A surprise during the tour

Hello!

Today I was giving a tour for the Utz, a charming couple that has hired me for one and a half days to show them the city.

After a fun visit of the Boqueria Market (I looove it!) we went to the Old Town and entered the Museum of History of the City, as they were very interested in seeing the roman ruins.
We were inside for more than an hour visiting the excavations, and they loved them. And when we left a surprise was awaiting us outside at Plaça del Rei: the whole square was packed with people in their blue uniforms! It was a ceremony of the Guàrdia Urbana, the Barcelona city police, that was welcoming the new people admitted to their accademy! (we actually thought at first that it was their graduation, but later we were told they were just entering the accademy).

It was interesting seeing them forming in lines, and hearing the mayor welcome talk. Although... I have to admit... I wasn't too happy to know soon there'll be more police around giving out fines! Haha!

La Mercè Festival starts!

La Mercè (our Lady of Mercy) is the main patron saint of Barcelona, and we celebrate her day on September 24th. That is, tomorrow is a bank holyday!

And the city will be celebrating the whole week.
There will be night concerts every corner in the squares of the Gothic Quarter, Castellers (human towers) tomorrow at 12.30 at Plaça Sant Jaume, Correfoc (fire run) on the 26th starting at 20.30 in front of the Cathedral and continuing towards the Old Port, the Piromusical (music and fireworks show) on the 27th at 22h in Plaça Espanya, and much more.

The City Council has an English website on the festival, but it's not too complete...
To check out the full program you'll have to use the Spanish or Catalan versions and trust your language skills or get help from some online translator...

We saw the Mayor!

Just a few words to share what happened...
Two days ago I was walking around the Old Town with my clients, the Owens, when we got to Plaça Sant Jaume, where the City Hall and the Generalitat (Catalan government) are located.
I was telling them about the history of the place and of these two institutions, when I saw the Mayor walking out of the Generalitat palace and going towards the City Hall. So I told the Owens: "And look! That is the Mayor!", and he heard me, turned around and came to say hi. He even let us take some pictures with him! Too bad I didn't have my camera with me, but I hope the Owens will send me a copy of theirs!

By the way, mister Hereu belongs to the PSC (Catalan socialist party), that has been in the city government for more than 30 years.