Catalunya

Bonjour tout le monde!
Where in the world is Catalunya?  It is in the northeastern part of Spain, also known as Catalonia.  The capital of the autonomous region is Barcelona. This region used to be a principality with its own laws and parlementary system.  Catalan lost the war of Spanish Succession, and in subsequent years found its culture and languages supressed by the Spanish government.
Currently, the Catalonia region is once again autonomous; the catalan language is everywhere as is Spanish.  Catalan is even taught in the schools, they tell me.  Although the Catalan region has a great deal of independence from the Spanish government, the Catalan are pushing for more independence, and there is even talk of succession from Spain.
In the meantime, let's enjoy the capital of this wonderful region.  Barcelona is a beautiful and vibrant city.  Along with its suburbs, more than four million people live in the area, of which 1.7 million live within Barcelona's city limits.
There is plenty to see, do, and eat in Barcelona.  One of the most famous markets is located on the Rambla, however, it has existed in the city since the early 13th century, when the first settlement was documented.
My favorite thing to do in Barcelona is eat.  There are places to eat tapas everywhere, and of course you have to wash it down with sangria.  The last time I was there, a friend of mine was on a mission to find the best sangria in town.  Have we succeeded?  No...there are always more tapas and sangria to try.
Want culture and history?  Antoni Gaudi was the architect of the Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) among other buildings in the city.  You can spend an entire day at each of his creations, but the Sagrada Familia is the best and biggest. It is still unfinished - 2026, the 100th year celebration of Gaudi's death,  is now the projected finish date.

I love most visiting Barcelona in the summer, when dinner can be at 11 pm on one of the many Ramblas in the city, and the weather is just right.  You can not only see all the Gaudi buildings, but you can also see many of the sports venues of the 1992 Olympics in the Montjuic area.
So, why Catalunya?  I say why not?  The region is Spanish, but not Spanish; the culture and architecture is amazing, as is the food!  You can stop there on one of the many cruise ships, but be sure to spend a few extra days to in search of the best tapas and sangria. Let me know when you find it!

Lobster by the beach

Parc Guell