Lost in Barcelona
Camp Nou, (or as the English reverse it, Nou Camp) in Catalan (the language of Catalonia) means ‘new field’. Every week about 80, maybe 90 thousand people (capacity crowd is 99 thousand) come to this biggest football stadium in Europe. But what is it about, why would they do that? It’s a commonplace among people who do not particularly enjoy football (especially women) to say that they see no point in sitting for an hour and a half and watch 22 men running after a ball. But it’s enough to go there once and be in this countless crowd of people to feel and realize that something special and absolutely unique is going on. It’s the same story as with what somebody once said about Christianity, it has to be true, since so many people followed it.
In the background there is the city. The other half of Barcelonians (because you cannot help getting the impression that half of the city is there on the stadium, even though it is only one twentieth) is considering the options for the evening. Either they will choose a stroll down the beach (you do not get so many tourist there in the evenings) or, most likely, they will end up in one of the cafes, bars and restaurants, so numerous everywhere, really. No big parties and celebrations are on the agenda today, as it is Sunday and tomorrow everyone has to go to work. Yes, adults go to work, and children to school. It’s hard to believe that in this city of palm trees, clear skies, loud tourists, astounding architecture, the sea and the mountains, people live like anywhere else, say Białystok, for that matter. (michał_t)
