At the end of our day on the 15th we were lucky enough to watch the newly crowned La Liga champions parade around the city of Barcelona. It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever experienced! The way Spain revolved around their soccer (futbol) is something I’ve never seen before, so I was glad to be a part of that!
On the 16th, our day began with a visit to the modernism museum, which offered a unique and captivating experience. The museum showcased a collection of paintings and handcrafted furniture, exuding a modern aesthetic that distinguished it from traditional museums. The highlight of the museum was the downstairs section, where they had a multitude of stained glass pieces that caught the eye of just about everyone!
Later in the day, we had a training session for Castellers, a fascinating sport known as human stacking. Castellers involves building impressive human towers, and every two years, tournaments are held to determine the most skilled Casteller club. In addition to the major tournament, regular games are also organized, and Castellers perform their impressive stacks during Catalonian festivals. Although our training session didn’t involve extremely tall towers, we managed to stack around five people high. However, during festivals, games, and tournaments, towers can reach heights of 8 to 10 people.
The construction of a tower follows a tree trunk styled base, with a majority of participants on the first three layers to provide support for those climbing and balancing toward the top.
The day’s activities at the modernism museum and the Castellers training session provided an intriguing blend of art and sport. The modernism museum’s focus on 20th-century pieces with a modern touch offered a refreshing perspective, while the Castellers showcased the impressive teamwork and coordination required to build human towers. Both experiences left me with a deeper appreciation for the creativity and skill displayed in different forms of artistic expression.
