The bat man returns
Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:28 pm
(Should I leave again for that one?)
Well, folks, I'm back from my vacation. I stayed a day longer than I told you to expect, sorry. And I didn't start reading the forum again until today, because it's one of the harder forums on which to catch up.
My itinerary was thus: three days in Barcelona, two in Figueres (also part of Catalonia), two in/near Carcassonne (what, France?), two in Arles, and two more back in Barcelona. Despite the fine dining in France, I preferred Spain because of my greater ease with the language. At this point, I read Spanish almost as well as English.
Of course, Catalonia has Spanish as a second language. It's basically to Spain what Quebec is to Canada -- and indeed, there is a pretty vocal separatist movement that hasn't forgotten Francisco Franco. But I'd say that 75% of the Catalan I saw had cognates in Spanish, and much of the rest had cognates in French.
Barcelona reminds me in some ways of New York City. It has a seven-digit population. It has a similar-looking subway system, tho with some improvements. And it has a similar outdoor odor.
The trip wasn't on a par with my trip to Italy last year, but I'm glad to have gotten away for a time. Those who missed "Downscale" can rejoice.
Well, folks, I'm back from my vacation. I stayed a day longer than I told you to expect, sorry. And I didn't start reading the forum again until today, because it's one of the harder forums on which to catch up.
My itinerary was thus: three days in Barcelona, two in Figueres (also part of Catalonia), two in/near Carcassonne (what, France?), two in Arles, and two more back in Barcelona. Despite the fine dining in France, I preferred Spain because of my greater ease with the language. At this point, I read Spanish almost as well as English.
Of course, Catalonia has Spanish as a second language. It's basically to Spain what Quebec is to Canada -- and indeed, there is a pretty vocal separatist movement that hasn't forgotten Francisco Franco. But I'd say that 75% of the Catalan I saw had cognates in Spanish, and much of the rest had cognates in French.
Barcelona reminds me in some ways of New York City. It has a seven-digit population. It has a similar-looking subway system, tho with some improvements. And it has a similar outdoor odor.
The trip wasn't on a par with my trip to Italy last year, but I'm glad to have gotten away for a time. Those who missed "Downscale" can rejoice.
:lol::lol: