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(19,459 posts)We're heading there in September. Can't wait.
Rhiannon12866
(205,851 posts)What a beautiful area - thanks so much for sharing!
NBachers
(17,135 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,681 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)Just for a while when I was going to school there.
I loved it, learned to speak Catalan, and felt very much at home there, and still do.
I still get back around 6 times a year, and look forward to every visit.
Després de tants anys, aquesta és encara la meva cuitat!
a la izquierda
(11,797 posts)the perfect mix of small beach town near a major city. I'd move there tomorrow (but will probably end up in Holland instead).
I can kind of read Catalan, but the pronunciation throws me.
DFW
(54,436 posts)The old Kingdom of Aragón wasn't much affected by the Moorish invasion and 7 century-long occupation, so it retained just about 100% of its Latin origins, where Castilian (castellano, or "Spanish" is peppered with "Arabisms (for lack of a better word)." To make matters more complicated, the Catalan of Barcelona is slightly different from that of Girona or Tarragona or Mallorca, and markedly different from the version spoken in València. Apparently, the Barcelona version, spoken with a slight Texan twang, sounds eactly like the Mallorcan version, because people in Barcelona frequently note that I must be from Mallorca originally, as I haven't lost my accent completely. How THAT is, I couldn't tell you, but I ran into a group of Catalans in Switzerland a few years ago, and one of them, who was from Mallorca, assumed, from the way I spoke, that I was from his neighborhood (!!).
Of course, the written language will be easier to follow, just like Portuguese is not too difficult to follow when written down, but nearly impossible to follow when spoken, especially the European version. I find Brazilian Portuguese a lot easier to understand. With Catalan, just remember that the unstressed "o" is usually pronounced as a "u," and an unstressed "e" is pronounced like an "ah"--except in Valencià, where the "e" is pronounced the same as in Castilian, whether stressed or not. Also: "er" at the end or a word is pronounced as in French. Written texts in Catalan pre-date texts in Castilian by about a century, by the way--trivia fact for the day.
If you end up in the Netherlands, two things to remember: first--their language is NOT as difficult as it first sounds, and second--NEVER leave the house without an umbrella. You MIGHT not need it, but you probably will! To pronounce Dutch correctly, if you are just starting out, always carry a portion of mashed potatoes with you and stick it your throat before trying to speak. It will help you get used to the proper way to say basic things like "graag gedaan (you're welcome)."
mnhtnbb
(31,401 posts)for a couple of days before getting on a cruise ship. Can't wait!
Thanks for posting.
DFW
(54,436 posts)Don't miss the Casa Batllò on the Passeig de Gràcia in the middle of town, and the Parc Güell above town (you'll think you've finally met Middle Earth).
Also, do ANYTHING you can to get a table at one of the Sensi Tapes (tapas) restaurants in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). The menu is different at each one!
Mira
(22,380 posts)I'm studying their beauty and thank you for posting them.
Staph
(6,253 posts)That is the most amazing church I have ever seen, on any continent!
If any of you are going to Barcelona, don't miss it!
mnhtnbb
(31,401 posts)Anyone who is going can buy a ticket on-line for a specific entry day and time.
No waiting in line!