pijo: n. snob, yuppie. adj. snobbish, yuppie-like

What activity could be more pijo than an international showjumping championship? How about an international showjumping championship held at the Royal Polo Grounds?

Growing up in upstate New York, the only world-class showjumping I got to see was on ESPN6 at three in the morning. Here in Barcelona, I discovered that a world of expensive wrist watches, Massimo Dutti models, and designer espresso is just a short subway ride from my house. And as you know, I love Massimo Dutti models.

How could it get any better? How about sitting a few meters away from some of the most amazing horses in the world? Okay, most of you think this is lame. But to someone who doesn’t, and whose lifelong experience with horses pretty much adds up to this…

…being able to capture images like the ones that follow is pretty damn exciting.

…of our apartment, that is! We live on the sunny, bustling Ronda de Sant Antoni, located a few blocks from the Rambla (that some of you know). We are on the edge between two neighborhoods, the shabby-chic Raval and the Eixample (ay-shamp-lah). Many of Barcelona’s tourist attractions (and, as a result, many of Barcelona’s tourists) are only steps from our door.

Our apartment is in a building that was constructed in the 1800s. In a recent rennovation, the facade of the building was maintained but the inside was completely redone to include an elevator (yay!), new hardwood floors, and central air/heat (double yay!). And since just about every piece of furniture in it comes from Ikea, the old world charm factor has been pretty much left in the building’s facade. (After years of living with Brooklyn’s “charming” radiators, rotting floorboards, and walk-ups, I can say that “old world charm” is best left outside the home anyway.)

So here it is, the grand tour of our humble abode.

Yesterday we celebrated the Catalan National Day, the Diada.

“On September 11, Catalonia (Spain) commemorates the 1714 Siege of Barcelona defeat during the War of the Spanish Succession. As a punishment for their support to the claim of Habsburg Archduke Charles to the throne of Spain, institutions and rights of the territories of the Crown of Catalonia and Aragon were abolished by the victorious absolutist Bourbon monarchy.

In 1980, the restored Generalitat de Catalunya (autonomous Government of Catalonia), as its first public act proclaimed 11 September La Diada, the Catalan National Holiday.

Throughout the day, there are political demonstrations, concerts and celebration events. Many citizens wave either senyeres or estelades and hang them on their balconies.” ~Wikipedia

Here are some photo highlights of the celebration:

Organizations and political parties traditionally lay floral offerings at the monuments of Rafael Casanova and General Moragues for their fight against the Bourbon army. (If you like gory war stories, check out the link on General Moragues. Yikes.) Here we are with friends preparing to join the procession to the monument of Rafael Casanova.

Not all of the activities are solemn. There is also a big street fair at the Arc de Triomf, where independentist sentiment has been merchandised to the hilt. Tee shirts, bumper stickers, and King Jaume I whiskey were all for sale. You can see in my Picasa album that I succumbed to the temptation of a barretina, a traditional Catalan hat. Stylish, eh?

We also enjoyed seeing others in traditional dress, like a Catalan dance troupe as well as one gentleman, also wearing a barretina, carrying a trabuc, a traditional Catalan musket that sounds like a frigging cannon when it goes off. I discovered this at the monument to Rafael Casanova, when several trabucaires fired their weapons in a salute. Babies cried. Woman fainted. I won’t lie to you. I peed my pants a little bit.

After putting in my eight hours at work in the afternoon, we went back to the Arc de Triomf to meet up with some friends and rehash the days events. Another Diada is over, and Catalunya is still politically part of Spain. I think it’s safe to say however that Catalan culture lives beyond the borders on a map, and that it’s not going to fade away any time soon.

For a full photo slideshow of the days events, visit my Picasa album. It’s full of some pretty beautiful images from the day and comes complete with pithy captions that are sure to entertain.