Thursday, Sept 11, 2014 –
Checking the weather to leave this morning we found that it had shifted and we needed to delay for two more days before leaving to cross the Gulf of Lyon. That particular area of the Med can produce some of the roughest weather and seas in the world. We have heard stories of cruisers being held up for weeks waiting for favorable weather for a passage.
As we become more immersed in the history of Spain, it was a great day to be in Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalonya region. Today was Catalonya Day. September 11th, a holiday in Spain, commemorates the defeat of Catalonya during the war of the Spanish Succession. The Catalan troops, defending the Hapsburg’s claim to the region, were defeated at the Siege of Barcelona by the army of the Borbon King Philip V of Spain on September 11, 1714 after 14 months of siege. That meant the loss of the Catalan Constitution. Catalonya has its own language (Catalan) and flag. The flag has five red stripes on a field of yellow. It has flown for hundreds of years, representing their independent culture. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975) Catalonya was punished with repression, making it illegal to fly the Catalan flag or speak Catalan.
For many people Catalonya Day is a celebration of their Catalan identity but many others use the day to pursue their political agenda of separating from Spain. The separatists have added a blue triangle with a single white star to the edge of the Catalonya flag to represent that fight. While the Catalonya flag flies across the region throughout the year, on Catalonya Day it is everywhere. People carry flags, wear them draped down their backs as capes, and have them printed on t-shirts. Even dogs were wearing shirts and capes with the Catalonya flag. These days Barcelonans and all of Catalonya are watching the current events in Scotland as they vote on potential independence from Britain. Catalonya wants the same vote.
Last year close to a million people created a human chain from the north to south of Catalonya. This year an estimate 2 million people turned out for the event, dressed in the red and yellow of the flag and carrying or wearing flags. Today a human chain was set up to create a “V” representing their goal of voting in an independence referendum. 
The policia had a very strong presence but appeared unneeded. Everyone was in good spirits and there appeared to be no conflicts. The media helicopters were swarming. How do we know all of this? We might have been in the middle of it.
Having read about the events planned for the day we decided to walk up to the plaza where the major gathering was taking place. Bob kept getting closer and closer to the crowd taking pictures, with me in pursuit. As they were suddenly organizing the huge crowd into stripes of red and yellow to make a human flag (for the media in helicopters) we found ourselves in a yellow stripe. Neither of us was in red or yellow, but we struck up a conversation with two local men, who welcomed us, and had a wonderful discussion on the issues. A great way to get educated.
As of June of this year Spain has a new King. King Juan Carlos I abdicated and his son, Filipe VI, is now the King of Spain. Spain is a monarchy, unlike England. The King is more of a “president” in government operations. I asked the men we were talking to in the crowd whether they thought things will change with the new King. They both responded that they like the new King, as he has come to Catalonya and tried to speak Catalan, but believe that nothing will change at least in the short term. The goal for the moment is to just get a referendum.
(click) Catalunya Day Independence March Video