It’s Gaudi baby! Part of the parade includes all the giant statues and these beasts and dragons. We saw the exhibition of the beasts and dragons at the Born Cultural Center, again for free. It’s all free during the festival!Breakdance competition, front row seats! Super cool, especially since Mr.C breakdances!The famous Carrefoc parade. It’s one of the highlights when the Devils roam free on the streets. We did the junior version, we figured the adult version would be too scary for the kids (and Ms.K!)The junior version is actually for the kids from different communities get involved with some adults. Absolutely amazing as we saw even little toddlers that were as young as this very cute 1 year old!Human Towers! Yet another highlight of the La Merce and it was absolutely amazing. To think of the discipline that the younger children have and the bravery to do what we consider the toughest part, which is to climb all the way up to the top!Another group performing their formations. The first documented castells was in 1712 but only in the 1980s were women allowed to participate in this previously male dominated activity. This allowed castells to be built lighter and stronger and reaching 9 or 10 storeys, heights never before reached. I wonder who was the first woman or group of women to champion this cause and I wonder how they would feel about changing history as it was. Empowered women empower women.
More free activities for the kids! Carousel, plant planting, old school games we played as kids. It was super fun and I am amazed that it was all free. I remember the big Prudential festival in Singapore had these rides going for SGD6 a ride! The kids need a chill day after 3 days of over 20,000 steps a day and also to take a trip down memory lane to 3 years ago when we had Coco#1 streak down Barcelonetta butt naked (when in Europe, do as the European kids?). The water was pretty cold from the Mediterranean Sea, but not as cold as the Atlantic Ocean that we experienced in Portugal.
How can we end a post on Barcelona without our absolute favourite place to eat? Pinoxto Bar at Marcado de la Boqueria gave us the same joy it did exactly 3 years ago when we first went there.
Oh and one last bit, what’s a trip to Spain without some paella?
Author: Ms.K
Ms.K is everything that Mr.C is, without the natural interest in investing and company financials! The activity planner for the family, the driver of random ideas and soon to be ‘retiring’ in to full time motherhood – Ms.K has no idea what she’s in for but remains super excited!
